ADAMS REJECTS LECTURING FROM DUBLIN

[mrgorth]

ADAMS REJECTS LECTURING FROM DUBLIN
02/27/05 16:10 EST

Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, has hit out at
politicians in the Republic for demonising republicans in
Belfast.


Speaking at a commemoration ceremony in south Armagh, Mr
Adams said he would not accept being lectured by the Dublin
Government on the patriotic duties of Sinn Féin.


"We will not allow politicians, especially those who are
glorying in the current difficulties to criminalise those
who support us or, more importantly, to set the political
agenda," he added.


He said republicans would face hard choices as they push
ahead with their political plans and attempt to achieve a
united Ireland.


At the commemoration for two IRA members Brendan Burns and
Brendan Moley, Mr Adams stressed that his party rejected
criminality and believed no republican worthy of the name
could be involved in criminal acts.


In a reference to recent strained relations with the
Taoiseach and Ireland's Minister for Jusice, Mr McDowell, he
said: "The republican people of Belfast do not need Irish
Government ministers to lecture us on our patriotic duties.
Nor should they or others in a political establishment in
Dublin demonise the good people of the Markets and the Short
Strand."


As a rally organised by the family of murdered Belfast man
Robert McCartney is got under way in Short Strand in East
Belfast, Mr Adams told republicans the murder had "shocked
hundreds of thousands of republicans throughout Ireland and
we are united in our call for anyone with information about
the killing to come forward."


"I want to send my support to the rally which is taking
place in the Short Strand this afternoon and which is being
attended by Sinn Féin leaders in the city. Sinn Féin fully
supports the family of Robert McCartney in their demand for
justice and truth. I have met the family and I remain in
contact with them."


The IRA has expelled three of its members over the killing.


Mr Adams said Sinn Féin was "totally and absolutely
committed" to bringing the peace process to a successful
conclusion.


"We are also committed to bringing about Irish unity and
independence and to representing all those who vote for us."


The Sinn Féin president said his colleague in the Dail, Mr
Caoimhghin O caolain spoke for republicans across Ireland
when he said his party rejected criminality of any kind.


He repeated Mr Ocaolain's comment that: "There is no room in
Sinn Fein for other than a clear and unambiguous commitment
to democratic politics and the pursuit of our goals by legal
and peaceful means."


Mr Adams said republicans had demonstrated their capacity to
take great risks to achieve the greatest change. And he
added: "Inevitably that will mean more hard choices, more
hard decisions for Irish republicans as we push ahead with
our political project and as we seek to achieve a united
Ireland. We are up for the challenge today. We are
determined to see all the guns taken out of Irish politics
and to be part of the collective effort that will create the
conditions where the IRA ceases to exist. We are determined
that the issues of policing, demilitarisation, human rights
and equality are dealt with. But republicans cannot make
peace on our own."
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