Subj:	CNS staement get up
Date:	98-02-24 21:03:59 EST
From:	IRWAC
To:	FenianBoyo

its been checked for tyops but you should give a quick look dont add words unless painfully obviose  notify me of any changes or typos 
if you open you emial bigger should all be formated right
if you find any typo an fix them send me the text back i can put it up on teh aol message board or you can if ya want to 

On Tuesday, 17 February 1998, the Provisional representatives at the "talks" were dismissed. At their dismissal 
the British Government let it be known that they were less than pleased with the Provisionals lack of control over 
glaigh na hireann volunteers and dissidents.  Also made clear was that after a few weeks the Provisional 
representatives would be allowed,  -- by gracious favour of her Majesty's Government back into the talks. 

Yet again, the English show their utter disregard for for the Irish.  In this latest scenario, the English have taken 
the role of "Headmaster" and have ordered the rowdy Provisionals home  until they've learned their lesson.  This 
in turn begs the question  of just how many rowdy Unionist will be sent home? 

So much for "Parity of esteem".  An apparently, for Mr. Adams, so much for trying to get it.    When being 
threatened with being sent down by the British Headmaster, this rowdy Provisional advised  that if  they did, he 
wasn't coming back, period.  Perhaps its time we remind Mr. Adams of his own words spoken at Bodenstown 
some years ago,  "No Irish politician has the right to negotiate anything on behalf of the Irish people other than a 
United Ireland.  It is unfortunate for traditional and true Republicans everywhere that this took 4 years to play 
out. 

When the so-called Downing Street Declaration was delivered by the then British Prime Minister John Major 
and the then Free State Prime minister Albert Reynolds, Cumman na Saoirse issued a statement condemning the  
the Declaration.  At the time we advised, that it only  offered false hope for a false peace.  When the cease-fire 
came in to effect the following August, Cumann na Saoirse Followed up with another statement cautioning  
Republicans and former comrades about the inherent dangers the Cease-fire presented.  Reminding all, we 
advised that there could be no real settlement with out the inclusion in the talks of the three Republican demands: 
 

    1. A declaration of intent by the British Government to withdraw their army of occupation. 
     2 Amnesty for all political prisoners in the occupied 6 counties: Free State and England and elsewhere around the 
world. 
     3. The formation of a constituent assembly elected by the suffrage of all  the people of Ireland to decide as a unit 
the future of ireland and draft anew constitution. 

As such, with these three points ignored  the Cease-fire took on the mantle of a surrender. 

Now, almost four years after the disastrous decision of the Provisional leadership to walk yet further away from 
the Republic, and engage in talks with the British Government with out any  of the three republican demands on 
the table, and with  the cease-fire, we can see just how far the the movement has come.  Nowhere! 
 

If anything , Cumann na Saoirse feels that this entire process has done more damage to the Republican 
Movement and the Armed Struggle than any other event in the past 30 years.  And that exactly  where we see 
the movement-- Just as it was 30 years ago. 

Cumann na Saoirse and indeed, traditional an true Republicans every where are continually heartened  to see 
brave soldiers of the Republic continuing  to pursue the withdrawal of the foreign Army of Occupation.   These 
brave volunteers do not need to be told how much has been lost  these past four years, they know it first hand.  
In matters of active support, volunteers on the ground, arms, and intelligence gathering of MI5 & MI6 , the entire 
movement  has been irreparably harmed. 

Now the real work Begins. 

All true republicans must now reconsecrate themselves to the realization of a true  and united 32 county Irish 
Republic.  If the movement and her supporters have learned  anything  in the past 4 years it is  that the British 
were never committed to these talks, ( just a they never have been in any previous talks--a point often raised by 
the provisional leadership to thwart those opposed to the current talks who engaged the British in talks in the 
70's)   Their aim is as it has always been, is to break the Republican Movement. 

Through blind loyalty and, we hope, a true, if misguided belief that unity  was near, many of our former 
comrades  learned a bitter lesson.   The words of Sean Keenan spring to mind, "Follow the cause, not the man. a 
man will let you down---but the cause will never!!!!" 

Cumann na Saoirse calls on all members, supporters, former comrades, and dissidents to now pick up gallant 
mantle-- the republican Movement.   We must unite and work together in the aim of  restoring  the 32 county 
Irish Republic as Declared in Arms Easter 1916 and as endorsed by the 1919 and 1921 Daileanna ireann. 

The final lesson we take from  the fiasco that was the "peace" (sic) process, is that that the Republic will never be 
restored working  with or within the partitionist assembly  at Leinster House, The Palace of Westminster, or any  
future restored Stormont.  The Republic can  and will only  be restored  by the will of Irish People - steadfast 
and true to the Cause. 

We close recalling  the words of the late Commandant General Thomas Maguire, TD, the last and faithful 
survivor of the 2nd All Ireland Dil, "May the cause so nobly served ultimately  triumph!" 

We in Cumman na Saoirse firmly believe it will and invite all  like minded persons to join  un in it's pursuit! 


An Phoblacht Abu! 
Bir bua, 
Catherine Burke 
PRO 



