RSF Attend Sardinian Conference

international | miscellaneous | press release Saturday October 11, 2003 17:14 by Ailín

Republican Sinn Féin were represented at a recent conference in Sardinia organised by CONSEU (Conference of the Stateless Nations of Europe), held in Cagliari and hosted by the Regional Council of Sardinia.

The conference was opened by the President of the Sardinian Regional Council, Efisio Serrenti. Attended by representatives of independence movements, trade unions, culture and language groups and academics from the various stateless nations of Europe such as: Catalonia, The Basque Country, Sicily, The Faroe Islands, Brittany, Scotland, The Canary Islands, Sardinia and Corsica. The Conference discussed the changed political climate post 'September 11' and the recent US led war on Iraq, focussing in particular the impact this has had on the various independence movements, in terms of increased repression The conference agreed to hold an anti - repression conference in Brittany next year.

Addressing the conference RSF Assistant Publicity Officer Des Dalton outlined the political situation in Ireland, the on going attempts to criminalize and coerce Irish Republicans opposed to the 'Stormont Agreement', the denial of political status to political prisoners and the continued failure of the 'Stormont Agreement' to deliver a stable, lasting and just peace, "an agreement which has institutionalised sectarianism, whilst co - opting the Provisionals into the apparatus of British rule in Ireland." he pointed out. He went on the speak about RSF's alternative programme for the creation of a new Ireland: "ÉIRE NUA provides the only blueprint for a sane and credible alternative to the present British imposed partitionist institutions north and south, institutions which have so clearly failed the Irish people over the past 82 years."