Whats the difference between the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and Republican SF?

b12mearse

Can anyone tell me the difference between these two parties. As far as I know one is supposedly the political wing of RIRA and the other the political wing of the CIRA. But as far as ideology is concerned where to they stand?

yomchi

b12mearse wrote: »

Can anyone tell me the difference between these two parties. As far as I know one is supposedly the political wing of RIRA and the other the political wing of the CIRA. But as far as ideology is concerned where to they stand?

Hi there,

RSF were formed in 1986 after a small few of them headed by Ruari O'Bradaigh walked out of the main Sinn Féin árd fheis in opposition to the passing of a motion by the árd fheis to drop Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy regarding it's participation at Leinster House. Their politics would be of that old traditional republican stream, conservative right wing catholic.

The 32CSC were formed in 1997 after a small number of members of Sinn Féin were concerned about the direction that Sinn Féin were heading in terms of the peace process. These members who broke away were said to be 'hardliners' although with no real political strategy or viable alternative.

'CIRA' came out of the woods in 1994 although they were said to be formed in 1986 after RSF were set up. They have been militarily dorment apart from issuing a few statements and throwing a few petrol bombs. The 17 year old who killed that PSNI lately was claimed by them.

'RIRA' were militarily capable in the late 1990's however, after the Omagh bomb things went down hill and have been relatively quite apart form the odd action. They are said to have split a number of times under different personalities around the border area and Derry.

Hope that helps.

FTA69

RSF were formed in 1986 after a small few of them headed by Ruari O'Bradaigh walked out of the main Sinn Féin árd fheis in opposition to the passing of a motion by the árd fheis to drop Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy regarding it's participation at Leinster House. Their politics would be of that old traditional republican stream, conservative right wing catholic.

Some elements of that party would indeed be conservative but others would be very left-wing and liberal. Like most Republican organisations it is a bit of a broad church. I've met RSF members in their 70s who describe themselves as socialists in the tradition of James Connolly. RSF do suscribe to the traditionalist Republican view regarding "legitimacy" though i.e the governmental authority of the 1916 Republic lays in the (Continuity)IRA Army Council. (A load of sh*te in other words.) Basically RSF and the CIRA view themselves as the one true "Republican Movement", the only true and direct successor of the lineage of 1916. RSF eschews working with any other group on any other issue. They have two programmes called Éire Nua and Saol Nua setting out their vision of an independent Ireland, this includes federalism based on the four provinces and a social-democratic government.

The 32CSC were formed in 1997 after a small number of members of Sinn Féin were concerned about the direction that Sinn Féin were heading in terms of the peace process. These members who broke away were said to be 'hardliners' although with no real political strategy or viable alternative.

Unlike RSF, the 32s aren't a political party and don't have any unifying political goal aside from a desire for Irish sovereignty. They refuse to participate in elections, probably due to the inherent militarism of the Real IRA which is deeply skeptical of political activism. They participate in the Irish Republican Forum for Unity along with the IRSP and the Republican Network for Unity, a new organisation.

'CIRA' came out of the woods in 1994 although they were said to be formed in 1986 after RSF were set up. They have been militarily dorment apart from issuing a few statements and throwing a few petrol bombs. The 17 year old who killed that PSNI lately was claimed by them.

They never claimed that youngfella at all, he hasn't even been tried yet in fairness. They did claim the shooting of the PSNI man in Lurgan and have been responsible for a couple of bomb attacks and numerous hoaxes. They recently fired an RPG at a PSNI landrover in Fermanagh.

'RIRA' were militarily capable in the late 1990's however, after the Omagh bomb things went down hill and have been relatively quite apart form the odd action. They are said to have split a number of times under different personalities around the border area and Derry.

Their alleged founder Michael McKevitt and a number of his followers split off from them in Portlaoise, recently a faction titling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann has emerged. While initially they showed capability they did indeed almost collapse after Omagh and was frought with touts. They seem to be getting a lot more capable these days though.

yomchi

They did claim the shooting of the PSNI man in Lurgan

Aye thats the job I was referring to.

Agree with everything you say.