Anger building at anti-Sinn Féin onslaught

West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty says that extent of deep anger and resentment building up within the republican community at the unprecedented and co-ordinated attempt by all of Sinn Féin's political opponents to demonise, discriminate against and marginalise the party was evidenced by the massive turnouts at a rally in Galbally last Wednesday night and at the launch of the party's 100th anniversary celebrations in Greencastle on Sunday.

Over 1,000 activists from Tyrone converged on Galbally on Wednesday night 23 February, to launch a campaign of democratic resistance against the onslaught being currently waged against Sinn Féin. The rally was just the latest in a series being held throughout the length and breadth of Ireland in recent weeks, all of which were packed.

Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin, Pat Doherty MP, Francie Molloy MLA and Barry McElduff MLA addressed the assembled activists.

On Sunday last, hundreds of local republicans assembled in Greencastle to mark the launch of Sinn Féin's Céad Bliain events in Omagh District.

"At both events the mood was one of anger matched by determination," said the West Tyrone MP. "Activists see the current onslaught as a repackaged and updated version of the Ulsterisation and criminalisation strategy attempted by the British Government in the late '70s and early '80s.

"While the configuration of those lined up against us may now be wider (because the electoral threat we now pose to the establishment parties right across this island is greater now than ever before), the collective objective of our political opponents remains the same.

"That is to attempt to maintain the political status quo and the cosy partitionist consensus of the establishment parties that has existed on this island for decades.

"Apart from a few honourable exceptions, the media has become a willing and enthusiastic conscript in this all out assault on Sinn Féin and our electorate," said Doherty.

"The Hunger Strikers refused to allow the legitimacy of our struggle to be criminalised and republicans are determined that it will not happen now.

"The timing of this anti-republican onslaught is no coincidence. It is designed to put the brakes on the Sinn Féin vote in the May elections. It is designed to block our rapid growth in the South.

"However, our political opponents ignore the fact that republicans are well used to adversity and that it only makes us more determined."