Republican News · Thursday 27 June 2002

Maskey seeks common ground

``I approach this issue as one who has committed my entire adult life to activism in pursuit of Irish national self-determination and political independence,'' Alex Maskey said of his ground-breaking decision to lay a wreath to commemorate the Battle of the Somme memorial in Belfast on Monday.

Maskey will lay a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph at the City Hall on the morning of 1 July at 9am. He will also chair the Council meeting before the ceremony at the Cenotaph that night, which he will not attend

Speaking last night, Wednesday 26 June, the newly elected Sinn Féin mayor acknowledged the difficulties his involvement in the event poses for republicans, but he said that his decision was ``guided by a desire to use this occasion to unite and include rather than divide and exclude''.

``Sinn Féin's desire,'' he said, of the party's huge decision to play a part in commemorating the 50,000 Irishmen who died at the Somme 86 years ago, ``is to respect that memory, to acknowledge the hurt and loss experienced by the families of those injured and killed and to recognise the bravery and honour with which many have served.

``Irish republicans recognise the importance of commemorating those who lost their lives in conflict. The Easter Commemoration is an annual event throughout Ireland. Recently the Tírghrá event was held in Dublin to commemorate Irish republicans who lost their lives over the past 30 years of conflict. We believe there is a need for everyone living on the island of Ireland to be able to take part in remembering the victims of wars and conflicts in which their loved ones' lives were taken.

``I am laying this wreath in memory of and in tribute to all the men who made the supreme sacrifice at the Battle of the Somme and during the First World War. My initiative on this issue is equally in recognition of the sorrow, hurt and suffering left behind for their relatives, friends and comrades. My objective, beyond this, is to seek to identify common ground for all of us in this generation.''