21 May 1998 Edition
To a future of change
Sinn Féin is supporting a Yes vote in the referenda on the Good Friday document in the Six Counties and on constitutional change in the 26 Counties this Friday. It seems clear that the result will be a majority yes vote in both referenda.
Republicans have severe reservations and concerns about several aspects of the Good Friday document. While the party is supporting a Yes vote North and South it recognises the individual right of any republican to Vote No if that is their wish.
Sinn Fein has acted decisively and taken its responsibilities in this whole process very seriously and has lived up to them. The Good Friday document does not represent a settlement. The republican struggle continues and must be strengthened and expanded in the days, weeks and months ahead.
The commitment of republican activists is the only sure guarantee of further progress towards the democratic goal of Irish unity and independence.
The Good Friday document and the referenda are only the beginning of a political process. It is the intention of republicans to turn that process into a transitional phase towards Irish unity. It is the intention of our political opponents to prevent any such forward movement or to overturn whatever gains have been made.
Many sections of unionism wish to halt progress in a future assembly and in the establishment of cross-border bodies. There will be great efforts from such quarters to prevent the type of change which has been promised and which has the potential to move the situation towards a peace settlement.
Republicans are the only force which can turn the referenda and the new structures into avenues for political progress. We are commited to our republican objectives and that commitment will remain whatver the outcome of the referenda this Friday.
Real democracy and a lasting peace will be achieved when the British government has removed itself from our shores and when the Irish people- Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter take charge of our own destiny and map out a future as equals on this island.
The Irish language must not be ignored when the British government are confronted with the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages in the next couple of weeks.
It will be essential, to fortify nationalist confidence and correct the failed repression of the past, that the British government deliver on their committments and sign all three segments of the Charter in respect of the Irish language.
A recent leak from the NIO exposed an apparent intention to placate unionist intransigence by only signing up in respect of the Welsh language.
In the terms of the Good Friday document it was clearly stated that ``active consideration'' would be given to the issue of the Council of Europe Charter. If the British government wish to redress their failed policies of hostility and neglect towards our native tongue, then they must practically afford ingenuity and resources to the equality agenda.
For too long community workers have been forced to struggle, with little or no state funding, to maintain the lifeline of meanscoileanna and bunscoileanna in Derry, Belfast and elsewhere. Any successful equality agenda must allieviate such difficulties and not prolong them, regardless of bigoted sectarian opposition. Tokenism is not good enough.
Republicans have severe reservations and concerns about several aspects of the Good Friday document. While the party is supporting a Yes vote North and South it recognises the individual right of any republican to Vote No if that is their wish.
Sinn Fein has acted decisively and taken its responsibilities in this whole process very seriously and has lived up to them. The Good Friday document does not represent a settlement. The republican struggle continues and must be strengthened and expanded in the days, weeks and months ahead.
The commitment of republican activists is the only sure guarantee of further progress towards the democratic goal of Irish unity and independence.
The Good Friday document and the referenda are only the beginning of a political process. It is the intention of republicans to turn that process into a transitional phase towards Irish unity. It is the intention of our political opponents to prevent any such forward movement or to overturn whatever gains have been made.
Many sections of unionism wish to halt progress in a future assembly and in the establishment of cross-border bodies. There will be great efforts from such quarters to prevent the type of change which has been promised and which has the potential to move the situation towards a peace settlement.
Republicans are the only force which can turn the referenda and the new structures into avenues for political progress. We are commited to our republican objectives and that commitment will remain whatver the outcome of the referenda this Friday.
Real democracy and a lasting peace will be achieved when the British government has removed itself from our shores and when the Irish people- Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter take charge of our own destiny and map out a future as equals on this island.
Irish must not be left behind
The Irish language must not be ignored when the British government are confronted with the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages in the next couple of weeks.
It will be essential, to fortify nationalist confidence and correct the failed repression of the past, that the British government deliver on their committments and sign all three segments of the Charter in respect of the Irish language.
A recent leak from the NIO exposed an apparent intention to placate unionist intransigence by only signing up in respect of the Welsh language.
In the terms of the Good Friday document it was clearly stated that ``active consideration'' would be given to the issue of the Council of Europe Charter. If the British government wish to redress their failed policies of hostility and neglect towards our native tongue, then they must practically afford ingenuity and resources to the equality agenda.
For too long community workers have been forced to struggle, with little or no state funding, to maintain the lifeline of meanscoileanna and bunscoileanna in Derry, Belfast and elsewhere. Any successful equality agenda must allieviate such difficulties and not prolong them, regardless of bigoted sectarian opposition. Tokenism is not good enough.