British Armed Forces Day to be Opposed

18/05/09

éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson announced on Saturday (May 16) that plans to glorify the British armed forces in the Six Counties would be actively opposed by the socialist republican party.

A number of councils in the Six Counties have announced their intention to participate in the British government’s Armed Forces Day in late June.

Speaking at éirígí’s Ard Fheis in Dublin, Leeson said: “The role of Britian’s armed forces in Ireland and around the world has been one of death, destruction and terrorism. The plan to celebrate the actions of these bodies in occupied Ireland is totally unacceptable – éirígí will be actively opposing this stunt.

“There are hundreds of families around the Six Counties who have lost loved ones as a result of the actions of the British army. 5,000 British troops remain garrisoned in the Six Counties as part of an undemocratic occupation. The British army has just withdrawn from an illegal war in Iraq and remains integrally involved in the war against the Afghan people. These are all reasons for the British army’s presence in Ireland to be opposed, not celebrated.”

Brian continued: “éirígí has consistently opposed the British occupation from the party’s formation. Last year, we took the initiative in bringing people onto the streets in peaceful protest against the RIR’s coat trailing procession through Belfast. Today, the party is again taking the lead in opposing British ‘armed forces day’.

“All others who oppose the British occupation should do likewise.”