Smash the British and _lovalist Terror Machine! ‘united Workers Group’ Shows the Way
The Plough1974Loyalism and unionismBritish troops and the occupationLabour, the left and left unityInternment, repression and the courtsLoyalism and unionismBritish troops and the occupationLabour, the left and left unityInternment, repression and the courts
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repression to an all time high. Areas which have been relatively free from harrassment are now being i . saturated. Instead of picking on particular individuals the troops are how lifting everyone in sight. Mass arrests of over 70 people at a time are becoming a common occurrence. The murder of Coney is not an isolated incident — since then more people have been shot down in exactly the same fashion. . Meanwhile the mass arming of the Loyalists continues. The RUC are appearing more in Catholic areas, supported by heavier firepower than at any time during the last 5 years. Their methods are if any thing more brutal than those of the Army. Dunmurray police barracks is using techniques of sensory deprivation and beatings to extract signed confessions of IRA membership. The Loyalist paramilitary groups are still pursuing their assassination campaign.
The British Army will only be withdrawn when all preparations for Stormont have been completed. The major one — the total terrorisation and demoralisation of the anti-unionist working class -- is presenting * them with increasing problems. The British Government is determined to make the hand over to Loyalism as peaceful as possible i.e. make sure that the anti-unionists are in position to resist; otherwise they fear large-scale confrontations which would lead to upheavals throughout Ireland.
However the anti-unionist working class refuses to lie down and be beaten. The consequences of the UWC strike are making themselves felt.and there is increasing awareness that Stormong is coming back. and that resistance must be built. This process is being pushed along by the assassination campaign, the growing helplessness of the SDLP and the almost daily speculation in the media about what happens when troops do withdraw and protestant ascendancy is restored.
Inevitably this awareness is confused and lacks leadership. So far it has been centred entirely around internment. Four weeks ago the burning of Long Kesh brought about the largest demonstrations of Mhti-unionist militancy for over a year. The shooting of Hugh Coney produced similar results.
These spontaneous upheavals have dramatically cut through British complacency and have given the lie to Rees’ remarks about a “thandful of convicted prisoners”. The seriousness with which the British Army treated them is shown by their massive retaliation including a de facto curfew of the Falls and Andersonstown area. The betrayals of the SDLP and ‘Free’ state government have been starkly illustrated by their total inability to intervene. :
As the crisis deepens, more explosions of this nature can be expected. It is vital that a mass movement be built up to structure the frustrations of the anti-unionist minority and prepare for the defence of the ghettoes. In this connection the most significant feature has been the spontaneous emergence of the Belfast ‘United Workers Group’. This group has organised the most militant demonstrations so far and have succeeded in holding rallies at the City Hall. As yet, is has not developed a clear political platform, but they do illustrate the deep felt need for unity of all anti-imperialist organisations and may well provide the basis for building a mass movement.
This movement must develop close links with the workers in the 26cos. in preparation fot mass resistance to a return to Stormont on an all Ireland scale. All attempts at self-organisation NECESSITATE THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BRITISH ARMY. This demand must be pressed home since it pre-empts the present role of the troops and the type of withdrawal favoured by Britain. The demand must be for IMMEDIATE withdrawal; anything else — return to barracks or phased withdrawal — in no way prevents the British Army clearing the path for the Armed forces of Loyalism. -The fighting slogan of a mass movement built on demands for an end to internment and the withdrawal of troops, comprising all anti-imperialist groupings throughout Ireland must be NO RETURN TO STORMONT — BUILD SELF DEFENCE. This immediately draws a clear line between the Irish working class on thé ene hand and all shades of Unionism including the SDLP and the ‘Free’ State Government on the other ONLY THE WORKING CLASS CAN RESIST THE LOYALIST TAKEOVER.