British Crown forces “insult” removed by Republicans
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32CSM) have criticised the erection of what they describe as a “Crown forces recruitment poster” in a nationalist area of Derry.
The advertising billboard, promoting careers in the RAF Reserve, was erected at the side of a building in the Foyle Road area of the city.
This afternoon the controversial poster was torn down by a group of Republicans.
It featured a woman in full camouflage dress with helmet and the slogan, ‘RAF Reserves recruiting now across Northern Ireland’.
Gary Donnelly from the 32 CSM said the billboard has angered local residents and added that it was “removed by republicans” opposed to recruitment to the “Crown forces”.
“We have been contacted by residents in the Brandywell area of the city who are incensed at a British armed forces recruitment poster being put up in their area.
“This is in a nationalist area, an area which has witnessed atrocities carried out by the British army over many years.
“It is also close to the area where the upcoming Bloody Sunday commemoration march will pass and indeed just yards away from the home of the one of the organisers of that march.
“We called for this to be removed and when it was not it was torn down by republicans,” the spokesperson added.
Mr Donnelly also called on nationalist parties to publicly state their view on recruitment to the British armed forces.
“It is an attempt to recruit young Irish men and women into the Crown forces and we are challenging nationalist politicians in Derry to state where they stand on this.”
Mr Donnelly also said RAF actions in conflicts across the world should be opposed.
“Not only is this utterly insensitive in an area which has witnessed the brutality of the British army at first hand, but it is also promoting an organisation who are involved in imperialist wars around the world and who drop thousands of pounds of explosives on innocent civilians.”
