“What The Proclamation
Means To Me”
By Francie Mackey
(Thirty-Two County Sovereignty Movement)
To debate this era of our history in written
form is not ideal, however, debate is essential for republicans to have
greater understanding and respect for each other’s point of view and to
tease out what divides republicans in today’s context.
The Proclamation of the Irish Republic is a fine, proud and historical
document aimed at setting out the rights of the Irish people and the right
of Nationhood. It was an awakening call to an oppressed people clearly
claiming the rights of the Irish people to be sovereign and indefeasible.
One must highlight the divisions in republicanism pre-1916 and the
Proclamation was the culmination of unity of purpose between republican
groups who joined forces in signing it. These groups were, The Citizens
Army, Cumann na mBan, The Irish Volunteers and The Irish republican
Brotherhood.
National Sovereignty was the central tenet running through the Proclamation
and continues to be the issue that remains unresolved to this present day.
The Proclamation outlined the Sovereignty of the Irish Nation, it’s people,
wealth and resources. ( ie. The right of the Irish people to the ownership
of Ireland and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies).
The signatories to the Proclamation acknowledged it to be a provisional
document as they set about to achieve it’s objectives and history shows the
Provisional Government established the Sovereignty of the Irish Nation and
were executed for challenging the British Governments illegal occupation of
Ireland.
However their sacrifice lit the flames of freedom and the Proclamation was
ratified by the Irish people in the election of 1918.
This was the only time the people of Ireland were allowed to exercise their
democratic right and they overwhelmingly endorsed the objectives of the
Proclamation.
On the 21st January 1919 the elected representatives of the Irish Nation
formed the first Dáil Éireann.
The people of Ireland had spoken and authority was given by the people to
Dáil Éireann.
Their first task was to declare their freedom with the “Declaration of
Independence”.
The 1916 Proclamation was now subservient to the Declaration of
Independence, it’s aims having being democratically achieved.
The Declaration of Independence is now the lawful decision of the Irish
people, it super-cedes the Proclamation.
Having said that, the contents of the Proclamation were flawless in the aims
and objectives of the Irish people and live on, as they are incorporated in
the Declaration of Independence.
The Republic was achieved and only in elections free from outside
interference can it be changed.
No such election has since taken place. 1918 was the first and last time the
Irish people were allowed to exercise their democratic right.
History has shown us that the British Government refused to accept the
democratic wish of the Irish people and usurped the will of the people
through the use of and the threat of force.
Since then there have been many attempts to rubbish the legal and
constitutional position of the Irish people and this is evident in every
illegal treaty that has been put forward, the latest being the 1998
agreement.
The British Government has no legal rights in any part of Ireland.
It has been so-called great republican leaders who have failed to uphold the
wish of the Irish people that leaves republicanism in the divided position
we find today.
The Unionist veto that exists in the occupied Six Counties is illegal and
would not be tolerated in any other democracy.
The setting up of a devolved/puppet parliament at Stormont to administer
British Rule in Ireland is illegal.
The participants to Stormont are “Home Rulers” not Republican. They have
usurped the Sovereignty of the Irish Nation as set out in the Proclamation
and endorsed by the people of Ireland in democratic election.
In conclusion, the Proclamation of the Irish republic is a flawless
document. It was designed as a provisional document until the Irish people
would be given control of their destinies.
It became subservient to the Declaration of Independence following the
election of the first Parliament of the Irish Republic in 1919.
The Declaration of Independence ratified the establishment of the Irish
Republic in the name of the Irish Nation.
That is the position that gave legality to every generation since then who
upheld and defended the Republic and upheld and defended the Sovereignty of
the Irish people.
That legal position has not changed since then, despite others following
populist politics.
The republican position remains to uphold and defend Irish National
Sovereignty.
I take this opportunity to wish éirígí well in promoting this debate
on the Proclamation and I sincerely hope this small contribution to that
debate will focus the broad republican community on the legitimacy of the
republican position.
I urge this debate to be broadened into informal meetings and discussions to
assist the Irish people come together to develop a common strategy to
challenge the illegality of British Rule in Ireland and how best to maximise
the defence of the Irish Nation.
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