Republican Sinn Féin will oppose visit by Queen of England

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Friday February 18, 2011 13:27 by Saoirse - Republican Sinn Féin saoirse at iol dot ie Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 01 8729747

Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

Republican Sinn Féin will be actively opposing a visit by the Queen of England to any part of Ireland. As part of its campaign Republican Sinn Féin will be holding a picket at the gates of Leinster House on Wednesday March 9 from 4.00pm to 6.00pm. In a statement the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton said:

“The proposed visit of the Queen of England to the 26-County State is intended to signal that British occupation and the partition of Ireland is now normal and acceptable. A visit by the head of the British State while that state continues to occupy and partition Ireland be opposed.

“Republican Sinn Féin will lead an active campaign of opposition and will be calling on all Republican minded people throughout Ireland to come out and make their voices hear in protest.

“In 1911 patriots such as James Connolly, Maud Gonne and Helena Maloney among others led Republican and progressive resistance to a similar attempt to pacify Ireland with a British Royal visit. They did so under the banner ‘Thou art not conquered yet dear land’ and in 2011 those who have neither been purchased nor intimated will be sending out the same clear message.

“ Continued British Rule in Ireland is an obstacle to achieving a just and lasting settlement for all the Irish people and must be removed if we are serious about creating real All-Ireland economic and political democracy.”

Críoch/Ends