Socialist Republic: August 1977

SOCIALIST

REPUBLIC

price 10p Aug. "77 Loyalist helpers killed 750 people

WHY FIANNA FAIL CANT

SOLVE THE

ECONOMIC

CRISIS

movement for a socialist republic This man and his have already

GET HIM

OFF OUR

BACKS!

THE SASH WONT FITT

4696 The attitude of the SNIP towards the ROC "we would support then, has alwaya provoked controversy.

For the loyalists their antirelence provides proof - if any is needed! of their fundamental "dislayalty".

Despite these attacks the party has consistently refused to comit itself one way or another on this question.

In recent months this controversy.

is bot only the loyalists who are taking up the cudzels but all sectore of "moderate" opinion.

alists fron Dublin and British newspapers who, despite the fact that after arriving in Belfast rarely if ever set foot autside the har of the Harapa Hacel, Cotholic wont the RUt hack in liste are forply upset thet the courage to support this supppeed groundswell of ordinary Catholte" opinion, which of course begs the question - if the minority really do went the ROC back theb aurely the SALP would not need any coprase to mo along with this denend?

Despite this charade of bypocrisy and ignorence the question of the SILP attitude towards the RUC is a vitally important obe. ulates the crisis facing the SDLP, and equally inportantly demonstrates the extent to which British policy has shifted in the last chree years.

CATHOLIC OPPOSITION TO THE ROC

The STEP's dileung is of course under- However mach the media standable. night like to portray the RUC officer as a nice 'babhyt helping children to crose the road, the nationalist commity has a very different picture.

them, che REC officer is a uniformeda thee with a baton or a sten guo attemptine to terrarige the minorits into submission. They renember that it was the RU. wi savagely attacked and broke up the first civil ber alro that it was the BUG who firing indiscriinately with sub-nachine guns into bloce of flats. gotten all tids, they cannot fail to notice that in rural areas where the ROC roan treely Catholics are being subjected It tent that the anti-Onionist communits have a prejudteed elev if the RiC. forces upholine the i Countr state. ity remain: hostile to the RUC and was difficult to sive lo to Drities and linianist prossane land ve should be the kritish goverment that is tellind the Five veers ard, just siter ELOODY we talk now ito the British! we would represent nobody", sane te true

RUC.

calling for full support for the RUC because they would find their base in the Catholic commnity was rapidly eroding. They would represent nobody. SDLP are aware of this and so is the

THE SHIFT IN BRITISH STRATHEY

witl: Paulker the SALP meintained the same snoiy lant attitude cree the Rio, arguing that with power sharing tbe police would gradunily becone a nan-partican force, could no: urge full suppore, Mile Britain was uneasy about SDEPts leod; a loc of water has and wiemine the consent of the minority to the state machine has conced to be a priority for the Bricih, resentative who capitulated on she question of the ROC would quickly lose any credibility, so that Aritin eflorts to pressurige the SOLP on this iseue must be seen as confirmation of the fact that pover-sharing ig not on the agenda. The only role that Catholic min- For inters will play in any future goverment in the E Coucies vill • be a cochetie one; their porticipation would he useful tor the purpose of proviling a good pablic insue in the South of Ireland and internation lly to what would, in righte merches in I968. They romen- And even ir thay had forto continual larassent, physical attack, and occasionally, murder.

The oppasite is true; they see then for what they are a unjor element in tle repressive IHAT is wty the mine the SEEP finds it so in no doubt that it is current contreterer). SUNDAY, Berry Titt said on TV MEE The today regarding the The SDLP won't cone put The British government. In 1974 when chey were in governnens toyhut that until then they this no effort wos mode to force the passed uacer the hridge rince then Any Cotholic repreality be a loyslist governent.

Thio is the choice which in open to the SILP - to gravel before the Unionist-Loyolist bloc in the bope of gettine a sent in the goverrment and rick loribg their tass suppart or to cling to cheir base in the Catholic coanunity while abrerving the Cahinet seats they have covered so much floating away forever.

THE SOLP - HAKE THEN HIGHT OR

Britain's rum fran seeking the consent ol the minority towards relying mainly on coercion has opened ap a new gituacien in the We Lave seen Repullicens and thein sepperters come to realise orced from ness strugzles. is But there are advantaces rool danger that thoge Repullicuns will becare totally demarelised rive up here of cefe.tinz Britis nue ant dismantling It in vit-lly innertant pot co adopt - "pait " approach but to atteapt to initiste nort the Britich Arms and the HUC It is only by getting tbe ve con turn the tables on the Brit- The Irish Front in Jerry and the Relatives Action Comittee in Belfast have begun the fight back; and showing the way forward to the entire these forces risk beconine isolated unless they can draw tho and filer supporters of the SHEP into struggles This cannot be dour simply ry condeaning che SDP leaders from a beight or alternatively just ignoring chen, It can only be dobe by drawing the SHIP leadership into anired action, imperialistr must say to the SlIP Leaders "Ton't just speak on televisien about RUC brutality — join with us in organising a march to protest agalast ter.

Only by applying thin uited front tactic towarde the SELP.

can their eupportery be dravi into strugeles and only through mans struggle against the Bricieh Army and the ROC cao we wio their supporters fron their illusions in refering the b County state.

BRITISH

TROOPS

OUT NOW!

Since Jauuupry 1975 Britein's policy in the North hes been desiened to facilit-te the recomposition of Loyalist control, After the DWO strike (May I974) it became obvious that any stable governnental fomula would have to depend on lovalism as its keystone.

short the only cype of government which could now hope to succedd wes one which ained to preserve and strenethen the sectarian nature British imperialism instantly recognised this new reality.

But the immediate project of restoring loyalist rule beckfired owing to a crisis within the British ruline class (reflected at the time in the Tory leadership crisis and the paralysis of the Labour government) and the cantinuing combativity of the Cathalic basses. Britain then developed a nore long tern policy conpesed of three elements. an accelerstion of the war of attrition against the Entholie minority Rimultaneou ly the "Elsterisation" cresced emphasi- on local governent where the Losplists bad ovrabelaof the SILP so that political representation of the Catholic middle eless could be dropped as on essenti»l component of a covernental The DUAC strike last May gave a fresh impetus to Britain's stratery on all three fronts. Just as Mason was announcing his new "security package" durine the Palsleyite strike the British Army was launching its new offensive.

holically it brake down the barricades of the North's remaining in Turt Lodge and occupied tbe area against stift civil resistance.

theo there have been i tunber of clashes in ghetto areas such as At the same time the harassment of Republican and Sociolist militants has been egoslote! to = new pitch, If the current rate of harassment continues then the munber af arrests yearts record figure. Meanwhile, as the repression is stepped up the process of "ulsterisation" 1s driven relentlessly In addition te increasine strangth by nearly 20% and re-equipping and rearing it, the more openly loyalist Ister Defence Regiment hes had its full-tine neibership Increaned hy nearly 30%,

LOCAL OOVERNHENT

The results of the Local Governent clections have confaunded those middleclass politicians who tried to ease tbe Catholic Minorityts fear of loyalien with the srement that it was forever fragnented and impotent, Despite the break-up of the MIRC the Loyalists continur to control the vest majority of local councils, and moreover with an even mone brutal and vindictive hand, This has bot deterred Britain in the *lichtest from pushing ahead with its plane for strengthening tbe pawer of local government. gecond centralised tier of local covertsent in the North, which of patronage and sectarignisn, An arrangenent such as the "Holybeaux Plant may be a step in the direction of eitber "integration" or "devolution", Ive is that the Catholic middletrol over the Nerthern state and more inportantly the Catholic In addition, and pe » result of.

ised" repression, and drawine the closer together, the events of Tiet May have aloo further underor brutalics and barassment.

Austin Currie has been forced to call for the withdraval of the Bricish Army from Catholic areas.

And after an initial attempt to modify their position on the RUC Fitt, Hune or Co, were forced to repeat their opposition. isolation of the DEP and the shift of the so-called middle ground covards the Layalist fold wes underlined by the hitterness of Alliance's rebuttal of the SDEP and the attegpt by the

BRITISH IMPERIALISM

paving the way for Loyalists The Labour government has openly and shamelessly entoned into a pact with the Official Unionists to create a would guarantee Loaalism the fruits But that is only a secondary question, what is decisclass will be deprived of any conmusses Will continue to suffer the full rigoure of Orange sectarianism, precipitating » new wave of Mlster- Labour coverment and the Loyalists mined the political strategy of the The escalation of repression ane tbe local government deal with the Layali-to 1- further exposing theSDurg been enharrassed inco taking up cases RUC Chief Constable to amplify the debate and further embarrass the SDIP before all respectable citirens" in Britein, Northern Ireland, and the South. Nor does the success of the SDLP in the local government elections ease the crini, On the contrary it only exacerbates their contradict- Of the massive 30 seat gain 11 but tbree - Moyle, Larne, ano aleraine - occurred in militant Catholic arens. Huge successes were recorded in such arees 89 Armagh, Newry, and Hermanagh, 9s well as in Belfast ghettoes such as New Lodge, Andersonstown: These successes de not result from demoralisation of the Catholic They are to be explained by the militant demagogy of large sections of the STIP who were sounding off about being ditched by British Imperialisn, These successes will only encourage the dissension within the SDtr, and shove it torcber out of the orhit of Britain's strat- Although British Inperialica has here making stendy headway aver the past few years. the latest phase of its strategy of its strategy contains many weaknesses. Ihese are the weak Nank through which the anti-imperiplist forces can launch a successful counter-attack.

CUITING INTO THE SOLP'S HEART

Since the abolition of Stoment the North (and the Southi) and the nilitant vanguard in the ghettoes.

This division has been the single most important factor underlying the downturn lo the mens anci- Imperialist strugale or the past maturing which will allow thie gap to The more it becomes clear that Iritain ir backing son form of Layalist control the less credibilicy the This can result in demoralisption, as exemplified by a section of the Catholic middle class, followed by a sectian of the Catholic Masons, outflankine the SIP by suppartine the operly pro-inperislist Peace moverent. resistance of a conbative antiimperislist layer can lave an opp orite effect - a return by broad sectors of the Catholde masses ro a real struggle for deneerstic and national rights. It all depends on whether the anti-impertaList varguard plays its cards the riate To plas its cards right the anti-imperialist vanzuard mist out right into the heart of the SDL (especially the pseudo-nationalists ground Padd levlin| to participate in = ErACticAL campaigo for tbe renoval ol British ns and an end to the brutality on securitr forces It mugt be shown to the Catholic: minority that ir Devlin & Co. refuse to do anythine about the troops and barassment It is not because Socialists and Republicans put sectarian batters in tbeir was but he- Cause the SELP railitant:" dan't really want to fight.

For miny people the general election was not fought over civil repression.

Certainly neither Fianna Fail or the Coalition conrentrated on this issue.

Nonetheless, two thingy should be noted. Firstly, when repression vas an issue the electors shoved their dissatisfaction with the Coalition's Two of the three ministers defeated, Minister for Justice Cooncy and Minister for Posts and Telegraphs D'Brien had been outspokenly ready to restrict civil libertorBrien's defeat is particularly sigulficant; he raised the repression issue so as to attack the alleged Republicanism of Fianna Fail's Charles Haughey. Haughey topped the pell in Artane while 0*Arien lost his seat in the Clancarf constituency which had been designed for his particulgr convenience. during the campaign for pledging himself to oppose the Energeticy Offences sgainst the State Act, vas alco returned to the Deil, On the other hand Fianna Fail will not be influenced by Lynch has praised Dail, when Neil Blaney tried of the Energency Powers Act, (opposed by Pianna Fail), Lynch declared that his government vould not move precipitately but wanted,

FIANNA FAIL'S RECORE

In this, Fianna Fail is merely to itself. Bien allowing true for its period in office being three times that of the Coalitions, ite record is considerably worse than theirs. After a brief attempt to win to itself all militant Republicans in the early thirties Fianna Fail established special tribunals to Later it was sentence then. responsible for the Diencen Assinst the Stute dot. fran which sll subsequent repressive lows hove been developed.

Fianna Fail introduced and opersted intertment in the forties and fifties and would have done so again, in I971, had it considered it politicall fensible, Fianna Fail was !

the Last governent to bane anyone, even after the first interparty governient had haneed nohody. (It should of course be noted that it was anly popular agitation that storped the last Caslition fron evening the score,) It was also Fianng Fail that last imprisoned striking telepbonists and electricigas. This inheritance is nor some Finara Poil "origil sin except in sa far as it accepts capitalism.

lend this Is a weak semi-colonigl force which hys never been able to solve either its economic prollens or to unite the countre.

Any serious attempt to achleve eltber of these sin conflicts with capitalic's needs; it cannot afford to end unemployment because it heeds it in order to discipline its vorkers; it cannot oppose imperialien because it shares its interests, In particular, the current struggle in Northern Repression:

NOW COMES THE

Irelaud has sbow Its potentia stinalus for action (esp ectally workins class action in the Republic - nost nocably in the I972 General Strike protestine against Aloady Suday.

This is che context for intensified repression regardless o1 changes of government ar 1970, Micheal, 3 Morain (Romember the Criminal Justice Bill and the RTF Seven Daye investinetion?) was replaced be Desmend O Maller amid signs of popular relief. "out-repressed" his predecessor with li- Prevention of Forcible Irisons Act. Special Crimin 1 Court and Offenses A zinet the State Anemoment Act.

When Piano Fail vas deferted meer expected mich iran his suvaguely democratic repatation while in apposition.

er alloved prison conditiong to worsen took respansibility Tor Che Crimin 1 Low (luisdiction) Act and the Drergency laws • Coaner ig succeeded by Garry Collins.

Nobody (outside Flanna Fail) expects It may be that peaple recognise that after all the Minister for Justice is huc ane member of a collectively responsible coverent.

More likely it ig agsed on Callins!

known and proven record, as a batchet persen (within Fianna Fail irns Trial and against RTR in I972).

Whatever the reason such suspicion

SOOPE FOR FIGHTING BACK

But wint is even noce bopeful that such mistrust represents somethinz greater than either of the above cruses. the anti-goverrment vote were The Coolition'- Tessive pecksee was met with working class mobilisations in several places. the full com plement of repressive laws e.g.

by reriving capital punisbment, mainly because of the

BACK

CRUNCH

Fianna Fail -

TUCCAR.

wolf sheep's clothing

CARDA

international campagn in support of the Murrays, The revslations about prison canditions and police brutalicy have gained a response wider than the supporters of those imediately Attected. Sone thing nore promising than the essentially negative election result is the formation of the Trade Union Co-ordinating Committer Agatost Repression (TUCCAR).

This body and other civil rights groups will have to move If their potential is not to be frustrated. The prisons of Ireland remain hell-holes. In the "Republic" daneing renatos on the statute The southern staterg repressive powers reasin greater than the excessiveLy restrictive Dilence ninet thie State Act, Furthermore the British occup-tion i still the basic concend incertive for repression North and Sauch, In the North clere ere scecil courts. "crinin.lisatian" o: political priconers, and new intensified persecution of antiimperialist organisation: (Peoples" Tenocracy and the Red Republicat Party) whose Coffence" is to try and organise nasa action against repression. supparters of civil litertzes carnot linir tbraselves to the lotbying beloved of the Irisl C uncil far Civil Liberties (ICCI).

The ir unease about repression mat be turaed tato action. All trade unionists shoul he encoaramed to jolo Hombers of the Trade Ibians and tenants and cultural organisations must work to involve these bodies in building an independent enquiry into prison conditions.

In the meantime there should be a big nobil tration for the RAC match an August 7, Only through such initiatives will Irish Civil Liberties be strengthened and maintained.

OR, LYSACHT

P.D.

GENERAL

SECRETARY

ARRESTED

MELTED ONGANISATIOMS

PRCTUCINAL RIPULICAN MOVEMENT

IRISH REPUBLICAN SOCIALIST PARTY

IRISH NATIONAL PARTY

HAGILUGAN PASONERS WEEPASE COPPITTEE

POLITICAL PROMERS ACTION COMHITTEE

FUSONERS DERNDANTS PUNC

The Irish Front in Derry City wishes to intern your readership that a narch and rally will take place on Madnesday August IOth., assembling st the Crergan Shops at 2p.m.

denon-trstion has leen called by our Central Camittee which represente six anti-imperialist groupinow in the city. to coincide with the arrivol in the North of Elisabeth IT, Queen of England.

our intention to mark this date as • day of protest against the visit or the constitutional bead of the British State, and as an act of colidarity for our humdreds of campytriots incarcerated in British and Irish' gaols and he feel that this visit by a foreign monarch, merely add.

ingult to injury at a time when repression against the tationalist population is on the increase.

political status has been denied to our political prigoners, her Governent and its agents have in recent days been found guilty of tonture at the Human Rights Court at Strasbourg.

In addition ve can never forget is escalating its campaign of barassment against the Catholic ninority in the North, the Proves - but, campaim against repression, to smash People's Democracy.

this year a member of PD, Denis Murphy, was lifted during a mass ion of a rifle and sone illegal documents. Now, four months possession of the same dociments!

the RUC that they had very little íRísh FRont c/a 3 Neenan Square, Dogside, Derry City.

that this personage was respons- Ible for decorating the COMMANDER of the Ist, parachute reginent which carried out the batchery on Bloody Sunday, January 3lat., I972, when fourteen of our fellow citinens were killed during a penceful demonstration organised by the Civil Righte Movenent to appose interment without charge or trial. We hereby request and expect the full co-operation of ell antiimperialice organisatione, are invited to attend and display their respective banners.

which ore available would be most weloame. as indeed would nessnes expressing solidarity with our endeavours for Ireland and its people on this occasion. correspondence to the undersioned. you in anticipacion. I міле, Le neas mos,

SECRETART.

TISH FRONE,

DARRY.

As promised duriog the Paisleyite strike last May the British Ary ne Longer a matter of conbatting demanded - intinidating the ghettoes where a strong resentment of the British Arny and British mile still Already this policy las led to a se!

ies of confrontations in areas such as St, James's and the Turf Lodge.

More recently the British Arny has extended its field of operations into the South - the nost recent example Is the SAS kidnapping in Co, Louth, Now it reels the escelation or Brit- 1sh Ary hara-ament is to 'nclude reneved attacks do docialtit oree- ¡retions whose sole Morinel is co This ii shown by the emerging cougrign raid and charged with the possesslater, after several days of interraoation, PDts General Secretary, John MeAnulty, has been charged with the 'ort to: Although the Judge in the case told 82 Hrogdusy, BelTest. 2T hine I937 - Dear Comrade, wha Banda A11 should be sent Four- Sincerely, Thanking The Secretary, Gearge Benderson,

ETERNAL APAIRS

evidence. they opposed bail.

Then when Meanulty was remanded in custody until September the ROC interjected to say that it would take rather their case. Longer to prepare How long does it take to nake frame-up sticki? (the arrest of Itis clear that MeAnulty is nothing nore than a legalised forn of interament. Proteste have already been nade about the abuse of renand- Representatives of the Movenent for a Socinlist Republic, People's Denocracy and the Independent Socialist Party sre currently in the United States taking up the some of Meltulty aud the remand iesue with praninent civil libertarians there; «imlar noves are • foot in Britain where Left-wing Lebaur MPts are being approached ou the mattery and in lublin the Malnulty Defence Committee is seeking support fran democratic and Republican-minded nembers of the Trade Unions, the Dail, etc.

STOP DO HARASSVENT OF THE CATH-

OLDC MINORIIF1

DEMAND THE RELRASK OF JOHN SCULTYE

Send messages of solidarity and supp- People's Democracy, c/o Connolly Hookshop, Andersonstown, Belfast, Workers' Research Unic, We would like to info you of the setring up of Workers' Hecearch Unit in Belfast, sod throug you el wider support for our dur pim is to produce s quarterly bulletin which will take up cane of the social issuns which affect is in our day to day Iife, such as the crisis in the bealth service, housing eto. The other main aim of the group will be to provide a research service for those who need it and do not have access to the infornation since it is monopolised by the authorities and the employers.

Thus we ain to help workers firtine for hetter conditions, against lay-ofts etc. and other groups such as connunity and tenants!

The tasks we bave set durselves are quite antitious, hut ther can and will be realised 1f ve receive suppart fron the organisation- and indiridaals who recogbise the beed for this service.

No neer financial help of coarse, but we siro beed people to help and give their tine, especially to provide information on the arese ve are desling with.

Marterst Research Unit,

Fianna Fail's massive election victory has forcibly reminded everyone that since 1932 it has only been out of office for IO years and that no Coalition has held office once it plaints of Fine Gael and Labour that they were turfed out because of econonie recession do little to explain this and other re ated facts.

Planna Fail is a party of big business but continues to support of the anjority of the urban work- Ine class, the small farmers, and a wide cross-section of a nunter of other classes - in short a classic It was formed after a split in the anti-treaty wine of Sinn Fein in the I920's and won its wide social hose ly pursuine a policy that wos relat- Ively more independent of Dritish Imperialism than Fine Gzel while crushing the Republicans.

distinguished from Fine Gael and Labour through Its "Republican" rhetoric and in the I960ts, whea it began to tone this down and belp Britain to cighten ite grip on the many chaught that the National Question was no longer relevant and were Fine Bacl's "Just Society" and Lahour'g "New Reputlic", trends were interrupted as the of the Northern minarity to gnash che 6 County statelet, which bad reated then so badly, rocked the 26 Daunties. stahility of the our and Fine Gael stepped in during the 1970 Arms Trial Crisis to condenm Jack Lyach's "ambiguous" approsch to IRA violence and, once elected in I973, subordinated all their policies to the one sim of preservine partition,

THE COALITION PLAYS ITS ROLE OUT

The flood of repressin uced was initially justified in the context of reforminz the 6 Counties and later placoting the extrene lorto stop them gaining power.

past year hoverer it has beto all that the era af come obvious that Britain is, shifting towards the and that it lans to rosch a settlement in the 6 Counties without ridding it of its sectarian featthe Southern miling class Sections of very uneasy about and began distaneing theitcould heve

FINE

GAEL SE

CIEANS 197

TALOW TSE

I5 GULARS

FICHTS

PLANNIE

DER LATE

MENCHEZ

THE CHANEST

PFICATE

LI RED

FON TIE

selves from the draconian efforts of the Carlition. clearly in the row over the "Energency" legislation and che provision for 7 day detentian, witch in the 0 Dolnigh-Donegan affair when che President resigned and the law was partially curbed in the suprene The besic ching about the election result then te the fact chat it fits in neatly with the need for a dew tactical turn by the ruling class - in a survey of major business firus over 605 wanted Fiamna Tail back, only 205 favoured the Coalition, the rest were undecided.

BIS GAINA FOR FLINNA FAIL

Hue bow can we say chis arter an election carpoign toucht aninly on econonte issues. and Labties. they introde "peece colitics", unity. Seamue Cootello. i-t. Parts (IRSP). the effects this Jae Harrington, way in which the the meaning of the election results just after the tunger-strike at Partlaoise bad failed to force This was seet nost the povertment into even a token culinated been less interest in the North ahr the Repurlican novenrut is becoming tendily more isolated.

Such pointo shox ur that the sjority of people lave beer so demoraliser he the evalanche of reprersion, izemployment, densor hip etc. that chey are only beginninz to realive vint has there is a rengoofor all these things haopening at once, and chat they ate here to stay nor same temporary period or This extrenely uneven ant confused respase to a steadily worsening social crisis are easier to see ls breaking dent Of the 350 or go candidates who conthe munber tested the General Eleccion, class programme fighting an a working was very smell ste contined to snal) pockets throughout the 20 Coun- The basis on wich Sinn Fein the Workeret Party conteated the electein was to compete with the binger parties on an electoral progand Cheaper ramme of "More Jobs Food" while having no chance of forming the next government a precondition for the implementation of their limited programe, which only mentioned the North in the context of bulling support for The Camunist Party, while supportins notional nade bo effect to independclass, entle orconise the working The chaize In the hillin-Wicklow stre une bolined to the Independent Labour codidater mad chairperson of tbe Irish Republican Sociel-

THE LIHERICK CAMPAIG

Socialist-Republicen candidate sponsthe workine class end crade campaigo an demands for Nations] Womens! Liberation and the defence of small farmers.

Its demands for the risbt to work were lased on the deed for the workerst movement to organise independently as this was the only It also strenged the roint that varkers should place no Illusions in the the labour movement y it was proved ly their record thot they were in Do way hesitant when it one to selling out to the gavernment and the enplayers.

Althouch the vote cast in T22, was snall in a contituency with no less than 6 independent candidates, the camp alen proved very successful in developing and popularising the the election Tianna Fail p first prefere crease af 4,4 ectien in I91 of their bey!

NEW VES

Alter all there has rarely

RATES!

INCOME

TAKE

ROAD

TREE

HOUSE

only seeing tat

TAK

Bottom Dog fights back muin issues facine the Trish It provided the gorkina class. adlitents of che Batton Dog with an opportunics to take aer ta electior atnosphere of the take their peograme into tbe class estates. hiring che can e,000 copier of the platiorn n di-tributed. and 4,000 copies Contraception Action Programme election leaflet were given 0u 1. 300 pasters calling for self organisation as well as a vote for Joe Herrington were put up constituener - thes cevered issues porcine fran th need to raise che defence of ti Northern minority as an Issue to the defence of womebe! righ to the richt of chase who work the l-0i to cat it, the largest working alase esta the city, I, 200 leaflets here tributed calling on tenants te ise independently rather than on the potrei ge and promises capitalise politicisos. ect regult of the intervention women in the area have organi a petition demandine chat chr oratoon convert a dangerous a quarry into a playground for ren el che area. come rather omical about the ises of local politicians to the quarry filled in.

Lts. (35, IS to 30,IS - dow 55) and d 50.6% of the votes, in inthe last eli just snort r performanceort far fists Fail declines,

WIN TERES

SOAKS

vorking class,

HILE IM

POWER!

-1 Party actually is a larce part of hela in Doon rural 2 meetings Were and Coppanare ao vell as the lon of aver 50 leafleto to +n-ll After-work farmer- in thie area. meetinge were leld in Herents 2 of the 1: rgest factpn.- A cumber ories in the region. of meetings were alce held 1ebour tochange outoire the where the Hatton log is regsold - during the ularly vent up competen cales there

FOS

DY

SOCIALIST UNITE

Saturday prior to pollingday an open bir rolly was held in Thomas st, corner which was attended throughout by a crowd of four to five hundred people.

the speakers were Bernadette MeAliskey (Levlin) a Late-nicht meeting of 100 women outside a bingo lall in The most atriking lesson havever was the inpect that revolutionary socialiste can hove chrough united act- The campaign vos supported Jacally and notionally by Movement for a Socili-t Republic, Peoplect Denocracy, the Indepenent Sociali-t Porty, the Soci Li-t Workero! Novement •od Revolutionary Scruzgle. indivirus menberg af the IRSP actively worked for the compale. 1 sizestle number of independent nilitants can continue an a natiocvide level on the issues of repression, ubemployment and trade unint struggles the weak and divided revolutionary left can begin to move away from a position of being peripheral to one of having a substantial 11 still nodest 14~ influence in the workers' nover

PAT QICONNOR

The losses suffered by Fine Guel Labour (I3,7% co IT.6% - down 2, I%) were significantly bigger than Fiains Fail's grins and must put seriously into question any new co- "lition gaining pever even if supp- Besides this the Coalition does not social bese necessary for pursuing the type of repressive messures needed ls the ruling class can because of its social base.

The Coalition could not have done so it would have needed the Allegiance ef a significant sector of the The Labour Party, which was supposed to fulfil this need, has steadily lost its weak vorkingclass base to the point that 3 of its 6 Dublin TD*s (Horgan, Quinn, and Desmond) depend on a small stratum of the petty-bourgeoisie which Gael too conservative Despite this and the good showing of the Independent Labour Candidates (Noel Browne and Matt. Nerrigan), for independent Sinn Fein - The Workers? of the lesterchip!. the ne Unlike its Enalich counterpart it ithe Implenentation of vone ae- Fianna reements» thi- runction

RIO TRANSFER TO FINE GAEL

whe also addressed In 1973 the national average or became alienated Iron a party 19301g origins with a Blueshirt rallr at its last Ard-Fhein, and entity in Coalition (at other ion ol oppose parties but so 2 provirer an explanation for the

IN UNEASY AMALAY

areas, Waterford and Cork North2 It voule be premature to generalive from this however, the "Workers! Party! tag and another of their candidates Raghnnill in Louth. porters coninated with a tricalparty has gtrared from Republiconism can le seen fron the fact that Louth was the only area in che country where 1t gave a heavier transfer to Fine Cael than Figura Faill Its support in Dublin geoms to be based on people nuldly digsatiefled with Labaur who then

LABOUR PARTY

The Irish Labour Party occupies a peculiar political position in a country where a straichtforard bourceois Party conmends the support of the majority of the workers and snall farmers.

It is not a Social Denocratic party since it is not based on the ideas of the Trade Union movenent or its bureaucracy (-t lest gearts conference • request by the unions for a quota sets on the Mrinistrative Coimeil we dirnissed tr the party While it cons receive fin-aci l support from the erionis very little avrlop of activict- between the two roleres.

far from indispensible in Foll can fulfil Just as adequately. be seen by exardoing the level af tronsfere to its Mueshirt coaLition partner ofter 4 years in governeat.

transfers was 705 whereas in I997 595. Only IT of IP voters whose leader vaced against contraception, which did an accien replay or its recond an all other issues bas remaibed ancepentantly rimt- The foct that the IP fallec to malat-in a rel indepenrent idwords it wis not seca 45 : conlitclose if fi-tinct artles) The Ip bos more to varre about fron the election results thin ito sligbtly decrepred overall vote vould indicate, The suppert which it claims on its delinine feature - Lte working-class bese has pesin decressed and the only new.

7 give tbeir transfers to bath Coalition parties. Their evolution shows exactly why the National Question 1: The only road so important. to Socialien in Ireland lies in resolutely opposing partition and defending all those attenpo- Those who atroy ine to end it. From that rood end up an the "left" cover for Lebaur, ar worse still, Fine Gael, and fail to veaked Fianon Fail's hold ou It is to the working class. that task revolutionaries in the South must direct themselves withi renewed energy in the years thead.

DIVID CARHOLL

Dutlin verte which it won were in tbe middle class constituenciss of South John Horeon sod Ruairi Quint.

Dublin vote went down from 22% in I973 to IT% in I97%, while in the urber centres in the rost of the coutry the resulte were eveb more disestfalling to I05 of the wore in Cork. 85 in limerick, Warerford sod a mere 56 in Co.

The Tita who got a high munher of first preferences such and Joe lerninghan did so more on the bosis of a personal following and bard constituency work that an an 'entitieslion vith the trinciples of Labouri-m. It l- bertop characteriotic of the confured oricine of Trich Inhour, which eat a lot of its sunport fron that even today the ex-Renomiter, LP rontoine a nixed bag of liherals, caci-lists, pati-ostionlicts, Republicato, rurel bigoto, trade union official-, intellecturle, and remiliterates who have infinitely sore to divide them than unite chon, Coner Crudee OtHrien fovours oll necessaryl repressive levislatior.

Stevie Caurklan courts tbe Taitic- *11y Catholic Linerick Confraternity, ten aprice conventencly absented himself fron the debate and sate or the governent contraception ball, Dreaden Coris says bo is a Catholic Tirst sni, Socialist second.

WORKERS SHOW

BEHIND FFs ECONOMIC On June 2nd, 26 workers from Bastvood's scrap-metal firm in Andersongtown weat on strike over union union, the Municipal @ General Workerg Union (MGWU) made the On the 28th. the strikers voted to return to work having achieved recognition The significance of this apparently ninor action cannot be overestimated in terms of the impact on the workers of West Belfast. many other firms in the area, Eastwood's made their profits out of a sarkforce where union- Isation was esther nonoexistent or weak and disorganised They made a habit of employing ex-internees and prisoners sho could be expected to accept low pay and rotten conditions since they could find little alternative were paid for skilled and semi- •killed work - basic pak £35 r 70, 3 outeide toilets were suppoged to suffices contrary to law no registered nurse was on the premises; a grant from the governeat for a canteen was used instead for a store, while an old refrigerating van served

DIRECT ACTION GETS RESULTS

Matters cane to a head when one of the workers, Colum Dennelly, was The backbone of Fianna Frilts econamic policies rests on the belief that the cloud of economic gloom that has shrouded the international econony for the last few years is about to dissipate. As a result an autonatic decrease in inflation and a major expansion in international trade is anticipated, In tilis context the essence of Fianna Fail's policy is to gear the economy up for an export-led boom,

ECONOMIC BACKORDEND

On the face of it Fianna Tallts rolict seeits well-founded, international recession is over gad "ll the major economies have experten a percepcible increase in production :!

and an easing off of inflation.

Has been accompanied by a 155 upsurge in international trade last So far the Irish economy has been respondine favourably to this inter- An exceptionally antional chine, bigh growth rate of 55 is expected this year and the tolue of exports is expected increege by 214s, while inflation is down to below 157. The general upturn is tbe only lever Fianna Fail realis hgs.

their proposals for reducing inflat- 55 next year are looked at carefull hy it will be seen that only 2% is expected to come fron their much acclaimed tax reductions while the renainder is expected to occur as a result of international change.

Likewise their proposal to increase the level of exports by 105 ibove the cutrent high rate for the next three years is dependent on the continuation of the boom seriously injured after drums of chenicals being put through a fragmentiser exploded; be care in 50 minutes late the following morning and was promptly sacked. Conditions at the fards were not the only aspect of the workers! lives beina put at risk: the drivers vere consistently threatened by loyalist paranilitaries in the ship-yard and at Sandy Row.

At the same tine a group of worksumarily sacked, anong these vas Mike Collins, steward di-nissed for alleged theft, despite the fact that nothing was renoved fron the yard, and that there ere witnesses to prove Collinst inbocence, At this point the 20 Mill members struck.

Help was offered by the largl Chemployment Action Committee (CAC), Leaflets were churiled out to publicise the dispate and galvanige stewards and rank and file militante organised solidarity in their own workplaces, and on June Iith., the Esstood's picket line was reinforced by a massim display of selidarity, as they were joined by 500 workers nerching in their own in international trade. ional Thi: J G

WEST BELFAST

THE WAY

So leaving aside the feasibility of Fianna Falls proposals in the lone term, a favourable internatconfuncture in the short contingents fron their separate vorkplaces, with placards designating their various unions. It was this example of organised nass militancy and the threat to repeat it that forced the issue.

Eastwoodts management saroed to negotiate with the Meal boss, Hinni:: and althourh the first meetine hroke down after a tow mimites when management objected to the presence af "sacked shop-stewand, Miice Collins, the continund work of otter shop-stevarda in the area resulted in Eastwoodig agreeine to union nee-.

term is indispensible if any headwey at all is to be made.

INTERNATIONAL CONTRADICTIONS

lehidd the international economic recovery lies a serdes of wire solved contradicrions.

can he seen in the rival between the United States on the one hand and the Nestern Group (especially termany on the other which surfooed last Jils at the annual neeting of Ficance Ministerg Troi the DECD (Orcanisation of Economic Cooperation tr levelopment) countries.

The United States, when it couldott really afford to. helped the world econong out of the 1974-75 recession by baring and borrowing fron the rogt of the world, It ran up ar rocend deficit of 8497 millien. fails to get rid of this deficit its economy threatens to grind to a balt In the second half of cbis vegr.

would henefit either the 1s or ita capitalist partners. ES wonts countries such as derany and Japon, which have built up surpluses out of the recovery, to spend rome of it and thus give tbe IS some scope for continuing its own economie activity. But the Western Europegn capitalists and the Japanese are dubious about They believe that Orost cartoon laty major new impetus to the international econom, that would result

otiating rights for the MOWT, and co improve conditions and facilities in the yard,

WEAKNESSES

At the same time the strike reealed serious weaknesses in oryanisation and direction. Driginally management clained the strike was an inter-union tussle, the MGwU and the AmaLgama ted Transport b General Workerst Union (ATGWU): they claimed to have a closed-shop agreenent with the sTOVU, This was a lie and as the strike showed signs of gathering monentum, the ATWU formally stated that they would not stand in the way of the MGWU's attempts to secure recognition. The: ATOWU did net however actively support the strike, and refused to order their members in Eastports out in solidarito.

Though in the event this betrayal tid not drsstically affect the outconte, the demoralising sicht of workers day after day crossing the picker line would have worn down the strikerst militancy in the absence of outside support, the AIGN has a disgraceful record in the yard; the MOWU members are all former rembers of the ATONE, and eventually left in disgust at the unwillingness of their leaders to accomplish any real inproveneut in their conditions.

The HOWU leadership 1s not much better. Minnis refused strike pay, using the nembership tine-

POLICY

from =d immediate reduction of sure pluses, would be premature only result ta an inflationaey boom that would inevitably plunge the world into all even greater recession than in I974-75,

EXPORT BOOM

Attempts to escape the consequences of tbe last recession cannot succeed.

The chaices are a slump in the US or inflation in the West. minent European business magazine "Vision" warned "Anne the industrialised countries eg a bole, a lour yeer cycle betwere che recessionAry low-points has speared.

last dates bock re 1974-76, So watch out far I978-79.m of the Internation:l Honetary Fand (IMF) pre anything to mo be ther the next recession is likely to beein wit a clom-down of the IS econore.

Ferlier this year the IF opted for • cautious approach and imposed stricter monetary control, Lanite interests are concerned this will not only make borrowing terms tougber but vill also depress the international trading situatien,- thas the growth of international trode for 1977 will be only half of last pearts. Next year's growth is exbected to decline vet again, far as an export led boan for the Irish econary goes, the Irish enployers' nagazine "Business And the in newly Instead he Inst case. between unal before! ancy. and the MOW! leadership. In fact, for all-round improvenent.

by the union leaderships.

export scenerio could well emn econontes".

WAGK NEGOTIATIONS

and would locked at objectively it becones bori- for Fianna Pril's economic strategy, They certainly don't provide the basis for nay future of the Trade Union movement have Fianna Feil package would be an wage pcrifices by vorkers.

Fianna Tail's policies are only the Irish ecocony and the chaos of the internationgl capitalist is necessary for the trade undon movement to elatorate its ovi econanic and soctal plan besed and snall farmers and not or the needs of the euplayers.

It is this economic and social plan - and not Fizong Failis dooned and inept packace which should be the besig for. future wage bargaloing.

DARA MACEFOY

And so clause - a weapon in the hands of union hureaucracy to seriously weaken any upsurge in nilitancy unianised lasers. Minnis also refused to wage any hattle to have Mike Collins redostated, represented him at an industrial tribunal which not surprisingly relected Coll- Minis' excuse was that he had not been at such a trik- Furthermore the strikers decided to returo to work withaut setting any. cam- Stent from Tenasement in writinga This allows Eastwood's to go back on their word at the first eteu of a decline in workers' nilit- The blame for this cannat De put on the inexperiecoed workers, but must he laid fairly and squarelv at the feet of Minni.

BASIS FOR FURTHER ACTION LAIN

Despite the passivity of the bureaucrats the strike not onl. achleved its principal goal, but has laid a sound basis for waging a ceneral struegle at Eastwood's Importantly, it has shown that the only way forvard for workers in West Belfast is their own independent capacity to strungle outside the rigid confines laid down formation of the Workerg! Action Council (WAC) - drawing together the shop stewards who mobilised Finance_" lanents "This optinistic curt sour if a too sluggish world trade recovery peters out becalise of a failuro to reflate the major liest- Whenthe state of the international clear that there is no resistic equivocated and given the impression that a modiried version of the acorptible compromise for further Any such suggestion mist be firmL: a reflection of the bankruptey of living standards support for the gtrike - is potentiall : hue step forward in An area of ness ueneypent..

low wires and harassment of vorkers to and tron work b the British Ans, Curently the NAC is concentrating ou consolidatine iteelf anonr in West rank and file workers Belfast, trying to increase its representation, and encourage unionisation; it has not yet worked out any programe of action to present to workers. In e climate of rising indastrial nilicancy in Britain and Ireland, where previously demoralised Invers aro lookine to the Trade Onions for Leadership for the first tine.

the hatele against rising Frios and unemploydent, and where the bureaucracies are 1ntent on rosching any agreebent with the state in order to curb this militancy, can lay the basis for building a class struggle oppasition In the occupied 6 Counties, where the trade unions have consistently refused to opp ase the presence troops in tbe areas and workplaces of anti-unionists. the WiC mist show its detemination to lead rank and file workers an this front toor all the gizes are that the time is approaching for a fight-back ly the anti-unionist sorkers ou all fronts - the RAO can 5o the focus and leadership for tilla struggle. (1) Elect e delegate fron year vorkplece ta the WAD (ii) Send money to the WAd Address of WAc: 52 Hroatiny, Belfast II. The fight is on for the defence of

EQUAL PAY FIGHT GOES ON

point in confidence, and their consclausness fidenco and backing to woren prepartle el if their ovo value as workers and as trade make claius, If this campaizo is to be defeat of chis langstanding struggle was willing to fight within their branchos and an increased reliance by the covemment thing elso it will require activo and the bosses on the reluctanoe of the T, recagnition on the part of gocialists The role wick the T.C. novement has played one on which hinges cbe living and working so far, in it's acceptance of the da strike conditions or tens of thousands of poned, the brates put on the telephonists by the -e whole to defend their living standards.

10 Soweto: Freedom Fighters Must Win! In a situation where unemployment is soaring, it is not surprising that it is the issue which played the centre stage throughout the election campsi.

in the South, It is unlikely either, that as the ordeis of the economy continues to escalate that any attempte to juggle cash in order to decrease pressure will affect the leogthenins dole queues, As vorters living standards slide hackwards, and pressure for jobs increases, the scarch for a scapegoat be cones more pronounoed, and the struggle of women workers takes on a resounding significance, One of the surest, and dest practiced methods which the bosses and the Government will use to defuse the pressure for jobs and foroo hack living standards, is by playing oo the vesiness of male workers and the refusal in nost cases, of the male doninated tions to fight for the rights of wonen as woriers, It la wonen abo vill find themselves increasingly being used as the scapegdats of the crinis, bein• forced to accept greater waze differeutials in order to get jobs, and having to ficht their own fellow workers for the right to The strategic simificance of the Equsl Pay struggle at the present time rests in the fact that it is a vital black consciousness movement than by any remnants of opposition since the days of Sharpeville, the upsurge spread rapidly to include the colowed and Asian communities for the first time.

Mage - aù aspect al oppression wo in Ireland can readily sympathise

APARTHEIDIS INPERIALIST BACKERS

The uprising cone at a time when South Afrier was pressing ahead with its policy of creating Hantuetany - token, donesticabed, Black "hanlande", The Transkeits birtb, as the first. baotustan, was greeted ly British Petroleum with a full pago "congratulations" in the South African Minancial Matl" on December 22 1978, The 6ar state-owed BP is. one of 500 Fritish compuales with dovertmeats worth over t2.000 million in ist investments, from British, Ane ricant, West dartin and other compantes yield some of the higheat profits in the world, The Apartheid systen plays no little Part in crushing the black worker into submission, Untestine point, not orly for women, but Unden Novement, The forced acceptance af has left the econors with an explasim the najority of women work in, and the with even one major success, towards a scruggles of wanen werever they arise.

clauso in the National Wage Agreenent P.D_V.C, in spito or there being 2000 Once again, on the first anniversary of the June I6 Soweto uprising, violence flared in the Soveto towtiship.

Or, more accurately, death and destruction have again been dealt out in one of the most repressive states The continuing revolt is a reflection of the growth of Black Nationalism, Particularly amongst the youth, in was farmed, The inmediate cause was the inposition of the hated Afrikzans lang-

FRANK 0+H0NNELL

alep for the Covertment -ne for the Trade the Equal Pay legislation withio the EDC, till which it is totally unable to pay,At the same time, it has awakened expectations and demsnes amonz arganised women vorkers, which given the appalling conditions which massive wage differentials. could only lead generaliged breakcon of restrictions on women at every lewl thraughout the workforce, and bage political repercussions in terms of che division of labour within the economy, For wanen it would be a turning But the reverse is also true, and if the to cone ghout, it could only pave the way for a reactionary onslaught against wone moment and sale sorters to support the like other neo-colonigl states.

(for example India), the abr sence of a native expleiting class meant that Imperialism had to rely on the white popelation as a mass hage, to repress the black majority.

South Africa's industrialisation gave birth to a sharp division between white skilled labour and black unskilled labour. A rigid colour ber was estobliched between these two sectors and a dual labour market The wage ratio between white abd black workers is now between 5 and 20 to I depending on the industry. This enornous disстералст has created a white Ivhour aristocracy and ensures its Loyal participation in the maintenance of the Taciet eyeten, 4 sinilar imperialist strategs, while cot as sharp.

her bean ruccessfully put into operation in fortbern Irelond.

THREAT TO STABILITY IN ALL OF AFRICA

The uprising in Sauth Africa thresteur Imperialisers hold on tbe rest en the strongest state, itrelf an imperi List power, it must be crushed, But th t. io rockening without the endurance of the long suffering and vicieurls oppressed black many parallels berween their eppand the repressien meted out by aritigh Imperialis in this Strong support ald solfor black Azania (South can play a vital role in deleating imperiaLica and its women prepared to fight, and the shence of aty spontaneous sbow of golid rity within the novesent as a whole, is indication of the pressing necessity for coordination to be built be sourn theirselms,end the male workers who gupport them within the Debour novement.

An initial sten cowards advancing this co-ordinstion has already been taken with the astehlisluent of the Egugl Pay Suppor Broup ab initigtive Caken by Irish Women United in conjunction with wonen and mer workers whe have taken action on this dasue, The intentlon of the group is to fight both inside and outsido of cbe T.U, novement to win support for struerles already taking place, and to give conbuilt it requires militants within the wtions, the woneus and the student movenen.

and organisations for active support donations and sponsorship. Hore than anyand trade unionists, that the struegle Ior Equal Pay is a contral class issue and the ability of the working class as

Ine occupsticos ef intellectuals vary greatly, but have certaio things in connan, Apart from what we noted previously about their bourgeois origins and so on. ther have a common difference Tron workers, in that it 1s net their Igbour power that they sell to their state or comericial/industrial enployers, but tbeir mental capacitles.

These capacities are not merely acquisitions fron universicies but are closely related to personality and personal mental activity, including attitudes of all kinds. The political and social attitudes of a factory vorker are of no concern in themselves to an employer (though militant action arising out of those attitudes may be of great concern). But the political and social attitudes of an intellectual are of concern in themselves to an emplover. The factory worker has the disadvantage of Inadequate education, of being constantly and insidiously discouraged from thinking Independently, of alienation from intellectual Iife.

CONTINUED PROM PT

nost surprising thing about the LP i* that it has not split into a thousand patts before now.

& LEFT-WING ALTERNATIVET

Thin de the context in which Noel Brownie (probibly the only LP TI with , con intent historical folloving in the fitlii vorkinz clars), Nott Merrigen per Dove Nelican were forced to can com paine indenebrently of the LP because of the terescer-ti-n at the Head Office. nore relevate then the -parently micht lear us to believe.

The nan Social Democratic noture of the Irish Labour Party has created strains, whether In the ist. Lahour Alllarice (SLA) in I97I) or (who have always malatoined both their political sutononf and an ambivalence towards the Lack or denocracy in the Labour Party).

These tensious have been exacerbated by che exotus of radical militants out of the party in the I970:s, and mony of those wto worked for Browne and Merrican in the eleccion have been demohili ed policically in the lent The eelranpement of the Hrovie-terrigen winz cravee to This man will never give to the fund drive or subscribe-why don't you! OCIALIST REPURLIC, in order to keep tip regular roduction needs lots of finance, Printing costs arevery unerable to inflation, not to neution the cast of istribucien, So if you ham any noney to spare,no Intter how sugll, please send it to the editor.

to- sa ClanawTey Road, Dublin 5

THE INTELLECTUAL

AND THE CLASS STRUGGLE

just The intellectual, by concrast, equipped to understand socialism in detail and how it relates to his/lter out aspirations. is never pure intellect, For tbem to grasp socialisn neans to hreak as individuala from their own class in an isolated way which de likely to to grasp socialise is to recognise the interests of their own class; and even when they may battle for their ideas, the sense of ur that there ie no future for cocialfet militante in the Lobour Party ac presently con tituted.

FOR A DEMOCRATIC WORKERS PARTY

In con-irerine the quetion or stayine In or leaving the Labour Party there burerucencyte undesacretir a naeuvring.

Thi- wes oa error made tr the SIS men Labour Party on the group'c that chey did not constitute an erg-nication bat the essenrial richt ta exist so as to organire their supportithe Browne- Merrican wing meet toke adventose nf the interustiontradition af real.

political an well hacking from the trade unions for a workers! Labour Party. (as in the Socialof party would traditions of the Trish workine class allowing for a flexitle affiltation structure to not over political sectarianism, Only throuch the coustructior of such a party, that would be responsive to the policical neads of che workers, can the division between "soci,2" a0) "nation 1" palities, fn foctor vich alca «how" itself organication, 1ly), 1s well But life, even for intellectuals, threaten their livelihoods, For workers have to fight an isolated venuflection- lore to thr apart from renanding class solidarity and closs destiny can The socialigt-inclined intellectugls are first and forenost traitors to their awn class, fot they are alsd strangers to the life of the class with which they ideatify politically. Ihere has long beca a tendency beth amongst radical totellectuals and in socialist novements to say that they should "imerse tbenselves in the nasses", This is largely a naive and ranancie ration which, while it can be raluable as a short-torm educative exeroise, leads sooner rather then later to frustrations and distortioost sad it falls to recognise the potential value to the working class of the specific skills and capacities of the intellectuals. At the other extrene from the idea of the intellectuals trying to transforn thenselves into worker activists, is the notion of expressing onerg socialism in a puzely icoological marner within the context defined far one by the bourgeois structures - of, for example - the taliversity.

these notions fail to tackle the extremely difficult and complex teak of relating the intellectusle! role and activity as producer to the fight One person in abon so can see elements of this relationship working Chenselves out at a particular stage of his developnent ie Wilbeln Reich, the psychoanalyst, Hig later saeer, in Anerice folloving the tragic sneshing of the Austrign Social Denocratly Party, illustrates the way in which the trajectory of intellecturls in closely dependent in many cases an the strength and credibility of the soclaList novement. The defcat of the workir, class in lustria wes a defcat algo ir terus of the development oí lis Dut the period I want to briefly tention is that of the rise of Austrian Social Democracy and that of the progressive development of Reich's tbeory.

In the late 1920g he wrote "Dialectical Materialisn and Psychoanglysis", joined the Social Denocratic Party, end started up a workerst sex clinic which provided Information on contraception, abortion.

As well as giving out informatior at the clinic, Reich was able to abeerve at close quarters and in detail the nature of the sexual repression of the workers, It was a najor stinulus to his tbought, which led in the direction of understanding the spectrically historical chargeter of sexual repression ald its importance as a heapon of bourgrais pover.

While it sciulated bis most productive theoretical development, it also revealed the limitations of his activity as an intollectus. He did not make the mistake at this stame of he lieving either that his theoretical work was enough, or that his clinic was going to golve the probleng or sexu pression, He reconse harb the value and the Limita of his work: "for precigely ebo social consideratlon of chese questions leads to nocognition of the extrem importance of the proletarian novonent, of the proletarian class struggle, go that in this area solutions to the question can only le expected in contection vita the proletarian revelation. r

STEVE MACIONOGH

TURF LODGE UNDER SIEGE

against escalating harrasment by British troops, is guite probahle that its widerlying militanes Throughout the last nine months the unquenchable militancy of the wonen of Turf Lodge has burst into flane time and again as the British Army han sourht to Jackboot its authority over the area and demoralise the spirit of the resistance, With the notable exception of St.

Turf Lodge has been the only area in Belfast to organise openly on tbe streets to try to throw them out of the area, and to keep alive the traditions er no-go areas of the early 1970s. But, as ve said in the Socialist Nepullis 3 months ago, Turf Lodge cannot win on its own; the greatest danger is that the British will succeed in their ain of demoralising the people by default - simply because the undoubced synpathy which exista throughout the anti-unionist ghettoes is not transforned inta

RELATIVES ACTION DOMMITTEE

This point has been made very clearly in the Following the Layalist "strike" last few weeks. repression has escalated on all fronts - raids torture in Castlereach which to date has driven two nen to near-insanity, attempts to re-introduce the BUC. In Turf Lodge raids vere carried out with increasing frequency, women started getting beaten up, schoolkids were deliberately provoked as they were coming out of school, causing riots which gave an ever ready excuse to step up At the end of May the women decided they had again in protest at this fresh wave The local Relatives Action Cormittee (RAC) branch called a meeting to discuss their but with a poor turn-out and lack of the meeting launched a petition demanding withdrawal of British forces fron Two days later the more nilitant women decided on a course of direct action the RAC branch organised a series of road-blocks in the morning, one in the afternoon - to protect kids leaving school and to prevent nilitary harrassnent, vere planned to continue indefinitels, satisfactory respanse was forthconing fran the On Wednesday night the troops tried to intimidate the people with a show of strength one person's arm was broken in two places, a baby in a pran was lit by a plastic bullet. Do Thursday the wonen went to the dearby Fort Menagh barracks to demand an end to such terror.

That day and the next saw the largest curt-out to the roadblocks. Yet by the end of the next week, the roadblocks had cone to an end through.

lack of numbers: and at the time of writing there are no organised protests goinz on on the streets of Turf Lodge, and the level or military terror is as bigh as ever.

NEED FOR POLITICAL LAMERSHIP

But hurt lode hes not eco defeated - and it cond erupt at any tine in the near future, 50, the question must be asked: Why did the protests gone to such a smood end, despite the unlontinz hostility of the mas of the peerle of the and to the presence of fritish troops?

anner lies in the isolation of Turf Lodge, the fact that no leadership came forward to nobilis ant -unlandats fran all areas in support of the struggle taking place in Turf Lodge.

It wasn't as if the local adlitants weren't conscious of the necessity of breaking down that isolation; or that tley didn't cry the sort of support they needed. Mid-way through the protests the Socialiat Connitter Imperialigt Unitr held a publie meeting in the "The Loyallat community centre on the theme strike - the way forward," The Connittee's ain the need for the wity in gotion of all anti-imperialist forces bebiod a procrame which would reverse the decline of mass militancy; st the meeting it put fervard a all for a conference of all these forcesi e+g the Trigh Frant in Derry, the Irish Civil Hizhts Association in Dublin, the RAC in Belfasc.

mainly fron Turt Lodge, and Including a sprinkiing of representatives fron anti-duperialist forces, turned up, making it one of the largest indoor political meetings for i long tine, There can be no doubt that the large attendance from Turf Lodge was a clear illustration of the nilitancy of the area, and more importantly, demonstrated the need for political leadership and direction. Hence the meeting vas an ideal opportunity for a vide discussion about the struggle being waged in Tarf Lodge at that time and how to take ic forward, baild support, sad generalise it.

Unfortunately, the neeting took a long time to discuss this, far the most time concentrat- Lug ou : propagandistie line of calling for 'unity! hut not giving any real imediate lead to the militants fron Turf Lodge, However, eventually a proposal received sirtually ananinous support: - to campaign throughout the 32 Courieles for a demonstration in Turi' Lodge to demonstrate in praccice that vide support did exist in Ireland but that ic lud to be arganised and given direction, It was agreed to attempt to push this proposal through

MIKE PINTER

EEEE*

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DUCE FISHT

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IRISH SECTIONOR THE FOURTH IN TERNATIONAI

Socialist Republic Movement for a

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BRITISE STRATEGY IN VORTE

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WHAT IS TROTSKEISM?

IRISH KATLINALISH AND BRI

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SOCIALISH MADE BAST by

JAMES CONNOLLY