Dafydd Iwan, the President of Plaid Cymru, has given one of the most
vigorous speeches in support of independence and the nationalist cause
in Wales for many years. He was addressing the party's spring conference
in Pontypridd
The Plaid Cymru leader pointed out that many of the countries joining
the EU in May had similar or smaller populations than Wales but he
said that did not stop them being independent. He told delegates:
"If independence is the key to freedom for Slovenia, if independence
is the key to prosperity in Ireland and if independence is the key
to new prospects for Latvia, then independence is the right goal for
Wales too."
He went on to stress that independence for Wales would ensure that
it was included in decision making, and not cut off from it, saying:
"For independence read the first two letters - in. This is not the
way to drop out, or to be cut off -- this is the way in to a new Britain,
a new Europe and to the United Nations of all the nations.
Independence is the way in. You heard it here first."
The Welsh nationalist leader also broke new ground by making his address
to the conference in English. He told delegates he was making the
speech in English because he wanted:
"to address particularly those of you who do not understand or speak
Welsh".
He stressed that;
"Plaid Cymru, the party of Wales, will always do all it can to ensure
the survival and indeed the flourishing of this living symbol of our
nationality. But the survival of the Welsh language is not the responsibility
of one party alone, it is the responsibility of all political parties
in Wales and the language must never become a political football to
be kicked around the political arena."
Obviously referring to malevolent elements of the Welsh Labour Party,
he went on
"There are those who have used the Welsh language as a weapon against
Plaid Cymru, by spreading the myth that our party is somehow only
interested in people who speak Welsh. Let us put this senseless lie
to rest once and for all."
Dafydd Iwan's message will have a resonance far beyond the boundaries
of Wales. Increasingly in recent years some Celtic nationalist political
groups have softened their message on independence. In that climate
his statement is a breath of fresh air!
J B Moffatt
Secretary General
Celtic League
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