Be No Solution
The Plough1975Loyalism and unionismInternment, repression and the courtsBritish troops and the occupationPeace process and British initiativesLoyalism and unionismInternment, repression and the courtsBritish troops and the occupationPeace process and British initiatives
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But “People Together’ aiso collapsed and for some time the “peace” movement existed only as the occasional church-led meeting attended by a handful of unrealistic stalwarts.
The fact that Peace marches are now, particularly in Dublin, able to bring out large numbers does not make their approach to the actual situation in the North any more realistic.
“The people of the North all want peace’ has become a popular catchphrase among politicians from Brian Faulkner to the Leinster House Parties. But do they? Undoubtedly the Catholic people of the North after five years of repression at the hands of loyalist assassins and the British Army long for peace. But there are other elements.
British Army officers quickly made their attitude to the ceasefire clear. They condemned it as a trick by the Provisionals. And Merlyn Rees continued to sign internment orders during the ceasefire itself, while making limited, highly publicised releases.
To talk thus of ‘peace’’ while ignoring reality is not to give service to a@ war wearied Northern catholic population, but to offer illusions which obscure threats to their very esistence.
The peace the marchers are calling for is that of the British Army, RUC, British Government and Unionists. All have portrayed themselves as “peacemakers” at one time of another. Of course they have also reasoned, if a few rebellious catholics who demand civil rights and thereby refute the right of loyalists and British imperialism to control the North, have to be harrassed, interned or murdered, that is unfortunate. But, after all, that would be in the interests of peace for the British and loyalist regime.
There is no short cut to lasting peace for the Irish working class. While the Northern state exists, inevitably based on loyalist sectarian privilege and anti-Catholic discrimination. The time has again come round to the discussion between the |.C.T.U. and the F.U.E. about a new National Wage Agreement. Many thousands of workers are due to finish the 3rd N.W.A. in Conference.
March and are beginning to consider the possibilities of yet another N.W.A.
But many important factors have to be re-assessed; the rate of inflation; the “liquidity” problems facing the business