The Need for Unity?

[Mairtin Og Meehan]

In 1986, a significant spilt took place within the Irish Republican Movement in with a sizeable number of prominent members leaving the ranks. This was due to the abandonment of the Party’s long-held policy of absenteeism from Leinster House. Those members who left reorganised themselves into Republican Sinn Fein (RSF) and the Continuity IRA.

In the meantime, their former comrades in Provisional Sinn Fein (S/F) and the IRA took over both Leaderships. During the next eight years, S/F made significant gains especially in working-class communities across the North. While the Provisional IRA continued its armed struggle against the British occupation, until peace negotiations developed between the Nationalist SDLP and Sinn Fein. This process relegated the armed campaign leading to the 1994 IRA Ceasfire. It also strengthened Sinn Fein’s hand in negotiations with the British Government.

The Continuity IRA began a number of offensive operations in the Six Counties after the second PIRA Cessation in 1996. Throughout this period RSF articulated the need for a continued armed struggle and also increased its profile and verbally attacked the Adams and McGuinness axis of PSF.

For the next two years, Dublin, Unionist and British Politicians increased pressure on PSF for Republicans to decommission their munitions and support the Joint-Framework Document. Towards December 1997, the Party endorsed these initiatives which led to yet more internal difficulties. Many prominent Activists believed this new process would ultimately involve acceptance of the Unionist Veto. For this reason a new group called the, 32 County Sovereignty Committee was formed but soon after, its members were expelled from the Provisional Movement.

Within months the breakaway Real IRA began offensive operations against Britain. On Good Friday 1998, Political Parties signed a new agreement entitled the, Belfast Agreement. The settlement rubber-stamped the Northern State within the British State and seemingly gave Nationalists a degree of equality within the Six Counties. It was also endorsed by a large section of the Irish people after two separate referendums. Elections soon followed to a new Northern Assembly at Stormont with Provisional Sinn Fein making another significant breakthrough.
Since then, we have witnessed the putting of IRA arms ‘beyond use’ and the end of the IRA’s Campaign. As well as, Sinn Fein support for the RUC/PSNI from 2007 onwards. In spite of promises from the Leadership that their strategy would inevitably led to a 32 County Socialist Democratic Republic. Most could not accept these changes and also left the Provisionals.

Despite the Leadership of RSF being correct in their analysis in 1986, they were vilified by senior members of PSF as yesterday’s men. These same smears continued unabated with members of the 32 CSM and persisted with those who left ten years later.

Is it not time for alternative Republicans unite in opposition to the current strategy employed by the Provisionals. The policies of Leinster House, Good Friday, St. Andrews and Stormont have failed. British occupation, partition and the denial of national and social freedom remain. Therefore, the struggle to free Ireland from British rule is not over. Without a tactical system of unity between compatible Republicans, the prominence of Nationalist politics will continue to neglect the Republic.