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Date Posted: Sunday, May 22, 12:37:58
Author: Danielle Ni Dhighe
Subject: Speech at Patsy O'Hara Commemoration

22 May 2005

Speech at Patsy O'Hara Commemoration

[Delivered by John Nixon, a young Irish Republican Socialist Party
member from Derry.]

Friends and Comrades,

It is a privilege and an honour to be asked to speak here today on
behalf of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement at this, the 24th
anniversary commemoration of the death of INLA Volunteer and hunger
strike martyr Patsy O'Hara.

I wasn't even born 24 years ago when Patsy and his nine comrades
embarked upon a fast to the death in their unified and dignified
protest against the failed British attempt to criminalise the
republican struggle. Their strength was their youth, their
determination, their unity and of course the fact that they were
fighting for what was right. That is why they prevailed in the end but
as we know that struggle cost us dearly. Our ten comrades died within
Long Kesh and during the same period others fell in action on the
outside, equally courageous and equally determined to rid our nation
of the imperialist aggressor. 1981 is a year that republicans in
Ireland will never forget because we lost the best people that the
struggle had produced. When I ask comrades of Patsy to describe him I
hear stories of courage and of generosity. I hear of a soldier of the
working class who never shirked his responsibilities to his community.
I hear of a political activist who served on the national leadership
of the IRSP whilst on the run. A true hero of Ireland's working class.

At just twenty three years old Patsy had his full life in front of
him. He, in his short life, had seen so much that moulded him into the
person that he became. He had experienced the oppression and when just
a teenager had taken part in the uprising along with the people of
this city against the unjust British occupation of Ireland.

The young people of Derry and even of Ireland have a lot to learn from
the example of Patsy O'Hara. In today's society of greed where
joyriding, drug abuse and anti-community behaviour is becoming rampant
people should look towards the likes of Patsy for inspiration.

This is a society in which working class areas are being flooded with
dangerous drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and heroin. Joyriding and
burglaries are increasing and the PSNI sit back and allow these people
to operate openly with sanction, not that we ever expected anything
different from them. Is it any wonder, with the backing of the PSNI,
that some of our young people are turning their backs on their
communities? We see by the current situation around the Creggan estate
what damage these drugs and their dealers can do to the cohesion of
communities. Only by embracing the revolutionary ideals of Patsy
O'Hara can working class youth realise their collective potential. We
say to the young people of this city: "Follow Patsy's example and
fight for your people. Join the Irish Republican Socialist Movement
and play a positive role within your communities. Be part of the Irish
Revolution!"

Patsy O'Hara by his ideas and his actions is the ultimate role model
for the youth of Ireland today. Patsy was not deflected from the
revolutionary path by the hollow heroes of the day. When I read about
Patsy O'Hara I am reading about a person who was a militant, he was
politicised and he was dedicated to the struggle to remove the British
occupation forces from Ireland. He was a revolutionary who did not
tire of standing up for what is right. Patsy was the Irish equivalent
to Che Guevara. A young man who spent his life fighting for freedom
and justice.

I could not speak today by not bringing to your attention a struggle
of immense importance that is currently taking place at the Eastern
borders of Europe. Just last week in Turkey a twelfth wave of death
fasters has taken the place of those who have died before them in
their struggle against the same type of vindictive and oppressive
regime that our comrades in 1981 had to face down. We send our
solidarity to our brothers and sisters in Turkey who are embroiled in
the most serious of situations and who are facing that situation
heroically. We admire their resolve to defeat the fascist regime in
Turkey as any victory for the working class abroad is a victory for us
here in Ireland also. The campaign in Turkey's prisons and working
class areas has been going on since October 2000. Their slogan
"Victory or Death" sums up their resolve and determination in
defeating Turkey's vindictive regime and, comrades, I urge all of you
to help bring this massacre to an end by getting involved in renewed
campaigns in support of the Turkish prisoners.

So far 118 prisoners and their relatives on the outside have died
during their continued protest. Four years ago, just before she died,
one of those martyrs, Arzu Guler, sent the following message to the
people of Derry: "Our Death Fast attack against the F-types is not
only for the Turkish people, it is for all the world. We cannot
separate our struggle from the world's. We know about the struggles of
Patsy O'Hara and Michael Devine and we support their cause. We greet
you from the depths of our hearts."

Go raibh maith agat.

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