“There ig no doubt that the basi two years…”
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Socialist Republic1981Partition and the national questionPrisoners and the hunger strikesLabour, the left and left unityPartition and the national questionPrisoners and the hunger strikesLabour, the left and left unity
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There ig no doubt that the basi two years of the H Block/Armagh struggle have opened up a whole new phase of the struggle far national liberation. The tremendous determination of the prisoners and the gains for the Campaign have pushed back the Brits’ criminalisatian policy, The wodemocratle nature of the forthe state hag once again been uatrated to the world. The antiimperiatiat movemeot, through united action and mass work, has gained ground, Bait if Would be wrong bo say we have defeaie| (he Brits’ olbensive The five demands were nol wan We remain weak in relation to the houngeots parties. Despite the dents we mude in their political armricnag, especially through election victories, the SDLP. Fianna Fail and the Coalition ore becoming Increasingly invulyed in Britain's plana bor the North — and petting away with it, BLUESHIRT "CRUSADE"
We have upped the stakes in the Hight for Irish freedom. Bart our enemies, British impertaiisin and the pombeen “nutionalist® partes ure calling the shots, Fitzgerald's “Cruade® arcand the Constitution is the first step. What is at atake here is the whole issuc of partition and Irish unity.
Putzgeralel is soon be meet Phatcier. He joing the Liniorists in waiting’ at Britabi's table, Ad what ia on offer ds: * an Anglo tnish Council (read posite ce-integration with Britain} "anew Sorlhern Ireland Assembly (more anion node} BRITISH OFFENSIVE We diould be clear about what bs happounig ow. Thest Talks ape sent a political offensive by Britain in alliance with the gombeon nathonaliste. [t ig an attempt to rescue the SDLP and strencthen the hands af the Coalition and ta claw hack the gainte made by the campaign. 1) is aber all, an allernpe to carve aula political role for these forces anid to push: the aevti-imperiallst neoverment back into political defeat We must pepect any settlernents based on Partition by the Coalition or ary returned Pisnna Fail government. li-will be our back of dircetion that will increase the ground for political manicuyTe by these forces. The cument bombing campaign in London isa casein pome, 1 will only spender our gains and confise and demcralise the southern workers who gave so much suppert to the hunger strikers, There are stepa we can take imimediately to siamd-qur ground: there are nang we can make for the coming moriths.
AGAINST PARTITION Firstly we cin delend cur legitinnacy and cur political credibility: by detencding our compariga aid our militunts. The cases of the Welle 34 and the Frobassy 20 should he asallying poont for all anti mperialisds. and against partition should he a oor priority. This would enable 1 Lo take our Opponents head-on and prepare to challenge then int their fight for political poewes Unity around a broad anti-lmperialist prograrmme in defence of Trish woity North and South. thraugh the coming elections Lhe ankeimperialist moavernenl can ake big steps forward — if it i willing snd prepared to take the OPPOrtuoities Openog up. EMBASSY 20, BELFAST 34:
DROP the CHARGES!
See page 6 for details