Ógra Shinn Féin recently (17 – 19 Feb) attended an International Festival in Corsica. The Scontri Internaziunali, was organised by youth movement Ghjuventú Indipendentista, and held in Corte, the historic Capital of the Corsican Nation.
The festival was organised to celebrate the diversity of culture, language and heritage in small occupied nations, and the various movement’s struggle for emancipation and freedom.
There was also delegations from Kanaky (South Pacific) and Kabilia (North Africa), who participated in various internal workshops and public debates on minority languages and globalisation.
Speaking following the delegation, Ógra activist Marcas O’Mhaoldomhaigh said,
“Ógra Shinn Féin supports the right to national self determination of small nations across the world, and believe that Ireland’s freedom struggle must be part of a global struggle and movement to create an empowered free people and egalitarian world. International festivals like the Scontri Internaziunali help build networks, understanding and solidarity between those who struggle for freedom across the world.”
“The main talk of the week was on globalisation and we talked about the need for more co-operation between nations, and that we are for a European Union, but a social Europe with a social Ireland playing a progressive role in it. Delegates and the Corsican public where particularly interested in the Irish defeat of the Lisbon Treaty, which we spoke at length on, highlighting Ógra and Sinn Féin’s role in ensuring a successful No! vote. We outlined our position in Europe and global co-operation to that of James Connolly’s ‘a free federation of free peoples’.”
“We also addressed the issue of minority languages and spoke about the current state of the Irish language across Ireland. We focussed on the campaign to get Acht na Gaeilge implemented in the north, and the benefits that this would bring in the promotion of the Irish language.”
“The Scontri Internaziunali was very beneficial in extending our knowledge of other struggles and helping build up solidarity links and working relations with various movements. There is an awful lot of positives that can be gained from international solidarity actions like these, not least the sharing of ideas but also the reassurance that we are not alone in our struggle for Independence in Ireland.”
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7 comments:
"Ógra Shinn Féin supports the right to national self determination..."
You forgot to add:
"...except to the people of Northern Ireland".
To Keith,
Only the unionist people do not want national self determination, rather remain as part of a phony imperialist state - the 'united kingdom' because of their perceived priviledge status within the 'union.'
Keith just accept that the GFA was agreed, and it is now a democratic road to freedom, when the majority if of people in the North (won't be to long) vote in a referenda for freedom, it will happen, just like Scotland, and hopefully in Wales in the not to distant future. Looks like the uk is f**ked ;)
Joe
Fair play on building international solidarity. Keep up the good work.
Joe
Joe,
If the majority population of Northern Ireland wish to remain a part of the United Kingdom then so be it; individual reasons are irrelevant because this is how democracy works.
You seem to be falling into that stereotypical and hypocritical Republican stance of dismissing unionist identity as illegitimate whilst demanding that Republican identity be regarded as sacrosanct.
I fully support the Good Friday Agreement, because it acknowledges that Northern Ireland's constitutional status must be decided by Northern Ireland's population alone. This is the democratic principle of self-determination in progress. If you support the GFA as you claim you do then you support the existance of Northern Ireland so long as a majority of its population wishes it.
Yes, it is more than possible that the United Kingdom could be abolished in the future but, as long as there is the democratic support for such a union to exist - as their currently is - then you should acknowledge that state's continued right to exist, even if you personally wish that it didn't exist at all.
I think the key word here is 'national'. The right of the people of the island of Ireland, the Irish nation, partitioned in 1920 to make their decision as a collective people. There is no 'Northern Irish' (sic) nation. Merely an articficially created border through the island.
The GFA was an historic compromise for republicans because it meant republican's accepting the majority vote of the 26 and 6 counties, rather than Ireland as a whole.
While this was not a republican document or wholly satisfiable, it did mean it was something which the Unionist people could agree to, and then allow republicans and unionists to democratically popularise their positions.
The reality is we have a majority in the 26 Counties for a United Ireland, and we 45%+ support for a United Ireland in the North, we only need to convince a small minority of the Unionist?protestant community in order to call a referenda, which is very achieveable considering the sustained growth and popularisation of SF and the Republican position, and the continued fragmentation of Unionism.
Norn Iron, our wee country, the province, our watever else reference is given to this mystical fantastical land will be no more after 2016.
Onwards to Freedom!
Joe
Joe,
"...an articficially 9sic) created border"
Er, aren't all borders artificial, what with nation states being social-political entities and not naturally occuring phenomena? Would any political border exist if people themselves didn't?
And besides, doesn't the fact that a majority of Northern Ireland's population have supported the state's existence for the entirety of its 85 year history - a democratically expressed consent at that - not count for anything?
I'm not a Unionist - I'll support the unification of Northern Ireland with the Republic when a majority of the population in both states wish it, as stipulated in the Good Friday Agreement - but I object to those who believe the principle of self-determination within Northern Ireland should be ignored, and particularly those who believe this should be achieved by the use of force. I assume you condemn the RIRA and CIRA attacks of the past few days?
For someone who claims to adhere to the democratic consent principle you have a surprising amount of contempt for the democratically expressed wishes of Northern Ireland. Now why is that I wonder...
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