Republican News · Thursday 28 March 2002

IRA: "Our work will continue until we have achieved a democratic socialist Republic"

Easter Message 2002

On this, the 86th anniversary of the Rising of Easter 1916, the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann extend our solidarity to our Volunteers and their families and to our supporters at home and abroad. We also extend fraternal greetings to imprisoned comrades and to their families.

Easter is the day set aside by republicans to honour our dead. Today we remember our fallen comrades who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. We extend our solidarity to their families and we pay tribute to the dignified manner in which they carried their loss.

This Easter sees the initiation of the Roll of Remembrance, which will serve as a testimony to the many republicans, Volunteers and activists who have given lifelong and dedicated service to the Republic.

The IRA leadership would like to thank all of those who have organised Tírghrá, the national tribute to our fallen comrades. It is fitting that the families be honoured in this unique way.

The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann reaffirm our commitment to our republican objectives. We seek the establishment of an Irish republic as outlined in the Proclamation of 1916. We reaffirm our commitment to the achievement of a just and lasting peace.

Since Easter last year, Sinn Féin has increased its electoral mandate in the Six Counties to unprecedented levels of popular support. The army recognises that there is the potential to replicate this progress in the coming months in the 26 Counties. It is the duty of all republicans and nationalists to support this project. More and more people understand and embrace the republican analysis. Their voice and their demand for the reunification of Ireland grows stronger by the day.

As Irish republicans, the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann believe that the unity of our country and its people is the only way to secure justice and to 'cherish all the children of the nation equally'.

Since 1994, the IRA leadership has demonstrated the necessary commitment to ensure that a lasting and durable peace settlement can be found. We commend the discipline and integrity shown by our Volunteers and support base who, irrespective of the many and often politically manufactured difficulties which we have encounterd in those intervening years, have remained strong and united.

However, the securing of a democratic peace settlement is not solely a task for republicans and we are mindful of the primary obligation of the British government and of the unionist leadership. The Irish government too has its responsibility.

The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann will not be deflected from our historic task and we pledge that our work will continue until we have achieved a democratic socialist Republic.

P O'Neill
Irish Republican Publicity Bureau
Dublin