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Councillors’ Joint Statement of Support Welcomed

30/10/08

éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson has welcomed a joint statement of support for éirígí’s upcoming anti-British Army protest from two independent republican councillors.

Councillor Martin Connolly of Newry and Mourne Council, and Councillor Barry Monteith of Dungannon District Council, have both called on the British Army to cancel its controversial parade through Belfast on Sunday. In the absence of such a cancellation the duo are calling on people to attend éirígí’s protest at 10.30am at Divis Tower in West Belfast.

Speaking shortly after the joint statement was released Leeson said:

“The joint statement issued by Barry and Martin is particularly welcome as we count down the days to the British Army’s latest provocative adventure in Ireland.

“The fact that the councillors represent two areas well away from Belfast speaks volumes about the impact that this military display is having on nationalist and republican Ireland. Their statement is reflective of the sentiment that éirígí is encountering in many parts of the country. From Cork to Belfast people are outraged at the idea of this parade which seeks to glorify imperialism and military aggression.”

The full text of the joint statement by Councillors Barry Monteith and Martin Connolly is as follows:

Full Text of Joint Statement from Councillors Barry Montieth and Martin Connolly

This Sunday’s provocative British Army parade through Belfast city centre exposes the true nature of Britain’s role in Ireland. No longer can the British government portray itself as the ‘honest broker’ without selfish interest in Ireland.

The parading of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force through the streets of Belfast is a deliberate and calculated political act. The fact that the British Army regiment in question is the Royal Irish Regiment further exposed the true agenda of those who organised this parade.

The Royal Irish Regiment and it predecessor Ulster Defence Regiment record of terrorising the nationalist community is well documented. When out of uniform many members of these regiments continued their reign of terror as members of unionist death-squads. Thousands of families across Ireland suffer to this day as a result of the actions carried out by these official and unofficial British militias.

Those who organised Sunday’s parade hoped that it would contribute to the long running British policy of ‘normalisation’ in Ireland. What, after all, could be more ‘normal’ then the British Army parading through the streets of a British city?

The only problem with this scenario is that Belfast is not a British city. To allow Sunday’s parade to pass without public protest would have been to hand the British government a propaganda victory of massive proportions.

With multiple anti-British Army protests now organised this Sunday’s parade will now highlight the abnormality of Britain’s occupation rather than the hoped for ‘normality’ of the Six Counties. In this regard éirígí are to be commended for the leading role they have taken in organising opposition to Sunday’s military show-piece.

Those who have criticised éirígí for not asking the Parades Commission for permission to organise their protest fail to understand the true nature of Irish Republicanism. Never in the long and noble history of the Republican struggle – with its roots in the mountains that overlook Belfast - have Republicans asked the permission of the British government to organise opposition to its occupation of Ireland.

In not asking the permission of the Parades Commission éirígí are asserting those most basic of democratic rights – the right of free association and the right to politically organise. Republicans are more than capable of organising large, disciplined, peaceful, protests without the input of the British state - as will be demonstrated on Sunday.

Last week the British Army changed the start time and route of its parade in the face of growing opposition. This week they should go all the way and cancel their parade entirely.

If they fail to do so Republicans from across Ireland should make their way to Belfast to attend the éirígí protest at 10.30am at Divis Tower.

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