West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Co-ownership, co-operation and equality the way ahead - de Brún

Published: 14 April, 2009

Bairbre De Brun MEP at the New Barnsley Memorial Garden

Bairbre De Brun MEP at the New Barnsley Memorial Garden

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún, speaking at the annual Easter commemoration in New Barnsley in West Belfast. has said that republicans have opened up a peaceful and democratic path to a united Ireland by being strategic, focused and disciplined.

Ms de Brún said:

"In every generation republican activists have come from this community; men and women who have led by example; people who fought the brutality and inequality of the Orange State; people who worked on the ground - standing shoulder to shoulder with this community.

"Irish citizens North and South are rightly concerned at the serious economic conditions that our country now faces. We need to stand shoulder to shoulder with our neighbours in these difficult times. This is not a time for the politics of 'mé féin' but a time for us to put our collective shoulders to the wheel to strengthen our communities, for us to put equality and justice above greed."

Speaking about the Sinn Féin political strategy, the MEP added:

"Bombay Street, Cupar Street and the Belfast pogroms became synonymous with that period which was to shape the next 40 years for the Orange State, for British rule in the Six Counties, and for republican resistance to both.

"The Orange state as we knew it is now gone. Our strategy has systematically dismantled the old ways of the Orange State, and there is no going back to the old days of sectarian domination and two-tier citizenship. Co-ownership, co-operation and equality for all must be the standards of the new politics for the way ahead.

"For Republicans, the peace process has opened up a peaceful and democratic path to a united Ireland. Republicans created these opportunities by being strategic, focused and disciplined. That same focus is now required in this phase of struggle."

The MEP also paid tribute to Brian Keenan and Councillor Marie Moore who passed away this year.

Dealing with the past, Ms de Brún added:

"Within this area many families have suffered tragic loss at the hands of the British State, the British Army and its loyalist surrogates. A loss made all the worse by the response of the British State. We remember the victims of the Ballymurphy massacre. I want to pay tribute to the work of the campaign. I also want to pay tribute to the ongoing efforts of the Jordan family who continue their quest for justice.

"The British Government needs to start acknowledging its role as a protagonist in the conflict and deal with the reality of the more than one thousand victims of collusion and state violence.

"Reconciliation and a true healing process will make many demands of us. It will also make demands of others who need to realise and to recognise that families of IRA volunteers or Sinn Féin members go through the same pain and grief.

"Sinn Féin will continue to stand with the victims of state violence in their campaign for the truth. I pay tribute to those who have been so steadfast and I say to them that we recognise that dealing effectively with the past is an essential part of moving forward and one we will not abandon."