SINN FÉIN is well-placed to “peacefully and democratically” persuade unionists of the merits of a united Ireland, the party president Gerry Adams has told republicans in south Armagh.
In a speech marking the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes, Mr Adams focused on the prospects of achieving a united Ireland. He again called for voting rights to be extended to Northern Ireland people for Irish presidential elections, but gave no hints on whether Sinn Féin would stand a candidate. He said Britain’s claim to the North was now a simple majority vote, and Irish “republicanism was stronger today than at any time since partition”.
“Of course we have a huge job of work to do to persuade unionists of the merits of the republican and democratic position. But we are also in a very good place to do this,” he said in Camlough.
“Achieving our republican goals will not be easy,” he added. “While unionist leaders now see the benefits of working on an all-Ireland basis, they remain opposed to a united Ireland. So there is work to be done peacefully and democratically with them. Sinn Féin is up for that work.”
Mr Adams said the British government, “despite its protestations to the contrary, and its systems, has yet to face up to its responsibilities to the people of this island. It can best do this by leaving us to manage our own affairs.
“The Irish Government, and in particular the Irish political establishment, is partitionist. That is evident in so many ways – for example, in the resistance thus far to extending voting rights in presidential elections to Irish citizens living in the North,” he added.
Sinn Féin’s position was that it would not decide on running in the election or supporting a standing candidate until after its ruling ard chomhairle meets next month.
The Sinn Féin ardfheis is to take place for the first time in Belfast on Friday and Saturday, September 9th and 10th. A spokesman said yesterday a final decision on the presidency was not likely until after that event.
Mr Adams said it was “Sinn Féin strategy” that had brought the “British and the unionists and the Irish Government to the negotiating table”. He said Sinn Féin did not want Ireland ruled by London, the International Monetary Fund or the European Union.
“Sinn Féin is from that democratic tradition which believes that the British government never had any right to be in Ireland; does not have any right to be in Ireland and never will have any right to be in Ireland,” added Mr Adams.
“Our duty is to develop democratic ways and means to achieve and to unite behind the leadership and the campaigns which will bring this about.”
