Post by RedFlag32 on Aug 20, 2007 17:51:16 GMT
Over 500 people attended yesterday's commemoration in Derry of INLA Volunteer Micky Devine. 26 years since his death the people of Derry turned out in great numbers to remember one of their bravest sons. A masked INLA Colour Party led the march from Creggan Shops, this was followed by relatives of Micky Devine carrying wreaths. They in turn were followed by the newly formed Derry based Seamus Costello Memorial Flute Band. Please find below the oration which was delivered by Gerard Forward of the Ard Comhairle of the IRSP.
Friends and comrades,
I am delighted to be given the honour to be here today, to remember with you, the heroic sacrifice of INLA Volunteer Michael Devine.
I didn't know him but I have grown up in very difficult times. So did Micky. Micky was only a teenager when the RUC batoned civil rights protesters off the streets of this city in 1968. He was there on Duke Street on that day, 5th October and witnessed at first hand the brutality of the Unionist ruling classes against the working class people of Derry. He was there also on Bloody Sunday and again witnessed a more horrific event unfold when the British Army ran amok
through the Bogside killing fourteen of his friends and neighbours. He later wrote from his cell in Long Kesh about how that day changed him forever.
He became aware that the only way the Irish working class was to be freed was when the British got out of Ireland and it was to this end that he dedicated the rest of his short life.
But Micky also knew that just getting rid of the Brits was never going to be enough. For he was a socialist as well as a republican and held deep within him a desire for justice. It was with these beliefs that Micky chose to join the Republican Socialist Movement. He became involved in the military effort as well as the political work. He was a model revolutuionary who never shirked from his commitment.
These past few months have seen great changes on the political landscape of the north. Sinn Fein now sit on the Stormont executive that they once proclaimed should be smashed. They now advocate support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland when in reality nothing
has changed within that force since the days of the RUC. The Irish Republican Socialist Movement reject this path wholeheartedly.
Despite massive media and political pressure to do so, we, the Irish Republican Socialist Movement will never accept an internal six county settlement. Too many lives were lost fighting for the republic, too many families denied fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. We are not saying this is an easy road to take, in fact to the contrary this is a more difficult course of action. Republicanism is nowhere near the strength it was when Micky and his nine brave comrades died in Long kesh but recently there has been a renewed confidence and hope.
We are proud to have once held within our ranks the likes of Micky Devine. We are still inspired by his resolve to not suffer defeat. Because no matter what the Brits threw at Micky he was never defeated. He grew stronger and rose above their pettiness. Comrades, it is our task today to leave this cemetery and further the work that Micky began when he became actively involved in politics as a teenager in the 1960’s and 70’s. Follow Micky’s example and carry on the struggle for our communities, get involved in campaigns locally to better the lives of your neighbours, fight the water tax, join the fight to get Raytheon out of Derry, fight for better working conditions and fight for the political prisoners in Maghaberry who are suffering terrible conditions as we speak.
Comrades there is a lot of work to be done and there no easy way forward but rest assured that if we all follow the ideals of Micky Devine then that task becomes all the more easier.
Victory to the Irish Working Class!