Slaying the Sectarian Dragon

At the end of June the Bellast untonist aewspaper, the Newsletter arranged a public debate on the theme of “visions of the Unton™ . Participants were invited to put forward thetr tdea of a union which was non-sectanan {although there were boos when one speuker suggested that there had been sectarianism in the past.| Around the same time a group of unionist academics published a book called: The idea of the Union” which was supposed to offer the same vision of an non-sectarian union.

What is commen to both , and is in line with a lot of postceasclire chatter. 1s an approach to the subject which ignores the past and present realities in favour of an idealist construct which does not, cannot and never will exist. The replacement oi a concrete reality by an imagined one was not able to stand the first test of the marching season. Real world unionism was put oul for display on the Ormeau and Garvaghy roads.

Wishing away the realities of unionism is not just confined to the liberals. Militant Labour seem capable of convineing their supporters that the political voice of the UVF personified in Billy Hutchinson represents a possible partner in the creation of a mass socialist party. Fora socialist group to invite the Progressive Unionist Party onto a platform to discuss the socialist way forward is much more than a tactical error, it 1s quite simply a disgrace and an insult to all those Protestants who have rejected loyalist terror for the past 25 years.

THE MANTLE OF SOCIALISM The elevation of the PUP led to a series of exchanges between the ICMP and Militant Labour {| not a debate -Militant consistenuy fudged the issue and refused debate}. Finally in desperation they sent a letter to An Phoblacht saying in effect; Why pick on us? Everyone, including the republicans, talks to the Loyalists!

Our answer to this is of course that no-one but Militant has draped loyalism in the mantle of socialism. This was a criminal act which undermines the whole idea of the self-organisation of the working class. We were duty bound to blow the whistle on them. But Militant do have a point. They and the Communist Party were uble to pander to Loyulism because the republicans legitimised such meetings.

wey Anyone can see that this damages Republicanism. The Brush use the fringe Unionist fronts as a counterbalance to Stun Fern and a way ol denving the legiuumacy ot the Sinn Fein cicctoral mandate.

In the longer term we should not pander to the pretence that these gangsters represent Protestant workers. They have no clectoral mandate and their role in unionist communities is largely a coercive one. Individual community workers on the Shankill road have spoken out against them. Protestant workers have demonstrated against their sectarian killings in the workplace. Recently an independent Labour candidate casilv outstripped lovalist candidates in a byelection in Newtownabby. These forces are weak and fragmented und have not broken trom unionism, but we should not betray them by pandering to the far-nght forces they oppose.

### PEACE PROCESS

So why have the republicans offered this legitimation? The answer is very simple - the peace process. If Bruton. Hume and Clinton are the frends of the Irish people. if Bniain nas no selfish or strategic interest and can act as a persuader then why not shake hands across the barncades with the new representauves of “working-class” unionism?

But the last step 1s a step loo far. [n the dreamuume we may be able to believe that Bill Clinton will tuck us up in bed or that Jonn Major will speak sharply to the Unionists but the Lovalists. despite clocuuion lessons for some of their leaders, are too clearly what they have always been.

The Lovalist litmus test tells us that what we are sceing Is not some clever new strategy but the political collapse of the republican programme.

NEW UNTIONISM So what does the “New Unionism amount to?

For A Workers Republic. Page 5

Apologists dressing up an idealist unionism whiie shutting their eyes to reality.

The UDA and UVF trying on working class clothes while searching fora base. Class tensions have existed throughout the history of Untontsm - but the first step to socialism is to repudiate seclananism. This break with unionism has happencd only rarcly and never occurred from the far mght.

The framework documentand the wholc impenal!stscheme lor “reconciling the two traditions” and “parity of esteem”. in reality lncy Know 1L1s Impossible to reconcile the mght lo discnminate and the mgt lo resist- in lack itis becoming anew Wal uf siauny ine uMlonist yew.

Ane Anica CaP OU cn Sens wee be terece! -0. off... : yest f 220 OSES ue f seee f vpu ublicaii Rrovuetr Va urmmrerucrs warert rey Buy aiism all overa twill conlinuc toenist. expressing tie tage of twain. some Protestant workers oppressed by imperialism but so Steeped in seclananism that they can only lash out at fellow workers. Irrational and vicious, 1! will oreantse as long as nationalist workers refuse to submit to a sectaman state.

The new “non-sectunun” unionists will find themselves unabic in the future, as they have in the past, ic jind any practical expression to thal non-seclananism. Cnabie to de-sectananise tne state, they will Diame navonalsts ror ererecerremtw, axe sete St tcp - viet reverse) roeerartetorraraerrcex TSR i S070 cael VWlikan thes Derus sari tram thar tpi aawne Cae SLD discard weawaas taaw ee aa Otiiom ta thairc ceinia oe sect: tee im yesyt Srl tl SA Le Sleep es WORKING CLASS The 'myedy ts that in their heart of hearts neither renublicans nor the “gas and water” socialists helieve that they can win Protestant workers to their cause. Thev are correct. Netther the nationalist family or assurances that partition in not the real struggle are likely to break workers from unionism. The rouic is through the mass of the [rsh class as a whote; building an unremitting class yrepuditcan “iriends” tke Sruton and Aheme. hal parudud is a demecraue qucsuon imat ie won nvix Cia» (HUNT Lae ae atid Cat SOC LEENA TG Bit WTTPacee ake : tae Wiki par tid GTi UIC GEV iSiGTL Gt ition Wei ACTS. Unable to deal with the loyalist dragon, republicans and the soft left pretend that it died quietiy last week. We know the dragon is not dead and that one of the key tasks in building a real working class alternative is in fighting to slay the dragon.

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