|
Comrades
and friends we gather here in Bray today to not only
remember our founder and political visionary - Seamus
Costello - but also to celebrate the political legacy
that he left to us, the Irish Republican Socialist
Party and Republican Socialism.
Over
the past few years former INLA prisoners, many who
are here today, through Teach Na Failte have embarked
on a program of erecting suitable memorials to our
fallen comrades across the country. That work is ongoing
and will continue until all are recognised for what
they were - Republican Socialists, Soldiers in a volunteer
revolutionary army that fought with great courage
the mercenary forces of British and international
imperialism.
Over
the past few years the INLA whilst adhering to its
ceasefire has had to take defensive measures in defence
of the Irish working class which has come under attack
from the reactionary sectarian campaign of loyalists.
The INLA whilst not relishing this role will not leave
vulnerable working class communities unarmed or undefended.
We
salute the courage of each and every man and woman
who makes a contribution to the struggle!
Today
the IRSP has to face into the struggle for a socialist
republic based on democratic principles, equipped
with the integrity of republican socialist politics.
This alongside our determination to achieve Irish
freedom, full social equality for all, and self government
are the arms required for today's struggle. The political
conditions not only in Ireland but also internationally
in 2003 demand that our response is measured and tailored
to achieve victory, not wallowing in a self righteous
Indigence, engaged in a fruitless armed campaign that
our enemies long ago learned how to minimise and negate.
Times
and conditions change, that the Republican Socialist
Movement moved with those times and conditions is
a political imperative. We serve notice on our opponents
today - In armed struggle the RSM was tenacious, determined,
ingenious and confident. In peace, we are equally
tenacious, determined, ingenious and confident. These
were the attributes of Seamus Costello and we are
proud to have inherited them.
Whilst
the political conditions and the combined will of
the Irish people expressed in 1998 demand that we
use only peaceful methods it would be wrong for our
opponents to see this as a defeat or weakening of
republican socialism.
We
listened to the combined wishes of the Irish people
which is more than the current Irish government did
when it enabled the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq.
An invasion that has led to the decimation of the
Iraqi people and the plundering of their countries
collective wealth, all to satisfy the lust of Anglo
American capitalism.
We
listen to the Irish people in regard to the morality
of war not George Bush, Tony Blair or Bertie Ahearn.
Hypocrites one and all. Unlike them we have no fear
of peaceful political struggle or democratic principles,
indeed, armed with republican Socialist politics it
is our strength and we look forward with confidence
to the future. The question is-Can they cope with
a confident and successful republican socialist program
without resorting to their old trusted methods of
subjugation, oppression, exploitation and marginalisation?
We shall see!
The
IRSP are determined to present a real choice to the
Irish working class, the choice between social equality
and prosperity for all and the present class system
which condemns millions to poverty and misery with
the crumbs off the table of the greedy. Have no doubt
comrades we do not only want the loaf of bread but
we mean to take the entire bakery. The demolition
of the of capitalism, exploitation and the class system
was and is our aim!
Our
opposition to the Good Friday Agreement is well documented
and the present bartering of democratic institutions
against long silent provo weapons is but the latest
example of the failure of real politics in the failed
entity that is the north. If the current batch of
wannabe ‘statesmen and women’ that represent
‘politics’ in Ireland represent the future
then god help the Irish working class. Sure we know
they can talk the talk but precious few if any know
how to take a single step.
We
recognise the new political climate that the agreement
has created. It has created space and room for dialogue
that in the end can only be for the common good.
We
also recognise the bad, whilst the creation of sectarianism
cannot be laid at its door its rapid development throughout
society as a whole in the north cannot and should
not be ignored. Sectarianism is through society as
a whole but its violent manifestation has maximum
effect in working class communities and is the cause
of much secondary discrimination in the areas such
as employment, housing, education and health provision.
In north belfast there is housing crisis for the catholic
community. The statutory social housing provider the
housing executive if it was honest would admit that
it has no real strategy to combat this discrimination
in housing provision, it cannot even get the language
correct it calls North Belfast ‘an area of high
housing need’ no its not, its an area of poor
social housing provision because of sectarianism.
The IRSP are extremely concerned at secondary discrimination
and its effects on securing a peaceful future for
all. We do not remember any exclusion clauses in the
good friday agreement and if any people deserve peace
it is the good people of North Belfast, an area in
which one quarter of all the deaths in the conflict
lost their lives in one square mile. In Coleraine
this week a Catholic family was forcefully evicted
from their home of twenty years after having the audacity
to fly a Tyrone GAA flag in celebration of that counties
success at Croke Pairc last Sunday. For this they
had their windows smashed and volley of shots fired
into the house, they are now housed elsewhere the
local media inform us. nobody asks why? anymore, it
is easier to brush it under the carpet and try and
get the big house up in Stormont working. Well, we
in the IRSP are asking not only why but what the hell
are they going to do about it! The current wave of
attacks on schools and school children across the
north is abhorrent and we call on them to cease immediately.
Only the cause of sectarian hatred is promoted by
these attacks.
Across
the country IRSP personnel are involved in working
class issues that have real effect on ordinary peoples
lives from the campaign against the introduction of
a ‘bin tax’ in the South to the campaign
against the introduction of water charges in the north
you will find the IRSP. We commend socialist TD Joe
Higgins for his principled stance on the “Bin
Tax”, but one can but wonder if he would have
been sent to prison if he held an offshore bank account!
Lying, corruption, bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion
all seem to be the passport to power in Ireland under
the Celtic Tiger.
The
IRSP are also to be found in the trade unions, the
community associations and in every working class
issue you will find an Irp. Not bad for a group of
people that our enemies had written off as social
misfits, profiteers, psychotic murderers and a rag
taggle band of braggarts whose only concern is personnel
gain. I know of no current Irp who has profited from
their membership of this organisation, Indeed personal
sacrifice for the collective good has always been
our way and so it shall remain.
Seamus
Costello founded the RSM, a volunteer army and a subscription
based political party, The IRSP is self funded, we
are not in the pocket of any self interest group or
foreign government. We are what we say we are —
a working class political party, we serve no other
interests only those of the Irish working class.
Those
who see the lack of personal ambition of individual
members of the IRSP for the baubles and titles of
‘Western democracy’ as a weakness in our
movement are wrong once again, It is our strength.
We remain uncorrupted by the lure of the easy life
paid for by the honest toil of others. Whilst we may
not lust after the ‘Baubles and titles’
we do possess a collective ambition and determination
that by far out strips any personnel ambition. Republican
Socialism represents the opportunity for the maximum
amount of personal freedom within a collective responsibility.
Like
our founder and the man we remember here today Seamus
Costello, the only title that we crave is that of
all free workers in a free society, the highest accolade
of all, that of - Comrade citizen! Comrades we have
much work to do, go out and preach the blessed gospel
of discontent! Organise - Onwards to victory.
Index: Current Articles + Latest News and Views + Book Reviews +
Letters + Archives
|
