6 May 1999 Edition
Thousands remember Hunger Strike
Thousands, young and old, marched, walked, danced, played and talked as they descended on Dunville Park in West Belfast to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the deaths of the Republican hunger strikers in 1981 and celebrate their spirit and legacy.
Between bands and dancers, Gerry Kelly, Sinn Féin's North Belfast Assembly member, delivered the keynote speech.
He remembered the many republicans who have died for Ireland, all those who ``gave their lives to protect our birthright and to push the struggle forward to the ultimate goal of a 32-county Ireland, united and free''.
Kelly also asked those assembled to remember that they were all ``also, active soldiers in the Irish Republican Army''. He said: ``They, along with other political activists have not only reclaimed Irish history back from the revisionists, they have worked actively for the objective of a united Ireland which can deliver national democracy and the equality which should be every man and woman's birthright.''
Turning to the current unionist-inspired political impasse, Kelly reminded people that ``the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) is not a republican document.
``It is a compromise contract signed between opposing political parties. Unionism has attempted to introduce a precondition. This is not part of the GFA. Unionism is reneging on the agreement. We could play the unionist game - as Republicans, we could demand the precondition of RUC disbandment before we sit down with unionists or loyalists, or demand the revoking of the Emergency Power Acts or the closure of British military barracks or interrogation centres or the establishment of true equality in employment or human rights or a complete British military withdrawal before we sit down with unionism.
``But we don't, because we will not impose such preconditions to moving towards a political settlement.'' Kelly also highlighted how the political vacuum created by unionism is being filled by loyalist sectarian violence.
He concluded by saying: ``Those who died over the years did so looking to the future.
In a statement read out at the commemoration, republican prisoners in Long Kesh reiterated the solidarity that binds republicans and the ``loss'' and ``great pride'' that the ``courageous stand'' of the hunger strikers took to defeat the British governments attempt to criminalise the struggle.
The statement added: ``We are now again witnessing demands from the rejectionist unionist camp to halt prisoner releases. Those who promote this demand can be assured that any attempt to halt releases will be met with the same determination as shown by those who defeated criminalisation in 1981.''
Between bands and dancers, Gerry Kelly, Sinn Féin's North Belfast Assembly member, delivered the keynote speech.
He remembered the many republicans who have died for Ireland, all those who ``gave their lives to protect our birthright and to push the struggle forward to the ultimate goal of a 32-county Ireland, united and free''.
Kelly also asked those assembled to remember that they were all ``also, active soldiers in the Irish Republican Army''. He said: ``They, along with other political activists have not only reclaimed Irish history back from the revisionists, they have worked actively for the objective of a united Ireland which can deliver national democracy and the equality which should be every man and woman's birthright.''
Turning to the current unionist-inspired political impasse, Kelly reminded people that ``the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) is not a republican document.
``It is a compromise contract signed between opposing political parties. Unionism has attempted to introduce a precondition. This is not part of the GFA. Unionism is reneging on the agreement. We could play the unionist game - as Republicans, we could demand the precondition of RUC disbandment before we sit down with unionists or loyalists, or demand the revoking of the Emergency Power Acts or the closure of British military barracks or interrogation centres or the establishment of true equality in employment or human rights or a complete British military withdrawal before we sit down with unionism.
``But we don't, because we will not impose such preconditions to moving towards a political settlement.'' Kelly also highlighted how the political vacuum created by unionism is being filled by loyalist sectarian violence.
He concluded by saying: ``Those who died over the years did so looking to the future.
In a statement read out at the commemoration, republican prisoners in Long Kesh reiterated the solidarity that binds republicans and the ``loss'' and ``great pride'' that the ``courageous stand'' of the hunger strikers took to defeat the British governments attempt to criminalise the struggle.
The statement added: ``We are now again witnessing demands from the rejectionist unionist camp to halt prisoner releases. Those who promote this demand can be assured that any attempt to halt releases will be met with the same determination as shown by those who defeated criminalisation in 1981.''