The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann send new years greetings to our friends, supporters and to our volunteers who have remained steadfast, committed and dedicated to defending the republican position in the face of massive odds.
We also remembers at this time all republican POW’s and political prisoners incarcerated in gaols throughout Ireland, Britain, Europe and America, the republican community appreciate your sacrifice and will continue to work on your behalf.
We extend solidarity greetings to fellow revolutionaries across the world and we draw inspiration from other struggles against occupation and imperialism.
In the past 12 months Óglaigh na hÉireann have continued to organise, develop and consolidate. We have carried out a number of attacks against British state interests in Ireland and our volunteers have stood shoulder to shoulder with our communities against the scourge of Drugs. Óglaigh na hÉireann have taken direct action against a number of drug networks across the country and in the coming year, we not allow our communities to face this menace alone.
This past year has also saw republicanism under a level of attack from the Chruch, State and Media that has not been witnessed for many years. Those who consider republicanism an irrelevance should take a look at the massive resources the status quo is investing to defeat us. The British are spending unlimited amounts of money on surveillance and intelligence, the Free State are interning republicans at the behest of the British, the media are continuing to fabricate lies on a daily basis and many editors have developed and almost pathological hatred of Anti Stormont republicans.
Again the Catholic church has entered the fray on the side of capitalism, conservatism and the status quo, this is to be expected. We would advise the church to clean up their own back yard before commenting on others. They should take the plank out of their own eyes before worrying themselves about the splinters in others. It is perhaps a small mercy that the church is no longer a major player in forming opinions in Irish society.
In the Coming year Óglaigh na hÉireann will continue to resist the British occupation of Ireland by any and all means including the force of arms, however, all republican organisations must remain disciplined and no one should engage in attacks or threats that they cannot immediately defend or explain. For our part Óglaigh na hÉireann will stand behind any actions we take.
Republicanism is facing into a difficult future, the forces ranged against us are many and we are few. We must think and act strategically and in the long term, the British are not going anywhere soon and neither are we. Republicans must develop realistic short and medium term goals, 2009 will not be the year of victory and another phase of the long war is yet to begin in earnest.
Óglaigh na hÉireann is facing a huge uphill struggle but we will face it full on, make no mistake, we are here for the long haul, we will continue to exist until the illegal occupation of our nation has ended.
Victory to the IRA.
