To Repeat - No British Withdrawal? - No Royal Visits!
Éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson has stated that the socialist republican party will actively oppose any state visit to the Twenty-Six Counties by the commander in chief of Britain’s armed forces Elizabeth Windsor.
Speculation has increased in recent days that Windsor will make an official visit to the Twenty-Six Counties at some stage next year. Both the Dublin government and Twenty-Six County president Mary McAleese are in favour of extending an invitation.
Leeson said: “Over the last number of years, Éirígí has consistently stated its opposition to any visit to any part of Ireland by Elizabeth Windsor and has actively campaigned against the extension of any invitation for her to visit the Twenty-Six Counties in particular.
“It now appears that the Twenty-Six County government is prepared to welcome Windsor to Ireland. If this is the case, Éirígí will be leading the opposition to such a visit and will be calling people onto the streets in protest. We hope others will join us in this endeavour.”
Leeson continued: “Elizabeth Windsor is the commander in chief of Britain’s armed forces. As such, she bears responsibility, along with the British government, for the ongoing occupation of the Six Counties.
“In the aftermath of the publication of the Saville report, the extension of an invitation to Windsor would be a massive insult to the victims of British state violence across Ireland.”
Leeson concluded: “Nearly 100 years ago, James Connolly, Constance Markievicz and other socialist republicans led opposition to the last visit of an English monarch to Dublin. Today, Éirígí will lead opposition in the same spirit. The message must go out that, until her army gets out of Ireland, Elizabeth Windsor is not welcome in Ireland.”