Way Forward?

For some time Peoples Democracy has been calling forin the pages of An Reabhioid for an open conference of anti-imperialist militants to rebuild mass struggle and to hammer oul a programme on which we could unite and begin the task of remobilising the resistance. An ‘Open Conference’ in Dublin on January 20th launched a new organisation, The Irish National Congress (INC). Unfortunately there are problems with the openness of the new movement, its authority and with its political orientation and programme for unity, argues OPEN CONFERENCE The INC conference was ‘open’ in the sense that jl was advertised and anyone who registered could attend. However the decision to form an INC had already been taken at an earlier meeting in August. This invitation list included “disillusioned Fianna Fail members’, Sinn Fein, anti-repression, cultural and “green” (environmental) otgamsations, [t did not include any organisations to the left of Sinn Fein or organisations directly representing the working class. It is hardly surprising that these organisations showed litte interest im the conference, In any case remobilising a fragmented mass struggle requires a great deal more than the routine calling together of anti-imperialist militants leavened with a few present or ¢x-Fianna Fail members. Tt requires a campaign that will go out to all the groups and campaigns in struggle and mobilise on the streets to build a conference of all the oppressed.

More seriously the restricted base on which the conference was built led to anarrow definition of a programme for unity, The programme pul forward by the INC is essentially around democratic demands for nalional independence - summed up as ‘Freedom, Justice, Peace’, The name INC is modelled on the ANC (African National Congress) and reflects some of the ANCs historical political weakness about the possibility of alliances with sections of the capitalist class. Alongside this, the composition of the organising group gives an indication of the Teasons for restricting the programme. It is to draw in sections of Southern Nationalism around the Fianna Fail party. As such it Tepresenis a massive step backwards by Sinn Fein, rather than a way out of the present isolation of the movement.

*THE NATIONALIST FAMILY’

This sort of programme is influenced by the old republican notion of the ‘nationalist family" - the idea that the republicans and the nationalist Parties are in some sense on the ‘same side” agamst the British. This is strengthened by Stalinist notions of a ‘popular front’ of all classes - sechons of the Communist Party talk about a ‘progressive wing’ of Fianna Fail. These ideas ignore the reality of class struggle in Ireland today . Fianna Fail is in the forefront of attacks on the working class inall area of Irish society. We have already seen evidence in elections of workers tuming away from thal party. Anorientation to Fianna Fail can only further isolate anti-imperialists.

A loose framework like ‘Freedom, Justice, Peace'means nothing unless it is tied to definite proposals for action. The present proposals get concrete expression only in terms of the British military occupation in the North. And because the INC is a 26 county movement focused onthe 6 counties iLleaves room for endless posturing and all sorts of Page &- AN REABHLOID. réaction by the capitalists and right-wing forces - pushing to one side the issue of the church-dominated neo-colony in the 26 counties.

Aclear example of this sort of danger was shown by a molion opposing the EEC which referred to the right of an Irish government to adopt policies ‘appropriate to their special problems and circumstances" -generally seen as code used by the extreme right to justify the ban on abortion, divorce and other reactionary laws against women and to continue the domination of Catholic moral codes in state laws.

### ELECTIONS

Another motion. called for electoral support for INC candidates who mentioned in their manifesto and publicity support for the INC. This wasn'l just someone's bright idea, The original call for an INC had been acall for an electoral alliance between Fianna Fail dissidents and Republicans.

The dangers should be clear. The Irish people need anew ‘Republican’ Fianna Fail like they need a hole in the head, Any electoral alliance between Sinn Fein and such a grouping or the use of republicans as cannon fodder in an electoral campaign to elect candidates of such a party would totally discredit the republican movement and smash any project to build united mass action.

Interestingly enough, this motion was massively opposed. However it was not voted down, but referred back to the committee. (Referral back was also the fate of all motions from the floor put to this ‘Open’ conference )> BASIS FOR UNITY Peoples Democracy believes that unity should be non-exclusive. A United Front should be open to anyone who supports ils aims and is willing to build mass struggle. By bending the stick towards the right the INC is in effeet putting a powerful barrier between itself and the working class, What then is the basis for unity? We believe that democraticdemands form a link between the working class and other oppressed sectors of socicty. Notselective democratic demands butall democratic demands - including demands for the separation of church and state which go Tight to the heart of the neo-colonial regime in Dublin and would quickly expose those members of the “Nationalist Family" who have already been tested and found wanting by the rigours of Irish history.

Peoples Democracy is willing to put its position to the test, We are willing to participate im future activities of the INC and any united attempis to build mass action. We look forward to discussing INC proposals fora “Freedom Charter" - an issue discussed at the conference and first raised in the columns of ‘An Reabhloid”.

We remain convinced that a true ‘Freedom Charter’ will only emerge from the actual expenence of mass struggle and from the banles of the oppressed. Por that reason we repeat again our call for the Open Conference of the oppressed necessary to plot a forward course for the Trish revolution, Because of the importance of the issues raised in this article, we will seek to interview organisesers and supporters of the conference in coming issues

Internal document of Peoples Democracy