RSF oppose EU Constitution

[scarface]

RSF oppose EU Constitution
Statement by the Vice President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

Republican Sinn Féin, just as we have in each referenda on the EU since
1972 will be actively campaigning for a ‘No’ vote in next year’s
referendum on the EU Constitution. The entire EU project is fundamentally
undemocratic; eroding the rights of states, placing the power of decision
making in the hands of unelected and unaccountable officials, the
imposition of water rates on schools a recent glaring example of the
unaccountable power of Brussels. The EU Constitution, despite the cynical
attempt to fool people by calling it a treaty, marks one of the final
steps in the creation of an undemocratic, militarised super-state

The comments of EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy on December 3 that the
Irish people would be “the laughing stock of Europe” if they reject
the EU constitution exposes the arrogance and patronising attitude to the
Irish people of the political elite. Neither the French or Dutch
people were so described when they rejected the EU constitution in 2004.

By rejecting the EU constitution, the people of the 26-Counties far
from being a “laughing stock” would be giving a lead as well as
representing the views of people throughout the EU who are being denied an
opportunity to voice their opposition to the creation of an EU super state.
In the case of the French and Dutch people their views as expressed in
their respective referenda in 2004 are being ignored. This is not unique
to France and Holland; the democratically expressed views of the
people of the 26-Counties were ignored in 2001 when they rejected the Nice
Treaty.

Republican Sinn Féin is calling on people who are serious about
building a society based on real economic and political democracy, worker’s
rights and equitable distribution of wealth, who believe in national
democracy, who support neutrality and oppose involvement in imperialist
wars, to join the campaign to reject the EU constitution.

Ends.

[mickyk200]

Is there any of sort of established authority you lads do agree with?

[DublinRepublican]

Fair play to Sinn Fein and their as always principled stand!

[scarface]

Is there any of sort of established authority you lads do agree with?

well since all 'established authorities' are partitionist and/or capatilist then the answer is no

[mickyk200]

well since all 'established authorities' are partitionist and/or capatilist then the answer is no
eh what about the cuban government?
you got those lads backs?

[scarface]

eh what about the cuban government?
you got those lads backs?

well i meant things that have an impact on republicanism e.g LH,stormont a possiable european super state

[quirk]

I think all republican separatist organisations should have opposed this treaty chiefly on the basis of partition.

[mickyk200]

well i meant think that have an impact on republicanism e.g LH,stormont a possiable european super state
Give Fidel a shout and he might come over and give Brown an ear full for yas ;]

[DublinRepublican]

Give Fidel a shout and he might come over and give Brown an ear full for yas ;]

Would be better than consorting with brown and his lackeys.

[mickyk200]

Would be better than consorting with brown and his lackeys.
I agree although I doubt Fidel will leave Cuba in his current state...he's not that well, he's getting like an old man now so, Brown and his co-horts will have to do...

[quirk]

The 32CSM recently sent a letter to all republican organisations proposing that part of what they oppose the EU constitution on be based on the issue of the British presence in Ireland. By doing this we could use this referendum to hi light partition, something which would have been beneficial to all republicans. While it is good to see that RSF are opposing the treaty I think that it is a pity they haven't put partition forward as one of the reasons for doing so.

We proposed that all republican organisations oppose the treaty based upon the following points:

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.