Nicky Kelly

The referendum on the constitutional amendment is now likely to be held in September. The various attempts through the high court to nullify the Dail vote for a referendun were useful propaganda moves, but they could only have delayed the date and are in no way a substitute for mass action by the campaign.

55% of Irish people polled are against the Amendment - that represents a big gain for the campaign. It has succeeded in bringing the issue to the centre of the political arena. The referendum is now a -bone of contention in all three major parties.

The coalition has suffered a severe embarassment. Like Fianna Fail, the concession to PLAC was a vote-getting exercise But dissension in the ranks (built up by the conference on the theme of “Separation of Church and State - Defend Womens rights. These either recieved tacit support from the leadership and have yet to be implemented, or were considered too ambitious by a campaign not fully confident in its leadership In the meantime, street activity is being organised by local action groups, but this remains localised with no national plan behind it. There is a big danger that the breathing space won_ will be squandered.

It must be clearly understood by the campaign that unless it mobilises the social and political strength of the workers movement, the right may still snatch a victory from a potential defeat.

The history of the last LESSONS OF ment and trade unions behind the campaign. The H. Block campaign opened up avenues, but the weakness of the anti-imperialist current in the labour movement has consistently militated against bridging the gap. This will continue to be a feature in the absence of a consist- — ent and united effort by the main anti-imperialist organisations to prioritise this task This is not a defeatist perspective but a sober assessment of real obsticles we must face -The breadth,;of support for Nicky’s release is in many ways more expansive than even the HBlock campaign. But the roots have not grown downwards into the working class. This is the task the campaign must set itself.

As a propaganda campaign for the present, we can organise key initiatives which can mobilise in action the forces whose support we have already won. Having teached this level, the roots can spread downward and out into the working class.

Peoples Democracy remains committed to the Nicky Kelly release campaign and we will fight for:

An open National Conference drawing in all forces who support Nicky’s release.

The conference must elect forces and develop a strategy that prioritises work in the unions and the labour movement We urge ail Socialist Republicans and ail those concerned with democratic rights to join this campaign. A. Speed ;