The Real Reasons for the rush to the Somme

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Wednesday July 05, 2006 11:44 by Des Long - lris lris at eircom dot net lris (061) 343314

Fianna Fail leader says he will not wear a poppy

All the coverage in relation to the commemoration of the Somme mask the real intent of the politicians and the failed Good Griday Agreement

Limerick Republicans Des long (left) and Joe Lynch

Media release from
Des Long, Chairman
Limerick Republican Information Service
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For the attention of News Editor/Newsroom…
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SOMME EVENT POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM

The admission by the leader of Fianna Fail that he would
not wear a poppy in November after the joint ceremony to
commemorate the Somme is an indication of the political
opportunism of his administration, the chairman of the
Limerick Republican Information Service said today.

Des Long said that the comment by Bertie Ahern that he
would not wear a poppy because it was not part of his
tradition goes to the core of the present attempt by his
administration to normalise British rule in Ireland.

“Let us not be fooled here, there is an agenda to
normalise British rule in the island of Ireland,”
said Mr.Long.

“All these so called joint undertakings from the police playing
Gaelic football with the PSNI to now marking the Somme,
are all designed to erode our Republican traditions.

“There can be no justification for linking the Easter Rising of
1916 with the slaughter at the Somme –and people who do so
should be ashamed of themselves. There is no way an age old
struggle for national self-determination can be linked with an
Empire waging an imperial war.

“While he agrees with all this revisionism in relation to our
Republican history, the leader of Fianna Fail now baulks at the
wearing of the poppy. Why will he not wear it? He says it
is not in his tradition. Well honouring imperial wars of the British
Crown is certainly not in the Republican tradition of the Irish people.

“The real agenda here is the attempt by the failed Good Friday
Agreement to normalise British rule throughout the island of
Ireland. It will be resisted by all true Republicans.”

(Ends)
Issued on Wednesday 5th July 2006
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for confirmation please contact Des Long, on (061) 343314
or e-mail contact: [email protected].