2005/04 and 2005/05, The Sovereign Nation (April/May, 2005)

              ounty sovereignty movement the sovereign the republican voice april - may 2005 easter crowds told struggle will be intensified - republicans vow further challenges to british rule hundreds of republicans from across the 32 coun ties took part in easter parades in derry and dublin organised by the 1916 commemoration committee and the 32 county sovereignty movement in dublin republicans gathered at the garden of remembrance where dublin republican val lynch addressed those assembled " it is indeed an honour and a privilege for me to be standing here with you in commemoration of the gallant men and women who fought and fell during the insurrection of 1916 at easter time the time of remem brance to visit the graveside of every person volunteer or otherwise who died for ireland would be an impossi ble task hence we are gathered here today at this magnificent garden which in my humble opinion is the most distinctive and commendable monument repre sentative of each and everyone of their valiant efforts " mr lynch then attacked revisionists and west brits in the dublin administration for their efforts at re-writing the history of 1916 and for honouring the dead of the world wars in the same man ner as those who fought for their own liberation he then concluded the ceremony outside the garden by stating so finally i would like to reiterate that this commendable garden of remembrance is dedicated purely and solely for all those who suffered fought and died for the freedom of ireland against english tyranny and to no other above all else my friends i want you to remember that the greatest terrorist force ever and i repeat the word ever to afflict our land were those who marched under the banner of the english crown that malignant force and its descendant army is still very much entrenched not more than 70 miles up the road from this spot i happened to be in crossmaglen only a week ago and there it was business as usual soldiers on the ground helicopters flying in and out of the bar racks constant noise nothing has changed they have not gone away and have no intention whatsoever of doing so under this so called peace process " mr lynch then called for the parade to move out in a dignified manner and march to the gpo where a member of fianna na heireann read the proclama tion from the gpo those gathered made the long walk to arbour hill the final resting place of the martyrs of 1916 national chairperson of the 32 county sovereignty movement francis mackey delivered the easter oration in which he stated we are gathered here today to commemo rate these great leaders and to remember them with pride but much more importantly we will never besmirch the reason for which they died by an accept ance of anything that falls short of their stated objec tive we will continue to uphold the principled stand they took on behalf of the irish people mr mackey hit out at the current criminalisa tion policy stating the evidence of the last few weeks and months demonstrates the effects of an unprincipled leadership and the extinguishing of principle creates the confusion that now exists criminality has no part to play in the republican struggle and it is only with princi pled leadership and with vision based on an accurate analysis of the conflict can republicans like the leaders of 1916 come together in exposing the illegality of british rule in ireland we all have a responsibility in this and in the year ahead we will intensify our efforts in focussing the republican debate back to the denial of irish national sovereignty that responsibility should include engaging with others and focussing attention on the real issue and how the gfa has failed because it failed to address the issues that led to conflict in the first place " on easter monday a large crown attended the commemoration in derry which congregated at the creggan before marching behind an oglaigh na h£ire ann colour party to the city cemetery despite a heavy police presence informing those assembled that their march was illegal and sabotage by counter revolution ary elements which involved the desecration of the pole on which the national flag was to flown and vandalising a generator republicans paid a fitting tribute to volun teers from every generation who paid the supreme sac rifice for irish freedom see middle pages for full texts along with coverage of easter parades and photographs g i or