Provos Have Adopted Unionist Position

national | miscellaneous | press release

Wednesday May 07, 2008 00:56

by Richard Walsh - Republican Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin have answered Martin McGuinness.

Referring to a Republican protest in Cobh, Co. Cork, Martin McGuinness commented that outgoing DUP leader Ian Paisley has done more to end division than Republican Sinn Féin. A spokesperson for Republican Sinn Féin said that this was unsurprising as his party had now adopted the Unionist position.

RSF Director of Publicity, Richard Walsh, said:

“Mr. McGuinness asked who has done more to end division in Ireland – Ian Paisley or Republican Sinn Féin? Republican Sinn Féin has sought to address the root cause of conflict in Ireland, namely the cancerous British presence. However the removal of the British presence was precluded from the negotiations on the Stormont Agreement – a document which his party has signed up to.

“The Provos have tried to silence any opposition to the Stormont sell-out of 1998. On the 22nd April, members of Republican Sinn Féin were refused entry to what was allegedly a public meeting in Silverbridge, Co. Armagh. They had gone there to confront Provo leaders, who were seeking to promote the Stormont Agreement on its tenth anniversary, and the first anniversary of the resurrection of the Stormont Assembly. But they did not wish for people to hear the opposing view – let alone in the heart of South Armagh.

“Martin McGuinness says that he will entertain Ian Paisley over Republicans any day. This is hardly surprising given the fact that both he and his party have now adopted the Unionist position. But we in Republican Sinn Féin are committed to the ending of English rule in Ireland and the emancipation of the Irish people.”