The SWP - From a fraternal parting to a final parting.

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Monday June 20, 2005 15:57 by Davy Carlin - Street Seen carlindavid at hotmail dot com 0777 405 3223

Dear friends, it is with much regret and disappointment that I write this
short article.

Dear friends, it is with much regret and disappointment that I write this
short article.

Friends, over the last weeks I have seen {although many would expect it from
such an organisation} an increase in various forms of attacks upon myself
and others by leadership figures in the SWP.

I remember a leading SWP activist in Derry saying on my leaving the
SWP 'that we should try and keep it a fraternal parting' - as such partings
from such organisations have seen some ugly attacks over time. I was in full
support of the fraternal parting and indeed wrote an article headed to that
effect. I have as always stated that I have a lot of support for various
activists within the SWP while having difficulty with its leadership. Yet
over time, I have seen a change in some of those that I had once held respect
for - this change, is not for the better, it is for the worst.

Over the last few weeks I have been attacked {on personal and political
terms}, lied about, and have even had to leave a job all for various reasons.

From the ARN lies and mistruths were circulated by those SWP
activist's I once held respect for. I also saw hypocrisy and double
standards emanating from them. One of these was a recent statement by a leading SWP activist to me under the topic of 'the title of Chair was never discussed formally {in ARN}. The activist proclaimed that "You appointed the title to yourself" {which was a lie as they well knew} to
stating that- ' I would ask you to not endorse events agreed or otherwise
with the title "Chair of the ARN".

The irony of this all - -which had seen those same SWP activist's now stating
such a position to me, was having watched them run around the country speaking at SWP meetings
{or other affiliated names} as ARN and ARN steering group members - while
writing in the Socialist working under the various 'titles' of such etc, etc.
Yet the fact that I was called chair really meant little, but after I had
left it showed that it meant much to them.


Such was the mindset that they did not see their blatant contradiction. Yet
such points they have raised only came after I had left the SWP as there had
been absolutely no problem while I was in it. Indeed it was that very person
who had now attacked me {now I am Ex SWP} who was the strongest advocates for
my position {that is, while I was an SWP member}. Of course, again, such would
be of little surprise to many.

Then we had the lies of me turning up at ARN events for a {Photo Shoot} when
in fact I had put a lot of the groundwork into making such an event a
success -

Then we had the undemocratic actions by the SWP in relation to the Make
Poverty History coalition in the North - in which they attempted to brush
aside and dismiss the coalition's democratic decisions.

And of course we have the other issue of having to leave a job {and it is hard for me to find a decent job due to my visible
activism and being a perceived 'trouble maker'}.

There have been many other such things over the last few weeks but there is no
point I believe in going through them all - as people can get the gist of
what is happening. .


Yet, sad as it is to say, many had told me that was what was to be expected,
although they did not think they would attempt such on me.

They have though, not only on myself but on other activists such as Jon Glackin {Street Seen} which I have raised and taken issue with. Yet I have now been moved even more in how I will relate to the SWP due to a discussion that I had at the Friday ARN picket.


Talking to a genuine activist at the picket I found out about the SWP's
continued workings with such genuine activists.

The SWP's G8 Alternative buses from Belfast have shown that the SWP
has not changed when it comes to dealing with genuine grassroots activists.
There are issues with the buses - firstly a bus which was organised and built by
Students Against Poverty {but the SWP attempt to put their own label on it -
such as they do}. These students, who also had a good contingent at the MPH
rally in Belfast, are from West Belfast. The SWP's so called second G8 Alternatives bus - again was built in large part by non SWP activists from West Belfast {one such activist has signed up 20 people onto the second bus}. It is on this issue that the SWP are at it again.

That activist in her own words was 'misled' by the SWP, and, therefore, so were
the twenty or so people she has to date signed up from around the West. This
activist on Friday had told a leading SWP activist that they had believed
they were on the wrong bus - as they had believed that they were going to
the blockades and the other main events - they were not informed they
would have to pay in to G8 Alternatives events -they were also told, after asking
several times, that there was only three buses going from Belfast to Scotland {the two SWP ones and the ARN one} and that the broad movement and all
the different organisations were going on these buses {the only ones going from
Belfast}..Again other genuine activists were lied too and misled for Sectarian reasons.

Yet this is not unusual as I have stated before on this site, {and had
recorded on other sites and in correspondence with the SWP political
committee when I was still a member} that other genuine activists are
treated at times simply as cannon fodder or bums on 'our' buses. For
example Feilm of the IPSC was a prime example, genuine activists who
worked to build the Anti War Movement, and when at one time he had a concern
which I raised with such leading SWP Belfast activists, their responses
was sure "he's only a fucking Republican". I have learnt that some of them
smile at your face while knife you in your back. And while this is the case
with me presently it is the case also with many others who are welcomed
with a smile.

Yet the irony on this occasion is that the activist this time being misled
again is a key IPSC and Anti War Activist. She told me on Friday that she had almost joined the SWP because she had respected my politics and
activism. I am so glad now that she did not, and now realises from this
experience what they are like.

While I will take attacks on myself in good measure, I can no longer tolerate such attacks and misleading of other activists. This activist now knows, and has stated in her own words, what she thinks about the way she was treated.

The SWP, of course, attacks liberals, republicans, anarchists, NGO's etc
which is a similar feature to all political parties. However the SWP's attacks and
the deliberate misleading of activists, some of them detrimental to activists, is a different matter.

Therefore it is with a sad heart that I sate publicly that I will no longer
have any dealings with or lend any support to the SWP or its initiatives. I
will work with them when I must - and that is it. While their actions over
recent weeks in relation to myself was bad enough , the fact that
they are still treating genuine activists in the same way shows that they
have learnt little. Therefore I will not advocate support for such an
organisation that continues to use and misuse activists in that way.

In conclusion they are a party and I am but an individual, yet I have
always believed in fighting the power - unfortunately such power, I have learnt,
comes from various avenues.

And although I will hold support for various SWP activists, it seems though,
that the SWP cannot change and their continued attacks on activists can
allow me no longer to have fraternal workings with them, only if I have no alternative

Therefore -

The fellowship is finally broken.

PS I will be as active as I can over the next while - but I have, for the
next few weeks, a full time job looking for a job.

{Sigh} The Irony of it all - such is life

All the best - In Solidarity Davy Carlin .

PS I will of course expect the mindset attacks - but will not reply to any one unless I know of their name.

Finally to genuine activists within the SWP, My points are not aimed against you but to a situation that must be nipped in the bud in as a resonable way as possible