THE
IRSP held a commemoration in Derry on Sunday 20th August to mark the 19th
anniversary of the republican hunger strikes.
The
march assembled at Creggan Shops instead of the planned cemetery gate and was
led by a Republican Socialist colour party, followed by the newly formed
Republican Socialist Martyrs Flute Band from Belfast.
Around
200 people marched to the republican socialist plot in honour of the hunger
strikers, who included INLA men Patsy O'Hara, Kevin Lynch, and Michael Devine.
Wreathes were laid down on behalf of the Derry Brigade INLA, Derry Comhairle
Ceantair IRSP, Staff and Volunteers INLA, Republican Socialist PoWs Maghaberry
and Long Kesh and the Ard Comhairle IRSP.
IRSP
members from across Ireland and further afield gathered for the event.
The
main oration was delivered by former IRSP prisoner Cathal McGovern, who called
for republican and loyalist prisoners at Maghaberry jail to be segregated.
"It
is not widely reported that there are republicans in prison today who do not
share the same standards that were gained as a result of the hunger
strike," he said.
"Prisoners
from the INLA, Real IRA and Continuity IRA are denied their rights as
political prisoners.
"They
have been attacked time and time again by loyalists in Maghaberry and the
situation is very unstable."
Mr
McGovern added that if the British government ignored its demand it would
"inevitably result in further conflict".
Peter
Urban of the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America in a
statement of solidarity to the event attacked the peace process describing it
as hollow peace.
"We
cannot miss the bitter irony that, as we commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of
O'Hara, Lynch, Devine and their seven IRA comrades, we do so amidst the hollow
'peace' negotiated by self-appointed representatives of the nationalist people
with the British government, who have no right to negotiate over the
sovereignty of a nation that is not their own
