Letter Says Slp Failed H-BLOCK Test
Socialist Republic1981Prisoners and the hunger strikesPrisoners and the hunger strikes
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by member ship varied from a leaning towards the two-nations policy as put forward by pro imperialist groups like the British and Irish Communist Organisation to complete support for national re-unification, Indeed one of the planks of the policy that was eventually adopted on the northern crisis was support for the reintroduction of political Status, removed by the British in 1976, However party activity on the quest ion was Carried out by the "Tendencies", as the former Labour Party members,"liaison" of the left! were conspicuous only by their absence, An indication of their real feelings was given by a liasion members remark that he would'!nt be seen dead at a H Block demo The of individuals like Matt Merrigan and even then [tt was as a trade union leader that he spoke from H Black platforms, Another dis~— turbing aspect has been Noel Browne's pro-imperialist pos—ition on H-Block. This is especially serious given the high standing in which he is held by most sections of the left, It is only in the last few months with the advent of the hunger strike and the resulting upsurge in mass action that the degeneration of the S_P has been revealed, the party now little more than a "liaison" rump and obviously intends to concentrate on afe electoral type politics, In the tace of the biqgest mass mobilisation since 'Blood, Sunday! and when prospects for a revitalised mass D, Lynn, Limerick reader, cttees, on the cop out of 'provo domination! but are fighting within the campaign for a socialist perspective, (the Wexfard branch of the SLP withdrew from the local H Block /Armagh Action Group "until such time as it ceased to be dominated by the provos''!}]) Socialists are active participants, not passive spectators in the struggle and have not by default adopted a SF WP type position on an important aspect of tne national liberation struggle, SLP PRESIDENT, MATT MERRIGAN -CAN'T MAKE UP HIS MIND We heartily agree with D, Lynn's letter and hope sincere members of the SLP will see the correctness of its analysis, The SLP will stand or fall on the basis of its underSLP CHAIRPERSON, DAVID NELIGAN -AGAINST ANY ALLIANCE WITH REPUBLICANS
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From March !79 Socialist Republic Things don!t change much in the SLP.