With
the construction of the H-blocks in the mid 1970’s,
the British political and military establishment
announced the methods by which they hoped to defeat
Irelands liberation struggle. Underpinned by MargaretThatcher,
this British strategy was defined as Ulsterisation,
Normalisation, Criminalisation of Republican prisoners
and making some some form of British rule acceptable
to the nationalist community of the occupied six
counties.
The
events of the last week in particular now mean that
Britains counter insurgency strategy as outlined
above has been largely successful. There can be
no denying this reality. Tragically for republicanism
and despite the heroic sacrifices of the past,
the success of this British counter insurgency strategy
has in no small way been facilitated by the political
direction adopted by the Provisional movement over
the last decade in particular. We say this not
out of bitterness but as cold political fact.
The
acceptance of Britains Stormont parliament has underlined
the provisional leaderships acceptance of British
rule in Ireland as legitimate. However their recent
move to finally surrender Republican arms is a clear
acceptance by them that armed resistance to British
rule is no longer legitimate. That these hard won
and protected arms have been surrendered on the
pretext of gaining admission to a British parliament
frankly beggars belief. This move clearly signals
that the Provisional leadership now view the British
crown forces as the only grouping with a legitimate
right to bear arms in the occupied 6 counties. It
can not be viewed in any other way within a clear
Republican analysis, or indeed any rational analysis.
Having
fully recognised the legitimitacy of British political
and military institutions in Ireland while simultaneously
denouncing Irish resistance as illegitimate, it
is now abundantly clear what the Provisional leaderships
next logical step within the process of Ulsterisation
and normalisation will be. Sadly it will be to
urge young people within this community to play
an active role within the P.S.N.I., an armed and
belligerent force of British occupation in Ireland. While the SDLP have long acted in a capacity of
collaborating with this armed British force, we
note that local Provisional representatives have
made the first step along a similar path by recently
meeting with the PSNI in Newry and Mournes council
offices. At a a national level their leadership
have sent unmistakable signals that participating
in this force is an eventual certainty. Having
decommissioned republican weaponry this certainty
is now much, much closer.
South
Armagh 32 County Sovereignty Movement urge all Republicans,
especially our youth, to reject all British institutions
in Ireland. We remind the people of South Armagh
that anyone joining the P.S.N.I. or its district
boards will simply be viewed by Republicans as just
another member of the British occupation forces. Such a proffession has always been seen as dishonourable
and will remain so. We urge them not to be fooled
by the soundbites and posturing of political opportunists
from whatever party.
We
strongly urge all Republicans at this perilous time
for our nation to engage in open and far reaching
debate, and to critically analyse these latest developments
from an honest and principled Republican perspective. Republicans should continue to view all British
institutions in Ireland as a hostile usurpation
of Irish sovereignty and Irish national rights under
international law. The British occupation of Ireland
is as illegal and immoral now as it ever was. No
verbal trickery or media hype from establishment
politicians posing can ever change that fact.
