Impressions from Sinn Féin's Ard Fheis in Dublin
Uschi Grandel, Dublin, March 7, 2010
The annual Ard Fheis (party conference) of the Irish Republican party Sinn Féin took place on March 5.-6., 2010 in
Dublin. The theme was "Fostaiocht - Cothroime - Comhionannas - Aontacht (Jobs - Fairness - Equality - Unity)".
The demand for fundamental changes of the Irish society was present in most of the debates. Sinn Féin President
Gerry Adams highlighted in his speech the conditions under which change is possible:
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams: "Make Change Possible"
"... If ever Ireland needed leadership it needs it now ... The Irish people needs leaders to ensure that no banker
will evict a family from their home. That no farm of land will be sold off over a family's head. That no worker
will be victimised ... But let me be clear about this. I am not talking about leaders coming down to us from on high.
I am talking about everyone who is prepared to make a stand against corruption, greed and injustice. Every woman,
every man, every citizen who makes such a stand is a leader. Every little act of resistance, of rebellion, of
protest, makes change possible.
Most struggles aren't won by single actions. Or by iconic leaders. Though they have their role. They are won by
people, taking individual actions, which accumulate into irreversible change. It was true of the suffragettes.
It was true of the anti-apartheid movement. It was true when Rosa Parks wouldn't give up her seat and it is true
here in Ireland ... That is what happened throughout our history. In our homes. On the streets. On lonely hillsides.
By glensides. In the prisons. This is what happened in the history of human kind. It's what is happening across
the globe ..."
"Stand up for ourselves. And for others."
He warmly welcomed the international guests:
"... Representatives from many of these struggles are with us tonight. Cead mile Failte romhaibh to all of our
visitors. Especially, to our friends from the Basque country; from the USA and Canada; from Cuba; from South Africa,
agus go hairithe ar n-anam chaired from Palestine. All these struggles show the enduring power of the human spirit
in the search for freedom and justice.Freedom and justice is possible, if we really want it ..."
Gerry Kelly, for decades Irish Republican activist and now Junior Minister in the Executive in the North spoke on
the meaning of international solidarity. Kattalin Madariaga, the representative of the Basque abertzale Left was
member of parliament of the Basque Autononous Community until her party was banned by the Spanish state. She had a
message from Arnaldo Otegi, who is in prison since October 2009 for being a leading figure of the peace initiative of
the Basque Left. Bairbre de Brun, member of the EU Parliament, spoke about the situation in Palestine. The speeches
can be found below:
>> Gerry Kelly, Sinn Féin: "Nothing is impossible in struggle"
>> Kattalin Madariaga, Basque Abertzale Left: "A message from Arnaldo Otegi"
>> Bairbre De Brun, Sinn Féin: "Solidarity with the people of Palestine"
The full speech of Gerry Adams can be found on our website as well.
Gerry Kelly: "Nothing is impossible in struggle"
Our struggle has gone through many phases and twists and turns within phases. Our history is one of occupation and
oppression going back many centuries. This long phase of our struggle which included almost three decades and more
of armed conflict means that at least 2 generations of people living in Ireland know the huge personal cost of
fighting for freedom and independence.
Because of that history, Sinn Féin is an internationalist party. We understand the suffering going on in conflicts
throughout the globe. When we were in need during the conflict in Ireland and indeed during the peace process and
the ongoing political process fellow internationalist came and continued to come to our aid. To offer advice and
practical help. Those peoples who suffer from oppression throughout the world understand the suffering of others
in a similar situation.
It is one of the great truths of freedom fighters that they always, even in the midst of the worst turmoil in their
own countries or in their personal lives - that they dig deeper and find time to give to other comrades and communities
who need help.
So let me on behalf of all Irish republican activists give all those people who have helped in our struggle a massive
thank you. In helping us in whatever way you have - and there were many different ways you became part of our struggle.
In turn, I hope that whatever help or we gave to your fight for freedom and independence can in some small way be of
assistance. We have had activists travel to many conflict areas including the Basque Country, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Cyprus
and the Phillipines. Not because we have the answers or that our negotiation process can be neatly set on top of any
other struggle but because we have a story to tell about Ireland an Britain and if there is anything in that telling
which helps others in their search then the telling is worth it.
But let me finish with this; for decades and indeed centuries those who simply wanted to crush republicanism or to
demoralise the Irish kept saying “ the Irish problem was intractable”. It was a British mantra internationally.
So two things: firstly, it wasn’t an Irish problem, it is a British problem in Ireland. Secondly and most importantly, to all
those out there, fighting for justice, freedom and equality. There are no intractable problems, nothing is
impossible in struggle.
You’re all very welcome here. Thank you for giving of your time and I hope our Ard Fheis will be of interest and
value for you all.
Kattalin Madariaga: "A message from Arnaldo Otegi"
Thank you Mrs. Chair for giving me the floor. Go raibh míle maith agat. Milesker.
Firstly, on behalf of the patriotic left I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Ard Chomhairle & the SF, for
the opportunity to address this 2010 Ard Fheis. I bring with me special greetings from all the comrades that
during last years have visited Ireland and right now are imprisoned in Spanish prisons. On behalf of all of them:
Agur bero bat!! Beir Bua comrades!!
I bring also today with me a message from a man you know here very well, currently imprisoned in Spain, a message
from Arnaldo Otegi:
"A chara, dear Gerry (both of you), Martin, Barbra, Alec, Aengus, Sheanna, Catriona and all menbers of the
Ard Chomhairle and delegates agur bero bat from the gaols of the Spanish empire.
As you know abertzale left have been involved during last months debating and defining the most effective strategy
to advance on our purpose of national independence. A strategy which making profit of the current opportunities will
make advance our abertzale, patriotic agenda. In this debate the lessons of the Irish Peace process have been very
useful during the course of the lengthy and detailed discussions conducted by the Abertzale Left throughout Euskal
Herria in recent times. The acceptance of the need for change to be brought about through a Democratic Process; a
commitment to exclusively political and democratic means and the need for a process of dialogue and negotiation
between all political forces governed by the Mitchell Pricniples are taken from the successful road map laid out
by Irish republicans over the past 16 years and more. A road map last successful Hillsborough agreement show again
it works.
The response of Spanish Government to the debate and the initiatives of abertzale left has been like always
repression and harassment. But what this really does is to show the political weakness of Spanish government
positions. It shows that Spanish government is afraid of our political positions, of our democratic political
proposals. Our proposals can not be opposed politically. Nobody can say have non sense or are oppose to the
international frame. They are afraid of a peaceful scenario where the majority of the people could decide about
their future. They use the reason of the force because they have not the force of the reason.
But we are absolutely committed to open a real opportunity to build a present and a different future for the
Basque people. There is no reasonable alternative to the democratic process to resolve the conflict.
I wish to convey our total commitment to overcome the conflict, by developing a democratic process through
exclusively political and democratic means and political dialogue & negotiation among parties.
The solution to the conflict from a democratic point of view is not only desirable but absolutely feasible.
We are completely committed to it and to promote an effective nationalist strategy to make it possible.
It is for this reason I wish to make a call in the first place to the broad abertzale people in our country to
unite and strength to move forward the democratic process. And to the International Community to assist in
the construction of a peaceful, fair, stable and lasting democratic scenario in our land.
We know the day will come; the Patriotic Left will count with the support of the majority of its people to construct
from the Left a state for the Basques in Europe. Who is afraid of the will of the Basque people? Not us!!
I want also wish you the best of luck on your journey towards an United Gaelic,
Democratic, Irish Republic. Be aware you can count in your journey on our unconditional support."
Arnaldo Otegi, from a gaol in the Spanish Empire
Comrades, I would like to end with the words of an Indian patriot, Pandi Nehru: "Long years ago we made a tryst
with destiny, and now time is coming when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very
substantially. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an
age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance."
Bairbre de Brun: "Solidarity with the people of Palestine"
Gaza is under siege, cut off from the outside world, and the West Bank is being daily cut into pieces, thus
destroying any last hope of a viable Palestinian state and a two-State solution. I recently returned from Gaza,
having visited there previously just after the Israeli military offensive a year before. Whilst some rubble has
been cleared, little has been done to reconstruct what was destroyed; there is still no accountability in relation
to the death, injury and destruction during that offensive, and the people of Gaza have not been able to rebuild
their lives.
There must be free movement of people and goods for any progress to take place, and Israel must also end its
colonisation of the West Bank. The daily building of settlements, the destruction of Palestinian homes, the severe
restrictions on free movement of Palestinians and the lack of progress with regards to the rebuilding of Gaza has
left Palestinians feeling abandoned by the international community.
The present situation is extremely damaging for the prospects for peace prospects and for Palestinian unity and
reconciliation. The siege must end, and the Goldstone report's recommendations implemented in order for an
inclusive and just negotiation process to begin.
Coverage of the Ard Fheis in the internet:
>> Sinn Féin website - Ard Fheis 2010
