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12 April 2001 Edition

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Our Easter mission

This weekend marks the 85th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. It was perhaps fitting, therefore, that debate in the Assembly centred on the presence of Easter Lilies at Stormont, the building that has symbolised unionist hegemony in the Six Counties.

Lilies at Stormont are a welcome gesture towards parity of esteem, but Easter means more to republicans than symbols. Thousands of us will gather at republican plots and monuments across the country this weekend to remember and honour those who have laid down their lives for Irish freedom.

At each of those commemorations, republicans will reflect on the proclamation of 1916, an historic document, one of the most progressive ever written. The Proclamation spells out the demand for social and economic justice and democracy, of cherishing all of the children of the nation equally.

This Easter comes at a time of crisis for the peace process, created by the unlawful actions of David Trimble in excluding Sinn Fein ministers from meetings with their Southern counterparts and the failure of the British to challenge this breach of the Agreement and to live up to their own commitments.

Republicans this weekend will demonstrate in numbers our opposition to the wreckers' charter adopted by David Trimble and endorsed by John Reid. We will also spell out our clear intentions to strengthen our struggle by emerging from forthcoming elections North and South a stronger party.

Republicans in the North are confident of significant gains in the Westminster and local elections, while a TG4/MRBI poll in Dublin South West strongly suggesting that Sean Crowe is in line for a D‡il seat next time out is a welcome boost for those of us in the South.

As republicans we are proud of our politics, proud of those who have laid down their lives for freedom and of those who have suffered for their commitment to the cause of freedom.

Despite the peace process, loyalist attacks continue and the British war machine is intact. This Easter we recommit ourselves to our core belief that there will never be real peace in Ireland without freedom, a freedom based on justice and equality.

As we gather to honour our fallen heroes this weekend, Padraig Pearse's famous oration is as relevant today as it was then - ``While Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.''


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland