Firstly let us recall 2009 which was quite an eventful year for the liberation struggle.
I will list a few of the major events that occurred during the year and also some of the activities and events Republicans in Newry were involved in during 2009.
MASSEREENE
Just 3 months into 2009, Republican Volunteers successfully executed 2 enemy soldiers and wounded 2 other occupying troops at Massereene Barracks. The Volunteers then brazenly walked towards the enemy and continued to fire ensuring that they were successfully executed. 2 collaborators were also injured in the operation.
RUC/PSNI OFFICER EXECUTED
Days later Republican Insurgents struck again this time successfully executing a member of the British police in Craigavon. 2 local Republicans, JP Wootten and Brendan McConville are currently being held by enemy forces.
MICRO MINISTER CALLS REPUBLICANS "TRAITORS"
Shortly afterwards ,British Micro-Minister, Martin McGuiness stood beside the chief of the British Militia and labelled Irish Republicans as "traitors". Whatever honourable things Martin may have done in the past they went straight out the window with that remark. That's now what he will be remembered for.
COLIN DUFFY INTERNED BY REMAND
In the days following the Massereene operation Lurgan Republican and former éírígí member Colin Duffy was arrested by enemy forces and held in captivity where he still languishes to this day.
Republicans in Newry immediately became involved in the campaign to free Colin having met him and his family in Lurgan shortly before his arrest. Since then we have organised several events to highlight his plight.
Brian Shivers was also arrested and almost died in custody. He has since been released on bail.
INCREASE IN REPUBLICAN RESISTANCE
Throughout the year there were numerous gun, bomb and rocket attacks on enemy forces as mentioned earlier the Massereene and Craigavon operations, and also attacks such as the rocket launcher attack in Fermanagh, Bomb and gun attacks in Belfast and various other places, the South Armagh Village of Meigh was overtaken by Volunteers armed with AK47s and a rocket launcher as well as similar operations carried out in Fermanagh, bomb attacks in Castlewellan, Forkhill and the attack on the British Policing Board HQ in Belfast City Centre and in recent days the gun attack on an enemy barracks in South Armagh, there are Simply too many to mention.
JOHN BRADY RIP
In the Summer we were saddened to hear of the untimely death of Strabane Republican John Brady. John died in dubious circumstances whilst in custody of the British police (RUC/PSNI) in Strand Road barracks. He was giving full military honours at his funeral with a full gaurd of honour and in a fitting tribute to a true Irish Republican a volley of shots was fired over his tricolour draped coffin.
BRITISH POLICE ATTACK NATIONALISTS
Also in the Summer the RUC/PSNI showed their true colours again when they opened fire on men, women and children with lethal plastic bullets in Ardoyne injuring many people. During 2009 Ardoyne residents asked Republicans from Newry to come and stand in solidarity with them and protest against sectarian parades being forced through their area, we were only too happy to oblige and will do so again if needs be.
One thing that stood out in 2009 was the increase in harassment, intimidation, threats, assaults, raids and arrests carried out by the British police against Republicans. Thankfully more and more people are realising that the RUC/PSNI has not changed one bit.
Below i will outline the activities that Republicans in Newry were involved in throughout the year beginning with our involvement in Colin Duffy's campaign.
Slogans were also painted demanding the release of Colin (these were removed at the behest of Anti-Republicans).
NEWRY VIGIL
We helped organise a vigil back in May in the centre of Newry which Colin's family attended. Despite RUC harassment at this the event was a great success with hundreds of leaflets being handed out to motorists and shoppers.
MURAL UNVEILED
BANNER ERECTED
Our next project was to erect a professionally made banner on the busy Camloch Rd, this banner was in place for a few weeks and thousands of people seen it. We then decided to take it down for a number of reasons including bad weather and also so we could bring it to the many pickets and protests that were being organised all over the country.
We attended numerous pickets in support of Colin and his family in various places throughout the year.
Republicans in Newry have formed a special bond with Colin's family and friends and we pledge to continue to highlight the injustices being inflicted upon Colin and his family in 2010.
OTHER EVENTS
COMMEMORATIONS AND PROTESTS
During the year we also attended several commemorations including the annual Bloody Sunday commemoration in Derry, the annual James Connolly commemoration organised by éírígí in Dublin, and the RNU commemoration in Ardoyne where several hundred Republicans, 2 flute bands and a full colour party marched to commemorate Fallen Volunteers of na Fianna.
ARMED FORCES DAY
In June Republicans from Newry attended éírígí's protest against Armed Forces day. We were forcibly prevented from reaching Belfast City hall by hundreds of riot clad RUC paramilitaries who proceeded to assault the peaceful protesters. Despite this unprovoked assault we remained peaceful and dignified.
NO TO LISBON
Republicans from Newry joined comrades in the 26 counties to help with the No To Lisbon campaign, We travelled to several areas and erected posters, banners and distributed leaflets. We also participated in a protest at the European Commission offices in Belfast where we highlighted the fact that 1.8 Million Irish citizens were denied the basic right to vote simply because they lived in the occupied 6 counties.
ARDOYNE SOLIDARITY
We also stood in solidarity with the residents of Ardoyne and protested against sectarian band parades which were forced through the area. We were threatened with arrest by the British Militia for standing on a public footpath but it didn't deter us or the Ardoyne residents for making their stand in a peaceful and dignified manner.
POW CAMPAIGNS
In December we organised the largest and most successful Republican prisoner picket ever seen in Newry. Roughly 80 Republicans attended including many lifelong Republican activists, former POWs and even hungerstrikers. The RUC/PSNI maintained a constant present for the duration of the picket. British police vehicles were parked at each end of the picket line and they Photographed everyone present.
HIGHLIGHTING BRITISH OCCUPATION
Also in December éírígí activists based in Newry erected a banner highlighting British Occupation. The ‘adverts’, unveiled by éirígí in Newry and other border areas of the Six Counties, inform shoppers that “You Are In Occupied Ireland – Garrison to 14,000 British troops and paramilitary police”.
éírígí defiantly declared that “We will not allow Britain’s occupation of Irish territory to go unchallenged.”
So what lies ahead in 2010?
Well already Republicans in Newry have several major projects in the pipeline for during the year, and we look forward to 2010 with confidence, so watch this space!!!
One thing i can promise you is that Republicanism in Newry will continue to grow and gain support in 2010 and we will be to the fore in the struggle for Irish liberation.
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