Debate in the Belfast Womens’ Groups

last fev months there has been a aplit in this movement between the Belfast Women's Collective and the Women Against Imperialism group.

irish women's movement and to the socialist movement. In this issue We report on the split. In future issues we hope to teke part in the debate arsund the issues raised by the split.

Arm he Women Against Imperialism ercup formally split. with the Belfast Women's Collective isst month. in fact the group had been operat -ing informally for the lest couple of monthe. It has organise? 7m number of aciivities in Weet Belrast, the most successful of these being the social on ‘Women and Violence’ in the Martin Forsythe by, Turf Lodge, PD also organised a meeting on wosen and the “ertheuming International Tribunal on Britata’s Pre:ence in Ireland, support for the Noreen Winchester Campeigr and sert speakers on a successful Scottish tour on the theme 'Wonen and Repression’. The Group 1s in the process of secting ip a Women's c -@ in Bellymurphy end hes perticipsted in a wide yenge of spoti-repression activities sioluding the Relatives Action committee.

The sctusl 2plit between the * LWO £Toups Cale as a surprise to fume people. This is becaute, on ie Surface st Jesst, there is 5 br ge feesure of egreement hetween “HC tWG Q2YouUpSs + agreement on the link between women's oppression ene Sritish imperialism, agreement: on tae meed tc organize an autononouH women's movement to fight for Womer's liberesicn. The two groupe however, would argue that this ERTSemanit covers deeper differences on how to go about building thia They came to a head when the vanen Who Were mainiy in the HAC ano meeting in West Helfest decided that thera were areas thet they snould concentrate on in arder to esteblish a firm presence in the anti-unicnist areas, they explained this view in a leeflet produced for a joint aeeting with the Belfast Women's Collective:

“The most advanced layers of working class women are in and around the anti-immerislist struggle and large sections are actively invalved in the R.A.C. The very fact that they are involved in the R.A.C. and in One of the most welcome developmenta in the North in the last period hes been the formation of an activist women's movement.

We believe that the issues raised are of importance to the whole where it is possipie ta raice Teminiet iacues... Becsauze of this: We do not se¢ a Women's the anti-imperialist struggle class women's movement outside of this sre meaningless in the abstract... What we do believe is that the movement's nucleus and impetus will arise out of Wonen's Collective in an article in the latest Women's Action state:

"While we recognise the RAC campaign as the most important one in which large numbers of working class women are at present involved, we do believe that t is vital for our group to work On ap wide a range of women's issues as possible - incluwiing those which may not initially meet with a big response because they challenge traditional, politiceal and religious beliefs."

So, the question was not whether Women's issues should be raised, but in what context. The decision to designate the women's group as anti-imperialist and to meet solely in West Belfast became the subject of mich debate, as did working with the Republican The proposal to have a joint paper which would reflect the activities of other women's @roups in Belfast eg. Women's Aid was turned down by the Cellective as they felt this would relegate them to the status of &@ Mere umbrella group.

in the politics creates an. atmosphere movement being built outside of and calls for building «a working 6, Wing.

On the otherhand, the Belfast However, these debates are not simply whether or not to meet ceparately, have a joint paper, be called anti-imperialist socialist or otherwise, but are around the basic problems that historically divided Irish women. Eridging the traditional gap between feminist politics and Women fighting in the anti- imperialist struggle will not happen overnight. Whether or not the consciousness of women in the RAC does mark s break from traditional republican attitudes and an openness to feminist ideas, Whether or not a Working class women's movement will develop primarily from within the anti-imperialist struggle, are questions around which discussion must be developed in the next period. Such discussions themsclves Will only begin to tackle the difficult task of establishing Caliipsigns on women's iasuez, Which given the weakness of the Irish Women's movement, is a majcr problem for all concerned. A problem which militants in the two groupes have shown themselves seriously interested in overcomWhile any sort of split in the small forces active on the Women's question is regrettable, the organisation of two separate groups has expanded the membership of both and increased their activities. This is in fact the national pattern, shown by the Successful organisation of the first two Irish national women's liberation conferences and the broad suppert for the Noreen Winchester campaign.

Clearly the nucleus of a 32counties’ movement is assembling. While unity in action around particular campaigns is essential and is understood by both groupe, it is just as important for different forces in this tiny movement to clarify their ideas through discussion and practical activity. It is to be hoped that the discussion which will undoubtedly follow the formation of the Women Ageinst Imperialiem group, will take the movement forward to building the support and united activity that will turn thie small nucleus into a broad-based 32-counties' women's movement. Undoubtedly, the activity of both the Belfast Women's Collective and the Women Agsinst Imperialism group will play an important role in this.

TUCAR Intervene at I.C.T.U. Conference "I would have been putting my to irish demonstrations for union leadership to discuss or unions point of view that the years. act on the issue of repression atatement was inadequate and highlights the [mportance of the that it did not take Into account Not offending the EPritish initiatives taken by the Trade the whole treatment meted out Government ts the yardstick Union Campaign Againat to suspects in Castlereagh and Which guides the policy of the Repression to make sure that more positive action should have ‘ade union leadership.So they Maguire's death ts xrot white-— been taken in that regard", refused to take action over washed over, For the first iInternment,or Bloody Sunday, me hundreds of anH-unionist Paddy Devlin, o the Irish or either of the Loyalist workers downed tools, quit Transport and General Workers S'oppages. They havent a word their workplaces and marched Union, speaking at the July of protest recorded at the to demand that the trade union conference of the Irish constant harassment of anti- leaderehip take action.In Congress of Trades Unione tn unionist workers at home or on Galway,it was left to TUCAP Galway.Devlin was talking after ‘ne job,or the datly terror raids yet again to bring the truth ef the ICTU had decided to on working class ghettoes, Maguire's death and the repress approve a special report of the Despite the many trade fon te the delegates, However, Northern Committee without unionist?numbered amongst the the small attendance at the | discussion, The delegates H-block prisoners,the trade meeting shows the enormous decided on this course by 210 Qnion leadership continues to task which faces TUCAP if the votes against lI? at the insist- be represented on the prison issue of repression is to beccme ence of the ICTU Presedent visiing committees,and in this a burning tssue for the trade John Mulhall, way give their approval to union movement as a whole, The special report included political prisoners, beginning of this article, a motion adopted by the In Galway, Paddy Devlin spoke Northern Committee and in fact, even the original out about torture in Castlereach, | approved by the ICTU Exec, report of the Northern Committe Yet tn Belfast,Devlin has dore |which called on Foy Mason to the ICTU conference made nothing but obstruct workers to establish an enquiry into the no mention of repression or action againet repression, death of AUEW/TASS member ‘he death of Brian Maguire,and including waging a slander | Brian Maguire,who was found it was only after pressure by campaign against TUCAP, Trade (hanged tn Castlereagh barracks ‘élegates ineluding TUCAR unionists, particularly members ‘last May,and also into the members that the special of the IPGWU must take Devlin allegations contained in the report was prepared, The to task, Militant action ts recent Amnesty International conference decision not to required on the streets of the Report, In addition,the report discuss this report thus allowed North,Devlin and others are sontained a memo to Roy “ rceTu executive and the ~ well placed to organise such Mason from the Northern Cttee Northern Committee to cover action,and we must demand that about prison conditions, up thelr failure to act over they do, The fact that the Maguires death and the torture conference was forced to take | Mulhall's insistence that the in Castlereagh and the H-blockssome stand \s proof that TUCA= | special report be, approved They played no part in the policy is worthwhile,and showe without debate should not sur- protests which-took place that greater pressure by workers prise anyone who has studied against Maguires death,other could turn their talk inte actic: the role played by the trade than sending a cautiously and force the trade unio= mo -eunion leaders during the last worded memo to Mason, ment fo carry out it's role o: ten years of repression in the protecting working people, this "leadership' has done SOSKSSSSCOCHOSOCSCCCSSHCCSSCCECOCE CO:

volce trade union opposition to Since Trish Troops were sent it, The odd speech or resol- toictas Caen ctiie-salraniere t ution, very few and far between./have been full af an adulatory "Better Life for All" campaign The press treatment of Ireland' which they hailed as the Trade ‘Lebanon adventure! of course, dropped,now that its empty UN exploite by the Irish Army in demands have clearly failed to both the Congo and in Cyprus. Nor mobilise any significant section has the purpose of all this glanof the Trade Union movement, ourising changed - to cover over Indeed,the only support which the real role of the Irish troops the Better Life for All campatgen in upholding reactionary regimes achieved was that of the and imperialist influence againct British Government, Last the indigenous liberetion movebe held in Londons Trafalgar In the lebanon this means that Square, which has been banned ithe Irish troops along with the little or nothing to bring the repression to an end or even Even the much vaunted February,for example,the Brits |ments. allowed a ‘Better Lifd rally to North, Throughout those years The refusal of the trade coverage of their activies.

Union answer to sectarianism differs not one jot from ite and violence has been quietl, coverage of previous Mason's brutal treatment of That brings us back to the Irish Troops Out of Lebanon! ft rAcE 3 other Wi Torces are used to ore vent the Falestinians from resovering their homeland from Isresii occupation aud ending the ruthic: repression which lereel directs against the Palestinians who live | in the occupied areas, The spectacle of Irish soldiers taking up arms against the oppressed Palestinians while Britis: imperialism continues its reign of terror in Ireland umcheckei, must be ended. Drish workers must support the struggle for sel?-determination of the Palestinian people by demanding that the Irish Army GET OUT OF LERANCN TOW!

area of Belfast was jailed for 6 yeam recently for possession because it exposed some of the fundamental contradictions in of arma and ammunifions, the Northern State, him, selves, 300 of his neighbours. Treland and internationally. Ssam¢@ arguments in his defence.

Denis admited having the weapons and ammunition but declared that they were intended for the defence of the area he lived in against attacks by armed Loyallsts. He poin' :d out, through his lawyer that the Ballymurphy- Springhill area had come under repeated attack by loyalist gunmen over the years, He referred to the massive campaign of sectarian murders of catholics over the years in Belfast and made clear that the weapone were stored in the 1975/early 76 period when, after the success of the first UWC stoppage a loyalist takeover and all out civil-war in the North seemed imminent, This argument struck at the foundations of the myths by which the Northern legal system is maintained, and aseerted some of the realities of the situation in the North today, The legal charade in the North is upheld by elaborate pretence that the state ia a normal democracy , that It was not established against the wishes of the majority of the Irish people, that there ls no oppressed minority in the 6 counties, and that the state's’ security forces are neutral, impartial | and have no political role, Dente Murphy wae saying in fact that there ia an oppressed minority, that the state forces condone and collaborate in attacks on the minority, and that members of the minority ‘have the rigtt to defend themaelves and Indeed have no option but to do ao, Denia's defence, if makes Denis Murphy a PD member from the upper Springfield Dents' case was very significant During the I5 month period of Denis' remand PD/MSF carried on a defence campaign to support Tn this campaign we argued for the right of the antitmpertaliat minority In theNorth to hold arms .to defend them Apetition in support of Denis was supported by over and won widespread support both in At the trial Dents advanced the of the governments claim that the Republican and Socialist amd psychopaths In fact It undermines he whole court aystem since lf the"security forces" are not neutral the eourts which depend on them defendants are willy nilly as well, Amazingly the Judge did accept his basic ‘argument, The Judge was Garret MeGrathan SDLP-typea catholic appointed In the days of British aponsored reforms {in the North, Presumably ha preserved amodicum: of Integrity deapite his position he couldn't but acknowledge in his summing up the attacks on Catholic and out-right civil war which The deny the necessityfor and right of self defence, But then he revealed the total bankruptey of the strategy of trying to reform the Northern state, which led inevitably to the conclusion that Denis Murphy had committed no crime Judge MeGrath said his hands were tied in such & case and went jail, In other words he McGrath) didnt think Denis was gullty but he hadito jall him because that was the ce of belng a Judge in North, To join the N LY prisoners. are just criminals for arrest and evidence against political tools of the government areas and the widespread fear of a wholesale loyalist onslaught existed at the time, Wor could Having accepted arguments tn to sentence him to 6 years SAYS JUDGE ministration hoping to change tt, The Garret McGrath! a and Stephen McGonaglesa ma , very well accept their gover “nment posts sincerly hoping to bring about changes (‘The prestige and money may be purely incidental), But the price of what ever Uny chan ges they may make ts that they help enforce its repres sive laws like McGrath. or whitewash its discrimination like McGonagle, note: Stephen McGonagle is a former ITGwWU offictal an Irish Labour Party activtat who is now the North's ombudsman, The occupation of the Confexim factory in Drogheda fe over, The 35 women, who had occupied the factory for a month in support of their demands= payment of 3 weeks wages, A guarantee of their jobs, ended their action when fhe Industrial Development Agency agreed to pay them thelr wages, However this was only one of the lasues at stake in this struggle, The women had already been declared redundant when they were persuaded by Confexim owner Adolf Bonte to work a further

| of West Belfast looks like being a very expensive white elephent. | The whole idea just underlines the crazy structure of modern multiUnited States.

The new De Lorean car factory té be Sited in the Twinbrook area national capitalism. De Lorean's cars will only be assembled in Belfast; all the main componente will be imported from America or the continent and the finished cars will be exported beck to the | PACE 5 | Only really massive governmmen

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Ite thé same for all those! ‘my HANDS ARE TIEL TIED’