We Remember

It is quite true that the pattern of life in the 26 counties is not the same as in the British occupied North. But that doesn’t mean that the South has escaped that ‘carnival of reaction’ prophesied by James Connolly. The 26 counties is no more reformable in the interests of working people than the North. It is partition and not some quirk of Irish personality that maintains reactionary attitudes to the rights of women and other oppressed sections of society. It is in the common need to overthrow partition that the material basis for unity of the oppressed in Ireland resides. The lesson of the hunger strike campaign is that such unity can be realised but to be successful must mobilise the social and political weight of the working class. The working class has the decisive power that can break down the Church-State grip, sweep aside the fake democrats and misleaders and go on to smash partition.

Those who genuinely want to fight today for a new Ireland have to tackle the barriers erected in the Ireland of old. In particular the anti-imperialist movement [which with the absence of Sinn Fein from the Anti-amendment Campaign did not play the role it could have] must take responsibility for all the struggles of the oppressed, break with traditions of the past which failed to connect the struggle of the nation, the struggle of the working class and the struggle of women for the On August 8th ten years ago two members of Peoples Democracy, Mike Farrell and Tony Canavan, ended a 34 day hunger strike. They had been jailed for ‘illegal marching’ after organising a campaign to protest British compplicity in fhe Loyalist terror campaign of random assassinations.

Their fast was in protest against this and _ to demand political status {at that time denied to short-term prisoners but recognised for long-term sentences]. After 34 days Secretary of State Whitelaw capitulated by releasing all short-term prisoners.

The hunger strike was significant for both the anti-imperialist | movement and for PD. The first truce between the IRA and the British and its subsequent collapse led tn the dicenlutinn af Movement and left anti-imperialists divided and demoralised. The open, united campaign organised by PD helped lay. the basis for a new unity around the Political Hostages Release Committee.

The hunger strike was cianniticant tar DM in thas our own faith in weapon of mass struggle and brought us face to face with the depth of committment and sacrifice required from Socialist revolutionaries.

Our congratulations to Michael and Tony. We are proud to be acenriatand wvsith eunahkh FASCISTS Peoples Democracy Couneillor, John McAnulty has condemned the National Front march through Belfast City Centre which took place on Saturday, September 3. The Councillor said:The National Front is a fascist organisation which has for many years. been terrorising the jewish and black comm‘unities in Britian.Importing itself into the 6 Counties, it links up with the most extreme reactionary brands of loyalism.It will surprise no-one then that this — fascist march was marshalled through Belfast by the RUC,the same force which bars the nationalist citizens of ‘Belfast from the City Centre.’

The National Front march was also condemned by the Belfast Trades