CELTIC LEAGUE: WE HAVE BEEN NICE FOR TO LONG - GENERAL SECRETARY

«We have been nice for to long». This was the view of Celtic League General Secretary, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, when addressing the Leagues AGM in Dublin at the weekend on the situation surrounding self-determination for the various Celtic countries. He posed the question:

«What of the overall situation? The situation has progressed a little this year in some of the Celtic countries, but:

- In Eire partition seems to be accepted for the indefinite future even by Sinn Fein - In Cymru greater autonomy seems to be the sidetrack Plaid has gone down. - In Alba the agenda is moving on. - In Breizh any small concession would be seen as progress. - In Mannin the government thinks they have as much independence as they need and Mec Vannin is very much a stifled voice which only occasionally gets a full airing of its views. - In Kernow it seems not becoming part of an English 'Region' would be seen as progress.

We need to talk up the 'freedom agenda' in all the Celtic countries. The current status quo is perhaps being taken for granted too much. Why not talk of independence, freedom and self-determination - and anything else which can impinge on the current colonial mindset - because this is what we are aiming for.

After all, what are we bequeathing to our children - another generation of servitude? It is time we used more emotive language - we have been nice for to long.

Over the next few years in Western Europe there will be referendums in the Basque Country (In 2009 if the Spanish don't stamp it out), in Alba (2010), in Catalonia (2014) and probably Flanders, but what about the other Celtic countries? How far do they have to go to reach that stage? We should be pushing this agenda and it is never too late to start.»

He also further highlighted the position in Mannin saying:

«The Manx Government seem to be quite happy still with remaining in Great Britain and a Crown dependency. As our Director of Information, Bernard Moffatt, stated in a recent radio iterview:

- Its sad really how the second Celtic country to achieve independence might be Scotland - (and not the Isle of Man)»

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

18/08/08