The Plough

national | worker & community struggles and protests | opinion/analysis Sunday June 20, 2004 23:51 by The Plough - Irish Republican Socialist Party johnmartinps at eircom dot net

Number-44 Date Sunday 20th of June 2004

E-mail newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party

The Plough-44
… E-mail newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party

Number-44 Date Sunday 20th of June 2004


1) It's good to talk.
2) A Renewal of the Republican Dream
3) Letters- US Nation-wide Irish American Rights Group
4) What¹s On



It's good to talk.


The election results were a disappointment for those on the left.
In England, Respect an opportunist creation of the Socialist Workers Party
crashed to a humiliating defeat. Respect was trumpeted as the spearhead of
the radical left¹s revival. It was to have mobilised the votes of the
millions of people who opposed the Iraq war, and its leaders confidently
boasted they would win seats and ³give Blair a bloody nose² on June 10. But
reality checked in. In the European elections, it averaged a mere 1.67% of
the vote in the nine English regions. The other radical left party, the
Greens, polled nearly four times more, notching up 6.19%. As well as being
annihilated by the big three parties, UKIP and the Greens, Respect was also
eclipsed in the European ballot by a motley collection of minor fringe
parties, including the BNP, English Democrats, Seniors, Independents and the
Countryside Alliance.

In the North of Ireland, the Socialist Environmental Alliance candidate,
Eamon McCann, who based the bulk of his campaign on opposition to the Iraq
war, polled a disappointing 9 thousand odd votes, just over 1% of the vote.
The manner in which the SEA established itself, chooses its candidate and
conducted its campaign is an object lesson in how not to build a socialist
alternative.
Remember the SEA claimed to have support from environmentalists, trade
unionists, etc. In reality the Green Party stood their own candidate, the
Workers Party supported the independent, Gilliland, (no politics) and some
trade unionists refused to back McCann because of his stance on the IRSP. At
the end of the day McCann had the support of only some members of the CPI,
the SWP and some very dedicated socialists and trade unionists. We take no
pleasure in the low vote for McCann. We warned the SEA that by placing the
emphasis on calling for Imperialism out of Iraq they were making a
fundamental mistake. To oppose Imperialism far away while deliberately
ignoring its presence in Ireland and refusing to tackle the fundamental
contradictions at the heart of Irish politics the SEA were opportunist and
dishonest. Because of the national question the vast majority of workers
voted for the party that they believed could best protect what they saw as
their national interest. Hence the huge votes for both the DUP and Sinn
Fein. As republican socialist we may regret the workers¹ choice as it seems
to set worker against worker but we will not ignore where the workers
consciousness is. The SEA¹s stance of appeals to an abstract
class-consciousness while ignoring the real consciousness of the workers was
an ultra leftist error. It is relevant to recall the remarks made by Jack
Bennett in an introduction to ³Freedom the Wolfe Tone Way² by Sean Cronin
and Richard Roche 1973 when he wrote,

³ The socialists of the O¹Brien School hold that it is not permissible even
to talk about territorial unity and political independence because they say
a million Protestants in the North don¹t want those things. It is quite all
right however to blether away to your hearts content about ¹socialism¹ even
though five million Irish people, at the moment at any rate do not want
socialism. How come? What¹s the difference? Simple. It is a hellavalot safer
to blether about socialism. It gets you nowhere. It keeps the cosy status
quo comfortably intact. And it does not bring you too closely to the bone of
the real politics.

The relative success of some socialists in the 26 county elections shows the
importance of sustained political work on the ground. There is no shortcut
to support for socialist policies other than by sustained long term work
within the working class and that work is political, economic socials and
cultural as well as electoral. Sinn Fein¹s populist approach paid off in
electoral terms. The strategy of broadening their base by appealing out from
the traditional republican base towards the wider radical, environmentally
conscious and educated youth has reaped its reward. Sinn Fein is now in the
process of challenging for the support of the traditional Irish Labour Party
supporter while at the same time winning over the more republican minded
grass roots Fianna Fail supporter. As its support grows we can confidently
see an even more shift to the centre away from any concept of socialism.

The IRSP is a small republican socialist party that considers itself
internationalist. We have members mainly residing in nationalist working
class areas in the North and with strong roots among some working class
communities. We were prepared to consider working with other groups on a
principled basis to see if agreement could be reached for agreed political
platform for the last election. The opportunism of the SEA prevented that.
Nevertheless we will continue to have an open door to those who wish to talk
about developing socialist/socialist /republican ideas policies and
programmes.
If the left and the republican left can not even talk to each other why oh
why would the bulk of the working class population even give us the time of
day? It's good to talk.









EXTRACTS OF SPEECH BY DENIS MURPHY AT JOHN MORRIS UNVEILING
The death of John was a loss to his family and to the republican socialist
movement. John joins a long list of republicans since 1922 gunned down by
the forces of the so-called free state. We republicans have long memories.
We recall the murder of Harry Boland, the executions of Mellows, Barrett,
O¹Connor and McKelvey, and the bitterness with which the so-called ³De
Valera republicans¹ hunted down, murdered tortured and beat those
republicans who stood by their principles in the thirties and forties.

We don¹t forget that in the last round of the armed struggle against the
presence of British troops in Ireland all sections of the Free state
establishment rounded up republicans, banned us from the airwaves, handed
our men over the border to the British Imperialists and did everything
physically possible to destroy republicanism in Ireland. They did not
succeed. Our presence here today to honour our fallen comrade is a testimony
to the enduring power of our republicanism.

But comrades and friends it is important to stress that our republicanism is
not some sterile abstract ideology, divorced from the everyday realities of
peoples¹ lives. John Morris and many others like him are proof that our
republicanism is rooted in the everyday reality of working class life. John
was a member of the INLA. While politically he saw the need for a working
class party that stood for the marginalised and dispossessed he realised
that the rich and powerful, the supporters of the Imperialists, could not
relinquish their power without a fight hence the necessity for a cutting
edge to the struggle. And in that struggle he fell.

Of course the full forces of the establishment have united to denigrate his
and the sacrifices of others. Through the judiciary, the media, the Garda,
and the political elites, barriers are erected to prevent the full truth
coming out. The paid perjurers of the press have mocked lied and distorted
the truth. Sections of the media have denigrated us a drug dealers. We are
not. No member of the INLA is involved in drug dealing. No member of the
IRSP is involved in drug dealing. The IRSP have challenged those journalists
who have made these allegations in the past to produce the evidence. We are
still waiting the evidence.

We are however aware that a small number of pseudo gangs, and former members
of not only the INLA but other republican armies are engaged in extortion,
racketeering and drug dealing using the name of the INLA. We know who they
are for some of these gangs are operating obviously with the full approval
of the so-called security forces. Those who descend into extortion and
racketeering have no right to call themselves republicans for they besmirch
the very name.

By repeatedly linking this movement with drug dealing, the establishment
hope to belittle the sacrifices of volunteers like John. But the truth is
simple. John Morris was a victim of a shoot to kill policy because he was a
republican socialist. The same policy adopted by the British in the North is
the same policy carried out by the Garda in the South. So long as we
remember this, the crumbs from the table of the rich will not seduce us nor
the slanderous lies of the media halt us.

Friends it would be easy from this platform to make an inflammatory speech
about our enemies and to spew out the anger we all feel at the injustice not
only of John¹s murder but at all the injustices we see around us. But that
would be anger misdirected. W e need to channel our energies into positively
building up the self-confidence of working class communities. It is those
communities who can tackle injustice. To do that, we need to redouble our
political work and redouble our commitment.

Our republicanism, our republican socialism, has to become relevant to the
lives of the people we come from and are part of. We recognise that there
is a huge amount of work to be done. We need to make not ourselves angry but
our class. We need to help arouse our class to the corruption endemic in
this free state, to the poverty, to the racism, to the exploitation of the
low paid, to the whittling away of what remains of Irish neutrality. We need
to make our class angry that the Irish Government has invited the war
mongering oil baron George Bush to our shores. Everyone here today should
take to the streets when Bush comes to town. Yes the war in Iraq is
important. We make no apology for calling for the defeat of the Coalition
forces in Iraq. We stand today as republicans in defence of the right of the
Iraqi people to self determination, just as we support the right of self
determination of the whole of the people on this island to determine our own
future without interference.

But we need to point out to those people who say that the issue of Iraq is
the main issue that there are only 8,500 British troops in Iraq but 13,500
in the North of Ireland. Unlike some so-called leftists we oppose
Imperialism both at home and abroad.

Meanwhile the façade of what passes for politics in the North continues. Do
we really think that the elections will change anything? The political
process that produced the Good Friday Agreement is fatally flawed. So long
as the political parties, including Provisional Sinn Fein play the tribal
card then no progress can be made towards the Republic we all want.
It may gain support for an internal settlement but it will not deliver the
Republic.

We in the Republican Socialist Movement have made it clear time and time
again that the only Republic worth fighting for is the Socialist Republic as
envisaged by James Connolly. It is not part of our Republicanism to
administer British rule in Ireland and say that it is a stepping-stone to
the Republic. It is not. That may be what Irish nationalism is about. It is
not what Irish Republicanism is about.

It is clear that there needs to be a renewal of the Republican dream- a
dream based on the realities of the peoples¹ lives today. We call for all
republicans regardless of background to engage in this renewal. We will play
our part in renewing republicanism bring into it our class analysis and our
republican desire to create a state that truly encompasses not only catholic
protestant and dissenter but all who have for what reason sought refugee on
our shores. Our republic will be multicultural democratic inclusive and
socialist.





US Nation-wide Irish American Rights Group holds 2004 Convention In Belfast


Irish American Unity Conference (IAUC) National Board members, Carol Russell
and Dr Fred Wilcox, booked into a South Belfast guest-house last week, ahead
of the IAUC's November convention in Northern Ireland to evaluate costs and
assess suitable neutral venues for the annual event.

The IAUC's 2-day program in Ireland is the organisation's first convention
to be held outside of America and when asked why, Russell said, "The IAUC is
discouraging any political party rhetoric during the Belfast convention. We
hear Irish Politicians regularly in America she said, and our organisation
wants to hear from the people on the ground and obtain their recommendations
for positive movements forward."

Russell said, "The IAUC is inviting all community groups to contact us. We
are encouraging participation from the fullest local spectrum to what she
described as "an IAUC from the heart program". Our goal she said, is to
provide an opportunity for people from all sections of the community and
political opinion in Northern Ireland to speak openly at an open forum."

The Irish American Unity Conference (IAUC) advocates "the end of British
colonial occupation² and the peaceful reunification of Ireland describe the
program's agenda as "focussing on the implementation of all the elements of
the Good Friday Agreement and on Collusion."

Further details or enquiries Contact Carol Russell (ckr@bellatlantic.net) or
Jim Gallagher, by e-mail at (JimGall98@Juno.com) or by telephone via the
IAUC 1-800-947-4282.

IAUC Convention, Belfast : November 12 -14 2004
IAUC web site - http://www.iauc.org/index3.htm

(Sean Mc Aughey € 31 May 2004)















What¹s On?


Wolfe Tone Sunday 27th June at 2.00 in Sallins Republican Socialist
Commemoration. All welcome
Activists to cycle across Ireland
Ireland¹s next Critical Mass bicycle rally will be longer than usual - six
days long, in fact. Activists from the Dublin Grassroots Network will set
off from Dublin by bicycle next Saturday, June 19th, on a 176-mile trip to
Shannon Airport to protest against the visit by US President, George Bush.
Bush is due to arrive at Shannon on Friday, June 25thfor an EU-US Summit at
Dromoland Castle on June 26th. The cyclists will be arriving at Shannon in
time to participate in the demonstrations organised by AmBush2004 and
Anti-War Ireland. Dublin Grassroots Network spokesperson Dermot Sreenan
said: ³The Critical Mass bike ride is just one of the many events organised
to show our opposition to the continuing occupation of Iraq and the Irish
government¹s complicity in the war by allowing Shannon Airport to be used by
the US military.² We will be stopping in towns along the way, encouraging
others to get involved and to join our entourage. Everyone is welcome to
join us!²
CRITICAL MASS ROUTE:
Leaving at 5.00 from the Department of Justice St Stephens Green on Saturday
19th.
Saturday 19th June - Dublin to Straffan.
Via Baldonnel, Newcastle and Celbridge.
Sunday 20th June - Straffan to Kildare.
Via Clane, Prosperous, Kilmeague, Allen, Milltown
Monday 21st June - Kildare to Aghaboe
via Crosskeys, Vicarstown, Cashel,Ballyroan
Tuesday 22nd June - Agaboe to Roscrea.
Via Ballybrophy, Knock
Wednesday 23rd June - Roscrea to Killaloe.
Via Shinrone, Cloughjordan, Lisgarode, Nenagh, Ballina
Thursday 24th June - Killaloe to the Shannon Peace Camp.
We expect to be at our final destinations by 7.00 pm each day.
To find out where we are on route ring Dermot at 08-7627-7606





Anti War


US military is still landing in Shannon and Baldonnel. Ahern and Cowen will
fall over themselves to welcome the warmonger Bush in June. We must show
them up for the war criminals and liars that they are. The majority of Irish
people oppose the visit and want to protest against it. It is up to us to
get that opposition organised and make sure that tens of thousands march on
June 25th at 7pm and then at 10am in Dromoland Castle, Co Clare. Wherever
you are get a Stop Bush meeting going, put up posters, distribute leaflets
etc. The potential is there to make these demos as big as the Feb 15th
150,000 that marched last year. Its up to us to get organised to make sure
that potential is fulfilled. For posters, info, etc contact Rory at 086
1523542

STOP BUSH PROTESTS Friday June 25th – STOP BUSH Demonstration, 7pm Assemble
Garden of Remembrance Parnell Sq, Dublin contact 086 1523542

REGIONAL DEMOS;
7pm Galway- Assemble at City Hall and then Father Burke Park -contact 086
8343667
7pm Waterford- Meet Red square, contact 0863274015
7pm Tralee- Assemble Brandon Hotel, contact 087 6176009
7pm Sligo- assemble Town Hall, contact 086 303 9787
Saturday June 26th – Demonstration & March, 9-10am Assemble
Dromoland Castle, Co Clare followed by a march to Shannon, (To book buses to
Dromoland >phone: 086 1523542/087 6187680)

.
3. Don¹t miss the When Bush Comes to Shove gig- with Christy Moore, Damian
Rice, the Revs, Mary Black, Kila, Katell Keineg and comedian Barry Murphy
June 19th Point Theatre. All funds raised to go to IAWM and
STOP BUSH CAMPAIGN. Contact us about tickets-or check out
.
Friday, July 30th

BALKANS SEMINAR

Democratic Dialogue is organising a seminar, in conjunction with the
Institute of Governance at Queen¹s University Belfast and the de Borda
Institute, on ŒThe Difficulties of Democracy Building, Identity Formation
and Ethnic Nationalism in the Balkans¹. The seminar is to be led by Rory
Conces, an assistant professor of philosophy and member of the International
Studies faculty at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, who is also editor
of the International Third Third_World Studies Journal and Review. The event
will take place on Friday, July 30th, at 11.00am in room 101 Lanyon North
(first floor, Lanyon Building), at Queen¹s (directions from the porter¹s
lodge at main entrance). Prof Conces has lectured in China, Croatia, and
Kosovo; as well as having been a Fulbright Scholar in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Approaching issues of ethnic identity from a
political-philosophical standpoint, his talk will be of considerable
resonance to Northern Ireland.





August 2-7-2004


1) Resistance and Hope ­ Assisi, August 2-7
Call for the Anti-imperialist Camp, Assisi, Italy, August 2-7

Mankind is travelling in fear on a train towards the abyss. This abyss is
the mercilessly waged global war. The train is steered by the United States
of America, to be precise, by a group of adventurers dreaming of a dead and
mute world with one single God, the dollar; with one single banner, that of
stars and stripes; with one single language, that of American oppression.

These adventurers are driven by a vision which neither admits compromises
nor half ways: the clash of civilisations not only with Islam but also with
anybody who believes in the co-operation between the peoples and who
consider peace as the holiest of all values. They have given a name to their
doctrine: “permanent and pre-emptive war” which not only displays the
warmongering character of the North American regime but also the idea that
the US were a superior nation with a special mission namely to exercise the
global predominance at any cost. The alibi, which this doctrine builds on,
is the terrorist threat. Those who employ indiscriminate force against
defenceless and innocent civilians, those who consider a person guilty if it
does not believe in their God, might believe to be on a straight way to
paradise but surely contribute to the transformation of this world into an
inferno without hope. The only remaining hope of the world is the
Resistance, the struggle of the peoples for freedom and self-determination.

The American aim is not only to subjugate the poor and oppressed nations but
also those who still enjoy some liberty. The Patriot Act and the
anti-terrorist Black Lists show that the most elementary democratic rights
are at stake also in the West and particularly in the United States.
Virulent racist and chauvinist crusades attempt to criminalise the
anti-imperialist and revolutionary forces as well as the organisations of
immigrants. They even want to silence the peace movement.

The anti-imperialist Resistance has indestructible roots and dates back to
the very beginning of the imperial North American ambitions. Where there is
oppression there will always be revolt as well, where there is dictatorship
there will always be the struggle for democracy, where there is injustice
there never will be peace.

Today the Iraqi people is testifying for the Resistance keeping up their
heads against the American war criminals and their paranoid designs to
Guantánamise the world. The Iraqi resistance has taken the way paved by the
Palestinian Intifada. By building a united front of all the fighting forces
it will gain further strength transforming itself into a national liberation
war. This front, the embryo of a future government of a liberated Iraq, will
be able ­ once the invaders are driven out ­ to call upon the Iraqis to
elect a democratic constituent assembly exercising the full and undivided
sovereignty of the Iraqi people.

The future of humanity depends on the outcome of the battle raging in Iraq.
The heroic town of Falluja, having chased away mercenaries armed with the
most sophisticated weaponry, shows that the Iraqi people are able to win as
the Vietnamese people won. The decisive factor ­ in war even more than in
peace ­ is not technological superiority but what motivates the people to
fight.

We have to unite with the Resistance of the Iraqi people to help mankind to
liberate itself from the North American menace.

The future of the world depends on the victory of Iraq!

***

2) Iraqi presences and programme of Assisi

This year’s Anti-imperialist Camp will have its focus on the Iraqi
resistance. The Iraqi Patriotic Alliance (IPA) will present its efforts to
build a common political front of all forces struggling against occupation.
For the Iraqi Democratic Communist Current”, which is a component of the
IPA, Ahmed Karim will be present and for the “Iraqi Communist Party (cadre)
Nori al-Moradi.

A global meeting of all the forces and committees in open support of the
Iraqi resistance is scheduled. The preparation of the international day of
action for the resistance scheduled for September 25 will be one of the
topics on the agenda.

The preliminary programme:
www.antiimperialista.com/en/view.shtml?category=48&id=1083700704&keyword
=+

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