Women's Day
Socialist Republic1981Women's liberationPrisoners and the hunger strikesTrade unions and workers' strugglesRepublicanism and the IRAJohn McAnultyWomen's liberationPrisoners and the hunger strikesTrade unions and workers' strugglesRepublicanism and the IRA
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INTERNATIONAL The Armagh women on protest for political status have made it clear that they. are prepared to renew a a hunger strike if the British government continues to renege on the commitments which were the basis for ending the hunger strike in December. They have also stated that they will continue on the nowash protest until all the protesting prisoners have their basic requirements.
Activists who were mobilised before and during the hunger strike last year are being remobilised to ensure that the promised concessions are granted. A picket and delegation to Armagh prison is being organised by the ad hoc International Women's Day Coordinating Committee. Work is now under way to ensure that delegations of women from Europe and North America are a major part of the picket. Invitations are being sent to a number of internatjonally well-known women from various walks of life. It is also ling for their liberation. hoped to precede the picket with a major meeting in Belfast and possibly a concert in Dublin on March 7.
International Women's Day (March 8th) must be a major event for the campaign. Over the past two years the Armagh prisoners have deservedly been the focus for this day in Ireland. International Women's Day is an occasion commemorated around the world by women struggIn this country, the highest honour must be given to the Armagh prisoners who by their heroic struggle have placed themselves at the forefront of the anti-imperialist movement and by their actions brought the defeat of the system which oppresses all of us that much closer.
Armagh is the central issue for Irish women today and we cal! upon all feminists and anti-imperialist women to join in solidarising with them by coming to Armagh on March 8th. (Men are also welcome). action with the ending of the hunger strike was a grave error, In part, this was due to Sinn Fein's mistaken claims of a total victory and their ignoring of the structures of the national campaign. Sinn Fein held the press conference announcing the details of the hunger strikeS end and did not even mention the H-Block/Armagh Committee.
More generally, however, the absence of protest action was a sign of a crisis in the campaign itself. It has organised the anti-imperialist vanguard, held massive demonstrations, and begun work ina whole series of new areas of work, This in itself was a great dea! but it waS not enough. The immediate advance of the struggle now depends on the adoption of a clear strategy which will challenge the betrayals of Hume and Haughey and build in the trade unions while at the same time developing within itself a fully democratic united front structure, Thats our strategy for victory — Defence, Democracy and Workers! Action,
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SOCIALIST REPUBLIC PAGE © 1 DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, SARAH, BUT I'M BEGINNING TO FIND THESE ANTI-ABORTION MARCHES A BORE!