For Indymedia - Citizens of Ireland

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Wednesday May 12, 2004 17:00 by Davy Carlin carlindaviid at hotmail dot com

The Left, Democratic Centralism, protest and the state

Below are some observations I have made over recent times in relation to, the left - democratic centralism, protest and the state

I read the events unfolding on the run up to Mayday in Dublin with a sense of here we go again. Not only on the arguments {splits} between the left but also the sheer frenzy of the state and media about Mayday which showed no justification for such a show of intent. This intent was for a repressive attitude towards Irish citizens whose 'crime' was to use their democratic right to protest. Whatever the state actions {this has been discussed elsewhere}, for me though the build up as so to endorse such repression if needed was particularly interesting {although not surprising, in the states eyes, given the arrival of Bush.} This attitude of repression was indeed forthcoming from many avenues and pundits who jumped on the state bandwagon to attempt to quell the right to protest. This in large part through creating and fabricating an 'unreal situation', thus heightening fear of {and of course providing the cover for the 'understandable right' by the state} to use such repression - if needed.

So fair play to 'ALL' that stood firm against such.

Moving on to the 'left'. For me I read the comments that are raised about 'ALL' political left organisations and If I believe such comments are genuine then for me and some others we do take such issues on board . I for one make up ones own mind by weighing up everything that is said which is why I always attempt to give the whole picture whatever the situation. With that I then attempt to convince others of my convictions and understandings arrived at after taking everything onboard.

With that I therefore take the opportunity at this point to say this - . Those 'Comrades' on the left that are 'Hacking' or are attempting to 'hack into my e-mail addresses such is recorded - as are others. Secondly when items are 'Disappeared' from websites or are attempted to be Dis - appeared such as my recent article on Nipsa. Then that for me shows desperation. Therefore those that I find that persons want disappeared, I will therefore attach every several months to a relevant article I write. This will let persons both know that the article exists and more importantly to let genuine activists know that persons for their own mindsets want to attempt to revise or airbrush history.
After the summer I shall be writing an in-depth article on the left and democratic centralism in action, recording all such behaviour and more, such as getting activists removed from premises, ultra sectarian behaviour, actions that had meant removal of close comrades from their homes due to words from 'the Left' to others etc. This article when completed will also be attached regularly to ongoing relevant articles as so activist scan see what has been ongoing

Even today some still continue to attempt such, although now those that do have become virtually isolated from everyone but themselves. Such is the mindset that they do even not realise that such is their words seen in its sectarian light by many that other genuine activists are regularly told and updated of such. Or more importantly the fact that no - one wishes to work with them - they still do not see anything the matter!

Again this shall be completed in the months ahead and no doubt many may and have raised such experience with ‘ALL’ organisations and none.

Moving on to the coming of Bush, already I read about the differences so I will put my own 'personal position'.

Firstly the state crackdown and the media frenzy I believe was all part of the coming of Bush. Many activists in the North watched the show unwind in the run up to May Day and the sheer overhand frenzy {and knew of its reason as to why it was done} therefore has made many activists more determined than ever now to put these events {to attend} into their dairy.

I have said time and again that such state actions will create a reaction. On this issue the huge over the top state preparation and its political reason behind it has ensured that many activists will now prioritise to get to the South from the North to assert their democratic right to protest with others in the face of such overwhelming over the top state re -action on Mayday.

Similar {on states and war} I had argued from a month or two after the war {at my conference as well} that Iraq will find them selves in the months ahead in a situation 'not unlike the North of Ireland in the early seventies'. I judged this on the history of states re actions to such {in such situations} and the already very limited preparation on the ground for post war situation ' occupation'. Understanding the overwhelming forces the occupation could muster { while understanding that a growing anti war voice that could be used against such} as well as seeing in part the beginnings by some of the project of internalization {Ulsterization} in mind and in beginnings. This combined with the diversity of religion, the region and the nature of the 'post war' resistance in its infancy - and of course the 'urban and rural 'coalition projects. As well as the coalition - state -repression, division and brutality. This not forgetting having raised the very real potential of occupying forces remaining there for a long time to come, and both the {resistence and occupation forces differing 'long term' stratagies} in relation to such..

Of course their was always the 'possibility' of becoming 'like Vietnam' or a civil war scenario as I had raised even then, ' but to see persons back then calling it the 'New Vietnam' and 'another Vietnam' I did not believe had properly understood its dynamic through taking the whole situation historical and present into account. Of course many disagreed with me then as would now.

Yet it was with a sense of irony that I see and hear increasingly on TV even recently on Channel 4 news and CNN, local British troops and commanders state 'that it had developed to now very like the situation of Northern Ireland in the early seventies'. Of course one is not saying that you should take such persons words for such but in hindsight I believe my analysis was much closer to the mark than those I read in the mainstream and indeed left papers. I believe that one always need to judge such instances on the concrete rather that what I see by some through sensionalism or not basing an analysis on the objective situation. Again many would disagree with my position but there are some who would agree. Again this has been from the onset my 'individual position.

Whatever the case there is a job for activists at hand, although difficult reading the ongoing debates I hope something resembling some unity for actions can be agreed. For one self I believe, the summit, a mass march in Dublin and Shannon are the key priorities. These activist from the North will attempt to mobilise and urge hundreds to travel from the North to the South for a stand against the occupation and its brutality as well as standing with citizens for the democratic right to protest without such unbelievable over the top re action , albeit political motivated for this visit.

Whatever the case citizens in the South shall be jointed by many leading Anti racism, Anti war, Anti privatisation, Anti sectarian activists who have been at the forefront of mobilising mass protests around such involving Catholics and Protestants. There shall be leading human and civil rights activist, lawyer and cross community workers, leading trade unionism involved to the fore in mass workers struggles. Leading minority ethnic, gay rights, student and women’s activists and many more. We shall urge persons to attend all such events and as citizens of Ireland and even with another media frenzy or preparation of state repression {which will make us even more determined to attend} we shall stand firm with those organising the events.

There I hope that those groups organising can put at least this time {only has to be for a wee while} and find some unity around this} Whatever the cased many of use will be their in Shannon, Dublin or at the summit using our democratic right of protest against a brutal occupation and a man who in large part in responsible for it.

See ya there - Davy Carlin