Republicans mark Easter Rising

Republicans are marking the 88th anniversary of the Easter Rising with more than 100 events this weekend.

Sinn Féin's main commemoration will be led by party president Gerry Adams in Dublin on Sunday, with a march beginning at 1.30pm from Parnell Square to Glasnevin cemetery.

In Belfast, the party's Bairbre de Brun will be the main speaker tomorrow at an event at 1pm in the Beechmount area of the Falls Road, while Martin McGuinness will be at Carrickmore, Co Tyrone, at 3.30pm on Sunday.

The Workers Party, RSF, the IRSP and the Official Republican Movement are among those also due to hold commemorations on Sunday and Monday, with events centering on Milltown cemetery, Belfast.

STATEMENTS

In its annual Easter statement, the leadership of the movement associated with the breakaway Continuity IRA has said that resistance to British presence in Ireland was ``alive and well''.

The CIRA group criticised the use of the word ``dissidents'', saying: ``The only dissidents are those who deviated off the path of active and committed resistance in favour of lucrative salaries... in a British Stormont, a far cry from a 32-County socialist and democratic republic.''

They said republicanism was going through a ``difficult phase'' but urged ``those disillusioned by the path republicanism is taking to come out from the cold and actively support the efforts of true republicanism''.

In a statement signed by ``the Leadership of the Republican Movement'', the group attacked what it called ``the treachery of our erstwhile so-called comrades in the Provisional Movement''.

``The applause by our English enemy and their many allies throughout the world of this act of treachery of destroying arms and munitions in much greater quantities was sickening but not unexpected.

``True Republicans throughout the world witnessed with total amazement their groveling to the ancient Irish enemy and their unionist counterparts in the months leading up to this foul act.

``Why do these people now not do the honourable thing and come clean with their supporters and tell them that their objective to an end to British rule is now at an end.''

The statement took comfort in the failure of Sinn Féin to revive ``the foreign parliament'' -- the Belfast Asssembly at Stormont.

``But whilst cooperating fully with the enemy, their new-found law enforcers were at the same time harassing true Republicans in many parts of the country,'' the statement claimed.

The group admitted it was ``going through a difficult phase but there have been darker days than these and we once again assert our right to continue for National Independence.

``We encourage those disillusioned by the path Republicanism is taking to come out from the cold and actively support the efforts of true Republicanism. We recognise this may prove somewhat difficult for some, but the Republican Movement is much bigger than one man or woman, everyone has a part to play.''

Meanwhile, dissident republican prisoners being held at Maghaberry jail have also issued an Easter message.

It said: ``We, the Republican prisoners, have borne witness not to the defeat of Republicanism, but to the rise of a rejuvenated movement across the island of Ireland. We remain fully confident of our eventual victory.

``The lies and distortions of the media, the press and politicians alike have not been sufficient to hide the grim reality behind the facade of peace in Ireland. The flawed analysis of those who proclaimed the Stormont agreement as a stepping stone to Irish unity has been comprehensively disproved.

``The Crown force occupation of the North continues. In Derry, Fermanagh, Armagh, Down, Antrim and Tyrone there are still large numbers of British occupation forces terrorizing the local Republican and Nationalist people and their communities.''

The statement was signed: ``Officer Commanding, I.R.A Prisoners. On behalf of the Republican prisoners Maghaberry Gaol.''

STATEMENTS

Urgent Appeal