Ógra Shinn Féin Meet with Revolutionary South African Leader

antrim | miscellaneous | press release

Wednesday December 06, 2006 13:18

by International - Ógra Shinn Féin

osfnational at yahoo dot ie

On Monday (4 December), Ógra Shinn Féin held an internal activist meeting in Belfast with South African Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils.

Ronnie was a former Director of Intelligence for the military arm of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), is a member of the Communist Party and ANC, and was appointed to his present Ministerial role in 2004.

Ronnie spoke at length of the importance of youth in any liberation struggle, recalling his involvement in the struggle in South Africa as a teenager. He spoke candidly about his involvement with the ANC, the MK and also related his progression from a guerrilla fighter to minister stating,

“I still miss my AK – 47, but you can’t exactly be a government minister and have and AK strapped around yourself.”

The activist meeting raised many issues including racism, policing, international solidarity, transition to power, outreach, and truth and reconciliation.

Barry McColgan, National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin said,

“The meeting was extremely thought provoking and inspirational, many people have read or watched documentaries about the South African Struggle, but we learned a first hand account through Ronnie.”

“You don’t get an opportunity to meet with a Revolutionary Leader everyday, and so obviously Ógra used the time effectively to equip ourselves with the vast knowledge and experience of Ronnie Kasrils.”

“From the meeting it was clear that South Africa will continue to support Sinn Féin and Ógra in achieving our objectives in Ireland, we are two nations involved in one struggle!”

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Comments (3 of 3)

Old Ronnie

by historian

Wed Dec 06, 2006 13:22

May indeed have been a revolutionary and paid a high price for it in the past. Now he is part of a corrupt government that can't even provide running water for the townships.

Running Water

by Gary

Wed Dec 06, 2006 14:43

Dr Kadar Asmal was minister for water and got water into the townships. He did not kill anybody however so his street cred is poor.

"Struggle"?

by radical jonny

Fri Dec 08, 2006 16:17

“From the meeting it was clear that South Africa will continue to support Sinn Féin and Ógra in achieving our objectives in Ireland, we are two nations involved in one struggle!”

...And what would that 'struggle' be?

You almost have to sit back in awe at the sheer nerve OSF and SF calling themselves revolutionaries. My guess is that they figure if OSF keep banging on about liberation struggles, no one will notice or comment on their parent party's wholesale embrace of free market capitalism.

At least Tony Blair and co. had the decency to stop singing 'The Red Flag' at Labour party conferences when they gave up any pretence of being socialists.

Sinn Fein just told the children to keep shouting about revolution. Not a bad strategy. Sure, no one will notice...

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Ógra Shinn Féin Meet with Revolutionary South African Leader

Comments (3 of 3)