FE hypocracy on Hi

The irish Times monthly surveys of public opinion show a good rating for Fianna Fail's policy on the North. This is not surprising since on no other problem have Haughey & Co. played such an intensive double game. But there is one issue HAUGHEY'S STRATEGY Haughey has good reason to follow. his strategy. He knows that the Antle-imperialist movement is weak at the level of national politics -which is likely to blow the whistle on them -- that is the issue of H Black, :

HHaughey has won public credibility by placing responsibility for the Northern crisis on Britain. Yet while appearing to put pressure on Thatcher he has in fact given her a free hand to ride rough-shoed over the Catholic minority. When Miriam Daly, a member of the National H Block Committee, was murdered by Loyalists, Haughey was silent. next day when an RUC man was shot he was quick to condemn the -Vatrocity!".

EVASION OF A CONFLICT This is only the tip of Haughey's hypocrisy, not to say cynicism, around the country Fianna Fall councillors have been giving support to the H Block prisoners! demands, A few TDs, a Euro MP and even Minister for Agriculture, Ray McSherry have indicated support, On Dublin Corporation ten Flanna Fail councillors voted to support the prisoners! demands on humanitartan grounds, But the governmerit itself has remained totally silent. Obviously Haughey!'s strategy is to consolidate Fianna Fail's militant image at grassroots level while dodging a governmental clash with the British and the Fine GaelLabour opposition. But , All | that we don't have a huge party machine and mass electoral backing. If he can succeed In keeping the debate on the North abstract -power-sharing, Irish dimension, etc, -— then we won't have the strength to make our relevance felt, But If a practical Issue like H Block becomes a central topic, then soclallsts and Republicans can easily show their relevance, The que silon of H Biock has a simple "ves! or "tno! answer. Elther you are prepared to let the prisoners suffer or you are not; either you reply. act or you sit back, There are no two ways about it, and Haughey's duplicity would be at an end.

RELIANCE ON REPRESSION In the second place the plans which Haughey has for the North are based on accepting the continued Imperialist domination of Ireland. This domiration has prisoner s? always relled on repression. The last thing Haughey wants Is attention drawn to this. The H Block struggle threatens to do just that. it [s essential for the collaborators therefore to keep the issue quarantined and out of public sight.

For Haughey to continue successfully riding the tide of national sentiment he must steer clear of practical issues such as H Block, And so long as he manaces to do this it will be difficult to eniTst™ widespread public» support which alone can force the British to retreat. It Is important therefore -; that the Natlonal H Block campaign take the fight to Haughey.

FORCE A REAL FIGHT Already a letter has been sent to Flanna Fail requesting that It clarify its views on the conditions of the political prisoners, The National Committee received no Those councillors and TDs who previously expressed support must be asked why this Is the case, They must be asked to demand clarification from Haughey. Does Fianna Fail as a party support the demands of the prisoners? or are these secondary party functlonarles | being used to give a false impression while Haughey makes a deal with Britain to sell-out the It Is Iniportant to clarify this matter. A lot of people belleve that Flanna Fal! does support the prisoners and that Haughey will eventually do something on thelr behalf. Only when they see that they have been misied will they begin to act by themselves; only then will they actively support the H Block campalgn.

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC PAGE 6° Several years ago when Peoples In society generally. It is this