Sinn Fein reps to tour Australia

August 1, 2014
Issue 

Representatives from Irish republican party Sinn Fein are touring Australia from August 30 to September 7, speaking at public meetings in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

This year, Sinn Fein has emerged as the largest all-Ireland party on the basis of opposition to brutal austerity measures. In recent weeks, Sinn Fein has increased its solidarity with Palestine, inside and outside parliament, including demands Ireland expel Israel’s ambassador and for an arms embargo on Israel.

Visiting Australia will be Sinn Fein Vice-President Mary Lou McDonald, a TD (MP) for Dublin, and Francie Molloy, Sinn Fein MP for Mid-Ulster.

The tour will promote an international campaign initiated by Sinn Fein in support of Irish reunification — ending partition and uniting the six counties still claimed by Britain in the north with the rest of Ireland.

The centrepiece of the campaign in Australia is the Irish Unity Motion — a sign-on statement that supports the principle of Irish reunification under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

The sign-on statement and a list of signatories in Australia can be read online.

The Irish Unity Motion reads: “The partition of Ireland in 1920 led to decades of injustice, division and conflict. The continuing partition of Ireland divides Irish society, and disrupts and distorts community, social and economic life across the island.

“The 1998 Good Friday Agreement has created a political framework in which Irish reunification can occur and has facilitated the establishment of all-Ireland governing institutions.

“We believe a national democracy in a united Ireland is the best guarantee of future political stability, real reconciliation within Ireland and lasting peace between Ireland and Britain.”

We, the undersigned, pledge our support for the peaceful and democratic reunification of Ireland through the mechanisms of the Good Friday Agreement.”

The tour is organised by Cairde Sinn Fein Australia. For details, visit the Uniting Ireland Sinn Fein Australian Tour 2014 on Facebook.

Sinn Fein VP Mary Lou McDonald speaks for action against Israel's assault on Gaza outside parliament (above) and inside (below).

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