32csm Agm [Archive] - The Irish Republican Forum

Liam Lynch

12-01-2007, 07:24 PM

32 County Sovereignty Movement
2007 AGM December 1
Motions

Organisation

1.That the AGM instruct the incoming National Executive to divert as much resources as possible to the PRO Department so as to maximise the core message of the 32CSM. This should include a revamping of the National Website, a greater frequency in the issuing of statements and a major sales drive for the Sovereign Nation.
Dublin 32CSM

2.That the name of the local branches of the 32CSM be changed from committees to circles so as to highlight the democratic nature of the organisation.
Sth Armagh 32CSM

3.That this AGM instruct the incoming National Executive to instigate a root and branch appraisal of local committee’s strengths and weaknesses and appoint a functioning director of organisation to assist local branches to operate more effectively.
Sth Down 32CSM

4.That the AGM instruct the incoming national executive to intensify the creation of more local committees and to raise awareness of newly formed committees especially in Co Monaghan.
Monaghan 32CSM

5.That this AGM recommend the constituting of a committee of members with experience in youth organisations/colleges to formulate means and methods to the incoming national executive to promote the movement and recruit people from these organisations/educational establishments.
Monaghan 32CSM

6.That this AGM recognise the success of the outgoing executive and the movement in general in regards to discipline and the conduct of our members nationwide. Where problems have arisen they have been dealt with swiftly, honestly and fairly. We propose that the incoming executive should put continuing emphasis in that field and that the high standards of the previous year be maintained.
Derry 32CSM

7.The movement in Derry city have made great strides since their structures have been formalised and strengthened. We propose that areas where cumann structures are active should endeavour to promote this practice in neighbouring areas. Provincial organisers and other such restructuring should be considered.
Derry 32CSM

8.That this AGM instruct the incoming executive to maintain better communication both between the executive and local cumann and between cumann.
Cork 32CSM

Policy

9.That the AGM instructs the incoming National Executive to develop and implement a Schedule of Tasks for both national and local organisation with the strict view of achieving stated objectives within the lifetime of the new National Executive. Specifically the following areas to be addressed;

National Level

1. A nationwide recruitment drive.
2. National Target Figure for sales of the Sovereign Nation.
3. Draft a Campaign Programme for 32CSM opposition to the EU Constitution.
4. Draft Definitive Proposals for the Republican Unity Initiative.

Local Level

1. Regular and specified contact to be maintained between all local organisations and the NE.
2. All local organisations to develop their own website.
3. Local Target figures for sales of the Sovereign Nation
4. Local recruitment drives with set targets.
Dublin 32CSM

10.That the 32CSM produce an all-island policy on Drug Abuse/Anti Social Behaviour to be used by all local committees in the course of their work in dealing with the media and other concerned groups.
Monaghan 32CSM

11.That this AGM recommend the constituting of a new policy/education committee to draft policy proposals, to promote existing policy and to liaise between national executive and local level in matters of policy and education. That this committee work with the publicity department in developing a programme for new members.
Sth Down 32CSM

12.That this AGM commend the outgoing national executive for their adherence to the constitution throughout the previous year particularly in light of backdoor attempts by people claiming to represent the NIO which had the potential to misrepresent our position. That this AGM further commit to open, democratic dealings with other organisations and that in line with our constitution we only negotiate on issues related to national sovereignty.
Sth Armagh 32CSM

13.That this AGM encourage all republicans to get involved in progressive campaigns such as Rossport, Raytheon and the campaign for a fundamental right to adequate healthcare for all particularly cancer services in the 26 counties.
Derry 32CSM

14.That this AGM recognise the right of the Irish People to National Sovereignty and National Self Determination and that we also recognise the right of Óglaigh na hÉireann to bear arms in defence of that right.
National Executive

International

15.That the 32CSM affiliate itself with the Hands off Venezuela campaign
Sth Armagh 32CSM

16.That the 32CSM maintain and develop international links with fellow revolutionary organisations with a view to articulating the republican position and an alternative perspective on the conflict in Ireland than that peddled by the governments and constitutional parties.
Sth Armagh 32CSM

17.That this AGM send solidarity greetings to anti-imperialist and resistance movements internationally such as Hamas, Hezbollah etc.
Derry 32CSM

Republican Unity

18.That the AGM instructs the incoming National Executive to liaise with the National 1916 Commemoration Committee and the Republican Unity Initiative to commence a programme of annual Easter Commemorations leading to a National Commemoration for the 1916 Centenary in 2016. Following on from the highly successful Unity commemoration at Bodenstown that the same resolve be brought top bear for this Commemorative Programme.
Dublin 32CSM

19.That the successful " family meeting " process which took place in Derry in 2006 be revived and pursued throughout the coming year , and that all sections of the movement be actively encouraged to give their support and active assistance to that process.
Sth Armagh 32CSM

20.That this AGM recommend that we should review the recent campaign for republican co-operation and identify areas which have been beneficial. That we explore further co-operation with groups not already involved in the Republican Unity project.
Derry 32CSM

Sovereign Nation

21.That the publicity department work with the editorial board to ensure a more regular print run of The Sovereign Nation.
Cork 32CSM

Fundraising

22.That this AGM instruct the incoming national executive to provide funds for an industrial printer/copier to be used by the movement in general or that funds be made available to purchase domestic printer/ photocopiers for every area.
Cork 32CSM

23.That the national director of finance work with the local treasurers to ensure that an annual national fundraiser be held with all monies raised going to the national executive for developmental purposes.
Cork 32CSM

24.That areas with proven methods of fundraising share this knowledge with the national executive and other areas in order to relieve financial pressure of the movement and on the IRPWA.
Cork 32CSM

25.That this AGM send solidarity greetings to all republican POW’s and that all areas redouble our efforts to raise finance for them and their families in order to alleviate as much hardship as possible.
Sth Down 32CSM

Other Business

26.That this AGM congratulate the outgoing national executive on their stand against the six county policing arrangements and their involvement in the republican unity initiative.
Sth Down 32CSM

27.That this AGM recommend where possible that old monuments, memorials and plaques of great historical importance in Ireland’s defence of its sovereignty that have been neglected by ungrateful puppet governments and political parties be restored to educate, commemorate and radicalise the general population which could be done on a republican unity basis.
Monaghan 32CSM

28.That this AGM instruct the incoming national executive to provide information or a draft document through local committees and through the publicity department of the various legislation used by the special branch on both sides of the border and ways to protect our members/supporters and their families from harassment as much as possible.

Monaghan 32CSM

Liam Lynch

12-02-2007, 11:17 AM

Address by Francie Mackey
National Chairperson 32CSM

Friends, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The aim of the 32 CSM is to uphold and defend the Sovereignty of the Irish Nation.

Our ultimate goal is a free, independent 32 County Sovereign Republic.

I say this with the sincerity it deserves, not just because I believe it but because if anyone tries to tell us differently or takes away from this position, they are wrong.

They are wrong based on historical fact and present day reality.

Our history is well documented; on how republican leaders have brought the struggle so far, secured the support of the people and when they got to negotiations accepted the British agenda, accepted the partition of our country and in so doing usurped the sovereignty of the Irish Nation. They acted contrary to the Proclamation of 1916, they acted contrary to the Declaration of Independence 1919 and continue to deny the Irish people their right to National Sovereignty and National Self-determination.

Those leaders have failed to uphold and protect National Sovereignty. They have failed to deliver a Free United 32 County Sovereign Irish Republic.

I say they accepted the British agenda because in 1998 the leadership of the Provisional Movement attempted to dress up that agenda with republican speak in an attempt to tell the republican constituency it was the right thing to do.

If that is true then why is it the Provisional leadership continue to put obstacles in the way of debating their position with us whilst at the same time publicly saying they want to meet us?

In 2005 the 32 CSM delivered a submission to PSF, Marian Price and myself handed in that document in person to Gerry Adams office in Belfast.

PSF choose to ignore it until this year at election time when their hypocrisy was exposed throughout the anti-British Policing debate. Gerry Adams was forced to move and call for meetings with groups such as ourselves.

This was a major shift for them given that their way of coping with republicans was to ignore them coupled with the tired mantra of ‘we don’t talk to micro groups’.

We forced that move and we continued to expose the flaws in their position based on the submission we made to them.

They further moved to make contact with us to say they had delegated two members to meet us to discuss our document.

When told that conducive to the debate, a written response to our submission would assist such discussion, they prevaricated. They assured us a written response was forwarded to us and that perhaps it was lost in the post. When the 32CSM insisted on a written response PSF broke off contact.

In developing our strong belief in political engagement the 32CSM drafted a position on the upcoming EU referendum in the twenty six counties. Specifically the draft sought to bring a separatist perspective to this important debate which would concentrate on partition as being grounds for a rejection of this Constitution.

When we produced our 6 point opposition to the new EU Constitution and sent it to the political parties for consideration, again PSF responded incorporating our earlier submission into the frame for discussion without having given their written response to it.

In conjunction with their response Adams and Mc Guinness made public their declaration for informers to be activated against those republicans who disagree with them. To quote Mr Adams directly,

‘the way to deal with them is for us to pass on information about them whilst challenging them politically’

I must stress that all our initiatives seeking engagement were handled privately so as to allow for mature reflection away from the glare of publicity. We never once stooped to megaphone politics.

What this clearly demonstrates is that the leadership of PSF are not genuine in asking for open or honest dialogue, but that they would use such engagement to facilitate the passing on of information to the British authorities. It is clear that for PSF those addressing the core cause of the conflict do not warrant political dialogue but the fervent attention of the securocrats.

But we were right to engage them. The 32CSM are not fighting this struggle from a distance. Our strategic engagement has demonstrably exposed the political reality of the Good Friday Agreement.

And it has demonstrably exposed PSF’s political obligations as expected by the British Government from those who signed the GFA.

As a result of this public call from PSF for a campaign of informing against republican separatists the 32 CSM call on PSF to publish their response to our 2005 submission, giving detail to the lawful basis upon which they now call for people in the occupied areas to inform on Irish republicans to Crown authorities.

We urge all those who still lend faith to the PSF leadership to earnestly re-examine their position in light of this and to fully understand that by being popular is not synonymous with being right but rather in the present context it represents the Irish dimension of the British Crown.

Today republicans are again entering a treacherous period in our history.

The ongoing attempt at normalizing British Rule in Ireland is not going smoothly for those engaged in administering that rule.

The natural progression of normalization is criminalization and that process has begun.

PSF spokespersons have alluded to this process which they are actively assisting and with the recent statements emanating form groups unknown stating that PSF leaders are targets, we must seriously ask who are these groups. Are they cover names for the Provisional Movement, are they MI5. Is the pattern of events coincidental? Who are they?

I have said in the past and I repeat, a civil war mentality will not benefit republicans opposed to British Rule, it will however, assist the British Government and those administering their rule in Ireland.

Therefore we as republicans are correct to question who these groups are and to question are they British agents attempting to create that civil war mentality to break down the success of Irish Republican separatists and in so doing break down the trust across the republican base to scupper Irish republicans uniting.

Our opponents know the strength of a united republican voice and I feel justified in my remarks when I call for vigilance in the weeks and months ahead.

This attempt to divide republicans is a deliberate attempt to “divide and conquer” a well known philosophy of the British Government widely used by them on the international stage.

Republicans have a duty to each other not to get embroiled in the attempt to create civil war amongst us.

Other happenings emanating from the PSF camp, particularly in Derry is evidence they are involved in muddying the waters to discredit republican separatists at a time when support for the separatist tradition is gaining momentum.

Allied to this joint British strategy we witness British Policing flexing their muscle with harassment, assault and coercion to recruit informers.

In the past number of weeks the PSNI (a discredited police force) have increased their harassment of republican activists. Not a word of criticism coming from PSF as they join policing boards.

This harassment includes people being stopped in the street and intimidating them.

More recently this has escalated into assault and we witness the vicious assault of our colleague Gary Donnelly. Gary was set upon by the PSNI and in the assault had his arm broken in three places. ( I take this opportunity on your behalf to wish Gary a speedy recovery and every success in his work promoting the cause of the 32 CSM in Derry)

This is the same PSNI the PSF leaders are asking us to accept, the same PSNI they are asking the people to inform to on republicans.

The PSNI are not an acceptable police service. They are not a Civic Police force.

They are directly involved in political policing and their chief Hugh Orde recently revealed on RTE that they have a direct link to MI5.

He said their intelligence comes directly from MI5 and that the PSNI have a specialist unit working with MI5.

So much for PSF’s claim that there is no link between the PSNI and MI5 and that the PSNI are not involved in political policing. For as we said throughout the Policing debate the issue of policing cannot be separated from the constitutional question. And the primary role of any regional British police force is the defence of the realm.

The reality is the PSNI can never or will never be an acceptable police force no matter how many members of PSF sit on policing boards.

There is a need for acceptable and accountable policing but PSF failed to secure that when in discussions with the British Government because the British government would not allow it on their agenda and PSF agreed the British agenda in the GFA and at the ST Andrews agreement.

In the past fortnight this police force attempted to recruit an informer to spy on republicans in Tyrone. He refused and told them he had no information to give them.

This family man sought advice and went to his solicitor. He done the right thing and I would call on everyone who is approached in this way to resist and to record the incident with their solicitor or seek advice from the 32CSM. I also ask people who find themselves in this position to go public to expose what the British government is really doing here, expose the true extent of political policing and expose what the establishment parties in Stormont are involved in when they call for the Nationalist people to inform on their neighbours and friends.

We in the 32CSM deplore such actions and demand and end to this practice an end to political policing and an end to the PSNI. They must be disbanded.

Republicans have to be vigilant on this issue because I have no doubt the PSNI are setting up individuals for incarceration with false allegations or contaminated evidence or worse.

Individual republicans are being set up for murder.

We must adhere to our clear strategy on the anti-British policing debate and we have a duty to inform the Irish people what is going on in their name.

Throughout the past year the 32 CSM produced documents in our contribution to the anti-British policing debate.

Entitled, No Other Law and the Necessity of Policing. These are good templates in our campaign and I urge all republicans to read them and to use them in discussions and debates on policing and to read them in conjunction with our other documents as a means, not only to advance our own development, but as a means of engaging with other republican groups to move forward the republican position.

This type of engagement has been taking place under the banner of Republican Unity.

It is unfortunate that some see republican unity as a broad front, it is not.

Given the diversity of republican groupings and given the common ground that exists across those organizations I believe it is right that republicans engage and cooperate on areas of agreement.

This does not in any way infringe on their respective organizations but in reality enhances the areas of agreement.

When republicans engaged with each other over the past year we witnessed the support that emerged from the republican heartlands. The areas of discussion included the anti-British policing campaign.

We also had a very successful commemoration in Bodenstown at the grave of the father of republicanism, Theobald Wolfe Tone.

If we all refuse to engage with each other misconceptions of each others position will ferment, a very unhealthy position for republicans I would say and it allows our opponents to be critical in a devious manner,
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however the republican Unity Forum has merit and I believe will continue with serious debate and discussion and planned events in our endeavors to overcome the anti republican propaganda emanating from the British Government, the Dublin Government, the establishment parties and sadly from former comrades who failed the republican position in favour of the British agenda.

Next year the people in the 26 Counties will be asked to vote in a referendum on the EU constitution. They are being asked to violate their sovereignty in favour of the EU version.

The 32CSM have called for a resounding rejection of the EU constitution because it further dilutes the sovereignty of the Irish Nation.

We have called for a no vote based on a separatist perspective and have invited other groups to develop this perspective. We drafted Six Points Of Rejection as a template for a republican No Campaign. They are:

1.Any objection to the proposed EU Constitution on the grounds of democratic deficiency and absence of accountability concerning EU Parliamentary activity and its Member States must equally be applied to the democratic deficiency and absence of accountability concerning British Parliamentary activity in Ireland.

2.Given that the dual referenda held in relation to the Good Friday Agreement was hailed by some as an act of self determination by the Irish people, and accepted as such by the EU, will the outcome of a referendum held within the Southern jurisdiction only be viewed as a diminution of Irish self determination? That a conflict of interpretation clearly exists within the EU as to what exactly constitutes an act of self determination by the Irish people the proposed Constitution should not be submitted for ratification to the Irish people up until such time as an act of self determination by the Irish people is clearly defined according to International Law.

3.Whilst the EU Constitution lists an impressive array of fundamental rights it claims it seeks to protect the fundamental right of peoples to national sovereignty is not amongst them. This has grave implications for both existing sovereignty’s and sovereignty’s currently under dispute.

4. Given the 1990 British declaration of having ‘no selfish, strategic or economic reasons’ for remaining in Ireland does the provisions of the EU Constitution stating; “The Union's competence in matters of common foreign and security policy shall cover all areas of foreign policy and all questions relating to the Union's security, including the progressive framing of a common defence policy that might lead to a common defence”.….have any bearing on that declaration? The EU Constitution should be rejected pending a British declaration of its long term intentions toward Ireland.

5.The pursuit of a common foreign and defence policy by the more powerful Member States of the EU will inevitably reach a point wherein economic and development aid will be strategically dispensed to ensure compliance to such common policies amongst the weaker members. Given that the most powerful political and military force on the island of Ireland is the British Government it stands to reason that British considerations on this matter will be the driving force behind its policies in Ireland.

6.Both the Irish Government and the EU Parliament have demonstrated a disdain for sovereign decisions of Member States, as they define that sovereignty, with the Irish Government refusing to abide by a NO vote in its own referendum on the Nice Treaty and the EU Parliaments rejection of its own decree that ‘all agree or none agree’ edict on the EU Constitution concerning the French rejection of that Constitution.

We see the Democratic Republican Forum as a vehicle for republicans to unite on this issue and to get the republican message across to the republican base and the Irish people.

Equally we see the issue of resources such as the Shell to Sea situation in Mayo as a direct contravention and violation of Irish National Sovereignty.

The harassment of the people of Rossport who have stood on principle over the path of such a dangerous pipe line demonstrates the depths Bertie Ahern will sink to not only sell out our natural resources but our sovereignty which he violated when he abandoned the people in the occupied area to British Rule.

We in the 32CSM invite all republican groups to engage with us on this issue and we have submitted to these groups our main objections to the EU constitution.

I have covered our work with others, now let us look at ourselves.

For some time, the National Executive have looked at firming up the structures of this movement.

Areas that have formed cumman are presently taking the lead with organized events such as pickets and protests.

The Raytheon protest in Derry is a prime example of our members engaging with others in making protest.

The Crown reaction is typical with the heavy hand of the PSNI and the use of British courts to criminalize legitimate protest.

This type of well thought-out protest is not only legitimate but another weapon in the struggle.

It is the visual aspect of our work, demonstrating what we represent and demonstrates our commitment and our challenge to British Rule in Ireland.

Other areas who have organized have held successful commemorations to our republican dead.

We still have areas were there is no structures and I know we have members. I urge you to set up cummain in these areas.

Your presence both in discussions and on the street will give encouragement to others to get involved in important issues. I have no doubt we can do this.

Areas should use our documents as a means for debate and to engage with others.

We should be involved in local campaigns and use our material to articulate our position within these campaigns.

I urge you to recruit new members and by having structures it will make recruitment easier.

We should be honest in our approach on the simple basis that the problem can only be resolved if we recognize a problem exists.

On the issue of Partition we recognize that to counteract it we need to address how it functions and campaign with All-Ireland alternatives.

This is not an ideological position but a sharing of tasks across the republican base for a unified approach and I again call on all groups to seriously get involved and discuss with us our recent document Dismantling Partition.

Moving on then to publicity, this is the most important department for getting our message out whether it be through statements, letters to the papers, our own paper The Sovereign Nation or our web site,

Publicity is the key to keeping the base informed.

The establishment media have chosen to ignore us, however well planned events have got some publicity in local areas.

Again our cummain should discuss frequently issues and events that the media should be made aware of and our members should be issuing statements through our PRO.

Again I do not have to tell you the importance of our own paper. We need more contributors and articles of relevance to ensure our paper is kept up to date and is good reading for republicans.

We need sellers to increase sales and to expand getting our message across.

Relating to our web site; In keeping with a decision taken at a previous AGM to move the administration back to Ireland, we have now developed our site and the incoming National Executive will be launching it soon.

Finally let us move forward with our challenge based on what we can achieve.

We have a sound and correct analysis; based on that we have lodged our challenges, now let us enhance that challenge.

Let us look forward to 2016, the centenary of the 1916 Rising. Others have told us Ireland would be free by then, however the reality is different.

The British Agenda is now beginning to take hold with a tighter grip, those in Stormont can only pay lip service to the republican position. They know that and we know it.

We have time to build success so that by 2016 we and hopefully along with all other republican organizations unified we will pay tribute to the leaders of 1916 with a fitting commemoration by republicans upholding the Fenian tradition and by republicans who are upholding the Proclamation thereby upholding Irish National Sovereignty.

2016 is not an end but a beginning and by assisting each other this unified approach will be a fitting memorial to all who have given their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom.

In promoting this approach we in the 32 CSM strategically call for ;

1.A democratic united republican mandate.
2.A British declaration of their long term intentions towards Ireland.
3.A Unionist Green paper on Irish Unity.
4.A Dublin Green paper on Irish unity.
5.A combined Republican Socialist commemoration for the Centenary Celebrations of the 1916 Rising.
6.The redevelopment of the republican base.

This is our view, it is one view but it is a view to positively and actively advance the republican challenge.

Let us take the right direction and make it work.

Go Raibh Maith Agat