Monday 30 August 2004

The Plough Vol 02 No 02 (No 54)

The Plough
Volume 2, Number 2
30 August 2004

E-Mail Newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party

1. Editorial: Housing in Belfast
2. The Final Insult!
3. Keep Water Public
4. Hunger Strike Commemoration Speech
5. T&G Union Deal at British Airways
6. Letters: IPSC
7. What's On

*******

CORRECTION

Last week's Plough had the number 51 after the name. That was
incorrect. Its number was actually Volume 2, Number 1.

*******

EDITORIAL: HOUSING IN BELFAST

98% of working class Belfast is now strictly segregated by religion
according to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Accusations of
ethnic cleansing came from the DUP's Nigel Dodds earlier this week
when a dozen Protestant families in a media event packed up and left
the Torrens estate. They said that they had had enough and that they
could not take any more attacks from "republicans." No republican
worthy of the name republican would be involved in such attacks.
Undoubtedly nationalist youths have been engaged in sectarian
attacks. But the reality is that about 90% of sectarian attacks
emanate from loyalist sources.

A curious fact about the evacuation from Torrens is that it occurred
after the eviction by the UDA of a number of Protestant families from
the Manor Street area relatively close to the Torrens area. These
families were connected to Johnny Adair, who has been involved in
feuding with the leadership of the UDA.

Furthermore the media knew about the evacuation of the Torrens
families before it occurred. (See Irish Independent, page 19, 24th
August 2004.) So what appeared on TV screens and in the newspaper
columns after the 24th was an arranged planned event. The departing
families knew well in advance they were leaving. So did the Housing
Executive. Were steps taken to ensure the empty houses would be
secured from vandalism? Did the departing families simply jump the
housing queue and secure accommodation from the Housing Executive in
more secure "Protestant" areas?

There are huge numbers of nationalist families on the waiting list
for housing while large numbers of empty houses lie boarded up
in "Protestant" areas. This is a disgrace. The current British
overlords, the existing political parties and the Housing Executive
have no coherent plan to tackle the injustices of the housing market.
None of them are prepared to neither challenge the private market nor
halt the sale of public houses to the private market.

Landlords and estate agencies make huge profits from the squeeze on
the housing market from nationalist families. The same profiteers
gain in "Protestant" areas by buying up the publicly built properties
dirt cheap and then after a period leasing the houses to desperate
asylum seekers and economic migrants who know nothing of the history
of this forsaken place. The few remaining Protestants in these areas
seeing to them strange faces taking over what is regarded
as "Protestant" houses thus become easy prey to racist ideology.

*******

THE FINAL INSULT!

Johnny White and Peter Collins break their 35-year silence on the
events of 1969 after receiving invitations to a press conference for
a campaign to clear Capt Kelly's name.

It was 1969 in Derry and the local Officer Commanding of the IRA,
Johnny White, got a request to set up a meeting the next day through
a member of the IRA in South Derry. During this period Captain James
Kelly had been holding meetings throughout the six counties on behalf
of the Dublin regime as a result of the Loyalist and RUC attacks on
Catholic neighbourhoods and the burning of thousands of Catholic
homes. The Dublin regime was coming under increasing pressure to help
the beleaguered population in the North who were virtually
defenceless. Pleas were made by Catholics for the government to help.
We now understand that Captain Kelly was sent north with a mission, a
mission to divide the Republican Movement, and to provide the
traditionalists with money and weapons and to isolate the more
radical Marxist leadership. The twenty-six county regime was afraid
that if the then Dublin leadership stayed in control of a growing and
vibrant movement then that was a threat to the state itself.

The day after the initial contact a meeting took place in Derry City
attended by Johnny White, Peter Collins, Micky Montgomery and Captain
James Kelly of the 'Free State' army. Two of those at the meeting,
Captain Kelly and Mickey Montgomery, have since died. The following
is an account of the meeting given to the Starry Plough by the two
surviving men who attended the meeting.

MEETING SET UP

"The Kelly meeting in 1969 was arranged following a previous meeting
in South Derry. Contacts were made with Johnny White (OC) asking for
a meeting with the Derry Brigade. The following day Johnny White
along with his Adjutant, Mickey Montgomery, and Derry Brigade
Intelligence Officer Peter Collins met with a man who introduced
himself as Captain James Kelly and said he was an intelligence
officer with the Irish Army (Free State). He also said he had the
authority to speak on behalf of the Free State regime at the time.

£50,000

The meeting lasted only a few minutes. Kelly after explaining his
role offered those present arms, training and money (£50,000).
When those present asked Kelly what the Government wanted in return
Kelly said 'A guarantee that the struggle would be contained within
the six counties.' The OC then pointed out to Kelly that he knew as
well as him that situation was guaranteed already as the standing
orders within the IRA prevented any attacks within the 26 counties.

"At this point the OC then demanded to know exactly what Kelly wanted
in return for these weapons and money and aggressively demanded,
while pointing his finger towards Kelly, that he give him a straight
answer. Kelly then said 'the elimination of certain members of the
leadership of the Republican Movement.'"

"SIX"

"At this point both Mickey and Peter joined into the conversation in
a heated way and Mickey asked 'How many?' to which Kelly
answered 'Six.' Kelly was then told in no uncertain terms to 'F***
off!' The meeting then ended.

"Immediately after this the three members of the Derry Brigade made
contact with the General Headquarters of the IRA in Dublin and
explained that a serious situation had arisen and that they needed a
meeting with the leadership as soon as possible. The following day a
meeting was held at a venue in South Derry where a report of the
previous day's events was relayed to the Chief of Staff of the IRA.
The Chief of Staff told the Derry Brigade OC that he should have got
the £50,000 first then told Kelly to 'F*** off!'"

NO FURTHER ACTION

"The representatives from Derry were then told that as they had now
reported the approach from Kelly to the leadership they should take
no further action and the leadership would take care of it from then
on. After returning to Derry City both meetings were reported to the
local command staff.

"Over the years nothing was said about these events other than to a
very few very prominent republicans and former civil rights
campaigners. We are not, at this stage however, prepared to name
these people but believe that they will come forward in due course."

FREE STATE AGENT

"We would take this opportunity to urge all republicans to have
nothing to do with this campaign to clear the name of this 'Free
State' agent whose only legacy was the division and split of the
Republican Movement.

"We believe the reason the 'Free State' government was offering this
deal was because they feared less an armed struggle contained within
the six counties than an armed struggle throughout the thirty-two
Counties. They feared a scenario where tens of thousands working
class men and women would take to the streets and challenge their
authority and attempt to change their system into one that put
working class people first.

"As the Republican Movement was to the forefront of that struggle it
would have been important to divide the movement and form a
organisation that would have been prepared to pay lip service to the
Free State government. In order to orchestrate this it would have
been necessary to eliminate those from within the leadership who
would have been considered socialist or communist. This would then
have laid the groundwork for the formation of a right wing and
Catholic leadership that would have been prepared to dance to the
tune of the Dublin regime."

THE PROVOCATION THAT LED TO THESE CLAIMS BEING MADE PUBLIC

Johnny White and Peter Collins both agree that the final insult to
them came when cards dropped through their respective letterboxes
inviting them to attend a press conference that was part of the
Captain Kelly Justice Campaign. So incensed they were that someone
who they had intimate knowledge of attempting to split the Republican
Movement in 1969 should be lauded as an innocent victim of injustice
that they decided to attend the press conference to finally, after 35
years silence, get this information into the open.

The invitation, printed here, proved to be the final insult to these
two veteran republicans. Thirty-five years after meeting Captain
James Kelly and being offered £50,000 for the elimination of six
leaders of the Republican Movement they now found themselves invited
to a campaign press conference that would aim to clear the name of
someone they viewed as nothing more than an agent of the Free State
regime and whose motives in 1969 were to split and divide the
Republican Movement.

Johnny and Peter have both stated categorically that they would not
have attended the press conference if it hadn't been for the
secretary of the said campaign, Fionnbarra O'Dochartaigh, sending
them both personal invitations to attend. But when these invitations
landed on their doorsteps it was then, and only then that they
decided to attend and reveal the full truth behind Captain Kelly's
motivation in 1969. Johnny White commented, "We both took this as a
grave insult to every republican who stood up against the 'Free
State.' It is ironic that if the 'Free State' apologists who attended
the meeting had only listened to what myself and Peter had to say it
could have actually helped the Kelly family find the justice that
they are looking for. Although from our point of view no such justice
was shown to republicans right from the foundation of the state.
Right from Ballyseedy, Drumboe, the Curragh, Enda McGee, Martin
Bryan, John Morris, Ronan MacLochlainn, the list goes on and on of
republicans denied justice by the Free State. These are all prime
examples of 'Free State' justice shown towards republicans and
republican socialists."

He went on, "We would also, as former leaders of the Republican
Movement in Derry, categorically refute claims made by Fionnbarra
O'Dochartaigh, that he was a member of the leadership of the
Republican Movement in Derry. At no time was this person ever
anywhere near leadership level, especially during the period in
question. In fact at that time he spent more time in Cork than in
Derry."

When asked if they would support Fionnbarra Ó Dochartaigh's call
for a tribunal into these events both Peter Collins and Johnny White
said that they would no problem supporting such an inquiry. That view
has also been echoed by another prominent veteran Derry republican,
Liam O'Comain, who was also prominent at the time. Johnny said, "We
would definitely support an inquiry into these events, not just
Kelly's court cases but also into Kelly's role in 1969 and into the
orders he was given and why?"

© Copyright Starry Plough Publications 2004

*******

KEEP WATER PUBLIC

On 11th March 2003, the direct rule minister for Northern Ireland
announced a 'major public consultation' to discuss the reform of
water and sewage services in Northern Ireland.

From the very start, this document was flawed as it claimed the
people of Northern Ireland did not already pay for water and sewage
provision. The fact of the matter is that water charges are included
in the domestic rates bill -- the average paid per household is
£200. To add another £350 to £400 on top as a separate
charge would mean the people of Northern Ireland would be paying
amongst the highest water and sewage charges in the UK.

The ATGWU is leading the fight against water charges and the threat
of around 600 job losses. To date, led by our new assistant general
secretary Jack Dromey, we have united almost all shades of political
opinion against water charges and job losses and the communities.
Jack led a delegation of Northern Ireland water workers to Downing
Street and the minister in charge of this 'back-door privatisation',
Angela Smith MP, has stood down from this role after admitting she
was 'losing the argument'.

The 'Keep Water Public' campaign, which is led by lead officer Albert
Mills and senior shop stewards Pat Torley, Davey Gordon, Adrian
Gilmore and Harry McBride, will continue to ensure that they continue
to lose the argument!

*******

HUNGER STRIKE COMMEMORATION SPEECH

Comrades, let me first begin by saying that it is an honour to be
asked to come here to speak and to pay homage to the ten brave men
who 23 years ago showed bravery and selflessness in the ultimate. It
swells my heart with pride when I think of the valour and conviction
shown by these men in the face of such pain and suffering.

They are an inspiration to us all. This is reflected in the huge
numbers of you who have turned up here today to pay your respects and
to show solidarity with the families of all the ten hunger strike
martyrs.

Whilst all of us have taken time to come here to commemorate the
sacrifices that these ten men made, if I may be blunt, we are not
doing enough. In 1981, Volunteer Patsy O'Hara asked the poignant
question whilst he was carrying out his hunger strike. "After we have
gone, what will you say you were doing? Will you say you were with us
in our struggle or were you conforming to the very system that drove
us to our deaths?"

These words ring as sorely true today, comrades, as they did in 1981.
Are we resisting the system that drove these men and countless others
like them to their tragic fate? Or are we conforming?

Whilst it is of great importance to remember our fallen comrades we
must not allow ourselves to get comfortable in a tradition of
remembrance. In the 26 counties, the various governments have chosen
to pay lip service to the radical ideals of the great men of 1916 and
they have carried out hollow acts of commemoration such as naming a
train station after James Connolly. This is an insulting token to the
great ideals of Comrade Connolly. We must not fall into the same
sense of self-righteousness through hollow acts.

It is true to say that the nature of our struggle has changed,
comrades. We no longer have the ugly face of imperialism kicking in
our doors or murdering our family in the streets. We no longer stare
down the barrel of the imperialist gun, as do the suffering people in
Iraq and Afghanistan today. No, comrades, the British capitalist war
machine has realised that it cannot baton or shoot down the spirit of
resistance that in the past spurred on the Irish working classes
against imperialism in the streets of the Bogside and Ballymurphy.
The imperialist system has changed its tactics, comrades.

They are no longer trying to beat us down with their armed forces.
No, they are trying to suck us into their system. The imperialists
are trying to transform us into benign cogs of their machine. They
are buying us off with the wealthy rewards of their murderous
endeavors. They are buying us into conforming.

Some are choosing to conform and become part of their system. Some
have confined their resistance to the boundaries set by the
imperialist machine. Comrades, we can under no circumstances allow
this to happen to us.

So how do we resist in these changed times? Our rifles have been put
to rest for now. We will not follow others up the steps of Stormont,
so how do we resist?

I recently heard a recording of an oration by Malcolm X. The words he
used were for the black, oppressed, working class ghettos of the
sixties, but I feel that they reach out to all working class areas in
the world today. He said, "I have heard that in some places in the
world like the Arctic that hunters take a blade and put blood onto it
and they take the blade and they bury it in the snow. Now the wolf it
smells the blood and it comes and it starts licking the blade and it
cuts its tongue. But it tastes more blood and keeps on licking and
the more it licks the more it cuts itself and tastes blood and it
thinks its getting a real good meal and it keeps licking and cutting
itself until, brothers, it bleeds so much that it dies. That's what
the imperialists are doing to us in our communities. We saw the white
man standing with their gold and we wanted the gold so we licked
their blade and when we saw the white man driving their car and
wanted the white man's car so we licked their blade. We wanted the
white man's clothes so we licked the imperialists' blade and we keep
on licking until we are dying, brothers."

Powerful words, comrades. Powerful words. Words so relevant to our
situation today.

We are being eaten by the cancerous cultures of imperialism. Cultures
that are not only eating at our identity as Irish men and women, but
at our very humanity.

We must begin to cast off these consumerist values. We must radically
change our own attitudes and values if we are to achieve the same
conviction for radical social and political change in this land as
our fallen comrades. For imperialism in its new neo-liberal form is
imposing its cancerous culture of self-gain upon us. We must rise to
meet it and to defeat it by espousing and practicing the very basic
tenets of socialism: community, equality and collective endeavour for
collective gain.

We must push this message into our communities by whatever means that
are at our disposal. No act should be below you. If some of you see
the tasks required as distasteful and petty then let the end goal of
socialism be your motivating force. If this is not enough to motivate
you then you have no place in the republican socialist struggle.

It is time for each and every one of us to take the ideals of
socialism out of the realms of discussion and manifestos and lections
and make it directly relevant to our underprivileged communities.
Stir in them the spirit of togetherness. Then we will see the
symptoms of neo-liberal capitalism, sectarianism, racism, sexism,
homophobia, anti-social behavior, alienation, poverty, drug abuse and
self-destruction crumble away in the path of a united working class
community, a real movement that will sweep away the main barrier to
freedom in Ireland: partition of this island and its people.

The nature of our enemy has changed. Our resistance to it must change
also. The struggle against imperialism fought by our ten brave
comrades and the hundreds like them here in Ireland and indeed all
over the world now lies within ourselves, comrades.

If we truly want to pay homage to our comrades we must discard the
shackles of imperialist culture and carry their fight on.

The days of state corruption and incarceration of political prisoners
are not gone. The family of Seamus Doherty will bear testament to
that. Seamus is languishing in prison on the basis of evidence that
has been rejected by the courts in the cases of two other men. This
is obviously a political decision by the British ruling elite and
must be condemned by all. We offer our solidarity to Seamus, his
family and his supporters amongst us.

We demand that he and all other political prisoners being held in
Ireland and throughout the world are released immediately. Let us not
forget the suffering being inflicted upon the families of Basque and
Catalan prisoners. Basque and Catalan prisoners are being moved to
prisons hundreds of miles from their families in a deliberate move to
cause emotional and financial strain on their families and friends.
Our comrades from the PCE(r) and GRAPO are currently being held in
Paris awaiting extradition to terror camps in Spain, we demand their
immediate release. Our comrades in Kurdistan are suffering state
oppression akin to the fascist states in Europe during the thirties
and forties. They have suffered as we have the loss of loved ones
through hunger strike. Within the last week, 1600 Palestinian
prisoners went on hunger strike against the inhumane conditions being
meted out by the wantonly murderous racist Zionist regime of Ariel
Sharon. Our thoughts are with them all in this difficult phase of
their struggle.

Comrades, be under no illusions, when we have made progress in the
revolution the state will discard the kid gloves and their forces
will rear their ugly head once again in an attempt to undermine us.
Like the ten brave hunger strikers, comrades, we will not shirk! Once
we have regained our resolve and revolutionary fervor we will
struggle on with greater strides towards our goal, a Socialist
Republic that cherishes true freedom for all of its children.

[The above speech was delivered in Derry on Sunday, 22 August by IRSP
member Tomas Gorman.]

*******

T&G UNION DEAL AT B.A.

The T&G and British Airways have agreed a 3-year deal on pay covering
baggage handlers and check-in staff. Brendan Gold, T&G National
Secretary for Civil Aviation, said the deal will be recommended to
the union members and so the strike action planned for next Friday is
suspended.

"We are pleased that holidaymakers can now relax and pack for their
summer break," he said. "The union is also pleased we've got a deal
on pay which recognises the contribution of our members to BA's
continuing recovery."

The union confirmed that it had entirely separated the issues of
attendance from pay. In talks involving representatives from all
parts of the company's operations, a framework for attendance
management was discussed. This aims to reduce the sums the company
said it is losing through sickness absence. The detailed issues are
complex and further discussions will take place.

"The T&G has been talking with BA for the last six months on the
complex issues surrounding attendance" added Mr. Gold "It did confuse
the pay talks by linking them to attendance but the company has
listened to our arguments and responded."

The terms of the deal include inflation-rate pay rises on basic pay
for the next three years plus non-pensionable lump sum payments of
£1,000 over the same period. The deal will be backdated to 1st
October 2003 which adds three months' money to the back pay.

"This deal provides the period of stability the company was looking
for" concluded Mr. Gold.

ENDS

(Press Release 21 Aug 2004)

*******

LETTERS

Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Subject: Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Thee Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign have lost a number of
leading activists over the past year and our membership has been
seriously depleted as a result. Our ability to capitalise on the
Féile in particular showed serious shortcomings in our
organisational ability. As a result I think it important that the
Belfast IPSC meet soon to decide on future activity as a branch. I
would appreciate if you could let me know whether you would be
willing/able to attend a meeting on Tuesday 31st August at 7.30pm in
the Culturlann.

Items for the agenda will include

Review of our work this year
Membership and recruitment
The National AGM and Organisation (to be held on Saturday 4th
September in Dublin)
A possible local AGM to revamp the local branch

Please let me know if you will be attending by emailing our new email
address belfastpsc@yahoo.com.

If you will not be attending I would still greatly appreciate it if
you could let me know whether you are willing/able to be involved
with the branch in its work this year and the level of commitment you
may be able/willing to offer. If you want included in our new email
system please respond to belfastpsc@yahoo.com If you are unable to
make this meeting and would prefer another day please give me an
alternative.

From: Feilim Ó hAdhmaill

*******

WHAT'S ON

*

Thursday, September 2nd, 8pm

Cork WSM open meeting

The Rise of Islamic Fundamentalism

Independent Workers' Union hall,

55 North Main Street, Cork

*

20th BIRTHDAY

Tools For Solidarity Public Debate

"Aid is effective in alleviating poverty in Africa"

Argue for or against

7.00 pm Thursday 9 September 2004

In The Indian Community Centre, Clifton St, Belfast

Speakers for the evening:

1. Mr. Explo Nani-Kofi, of the African Liberation Support Campaign,
editor of the Kilombo Panafricanist journal and a campaigner against
the IMF and the World Bank's fraudulent debt in Africa and Africa's
forgotten wars.

2. Cllr Carmel Hanna SDLP MLA for South Belfast, Chair of the All
Party Group on International Development and former NI Assembly
Minster for Further and Higher Education.

3. Mr. John Barry, Co-chair of the Northern Irish Green Party and
deputy director, Institute of Governance, Queens University Belfast.

4. Mr. Paul Braithwaite, International Programmes Officer of
Trocaire, MA in Development Studies.

Our chair for the evening is Roisin McLaughlin, Lecturer
(International Exchanges), and UNESCO Centre at the University of
Ulster.

Tools for Solidarity is a non-profit making development organisation
which collects, repairs and ships out hand tools and sewing machines
to skilled trades people in Africa

*

Saturday September 25th 1-6pm

What sort of anti-racism do we need?

A day of talks and discussion, organised by the WSM, with speakers
from anti-racist and immigrant groups Saturday September 25th 1-6pm

Teachers Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin

*******

NO RETREAT

The Secret war between Britain's Anti-Fascists and the Far-Right.

New book by Dave Hann and Steve Tilzey

For nearly 20 years a secret war has been waged between Britain's
anti-fascists and the extreme far-right. A war fought not with
placards and leaflets, but with boots, bottles and iron bars. For the
first time ever, two leading participants in that struggle tell the
extra-ordinary tale of the militant anti-fascist members of the
Squads and AFA's Stewards Group.

Published by Milo Books. 304pp. Price £7.99. Available on 1st
November 2003.

ISBN 1 903854 22 9

Available from Waterstones, Dillons, and many independent booksellers.

Can also be ordered on-line from http://www.turnaround-psl.com/ --
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ -- http://www.amazon.de/ --
http://www.amazon.co.jp/ or http://www.bookmarks.uk.com/ as well as
many other on-line booksellers.

*******

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*

Support the IRSP

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Monday 23 August 2004

The Plough Vol 02 No 01 (No 53)

The Plough #53
23 August 2004

E-mail Newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party

1. Editorial
2. Demilitarisation?
3. In Support of Rathenraw Residents
4. Repression in Rathenraw
5. Civil Service Dispute Escalates
6. What's On

*******

EDITORIAL

In this edition we print information about recent events in Rathenraw.

The IRSP support the right of the local community association to
carry out their activities free from intimidation or threats. All
members of the IRSP are told that when working in local communities
that they work with the community –- not against them -- and that
under no circumstances should they try to take over or manipulate any
group for narrow party advantage. Far, far too many so called
community associations in nationalist areas are really under the
control of (New) Provisional Sinn Fein, are not independent and are
used as devices to control the community. Republican socialists feel
confident in our own politics. As Ta Power once wrote, "you can't fool
the people forever. Eventually they will uncover the careerists and
opportunists." The local population in Rathenraw now know the wisdom
of that.

*******

DEMILITARISATION?

Stop-and-searches numbered 15,000 in 2003 in the North of Ireland.

New figures have shown that nearly 15,000 people were stopped and
searched by police or members of the British Army in Northern Ireland
last year.

The British Army carried out more than two thirds of the 14,910
stop-and-searches in the past year, with 4,000 carried out by police.

An IRSP spokesperson said the figures show the British Army and police
have abused their powers despite the so called reforms brought in
under the Patten Report.

"Nothing has changed on the ground with the British security forces
still an instrument of British/Unionist hegemony," said John Martin,
Ard-Chomhairle member of the IRSP.

"So much for demilitarisation, so much for peace building. These
figures combined with the recent IMC report show that repression with
a little bit of reform is still the preferred British security
response."

In addition the arming of undercover police with powerful .40 calibre
semi-automatic Glock 22 pistols does not indicate moves towards
demilitarisation. These Glock pistols carry a fifteen-round magazine
and cost over £400 per piece. They have considerably more 'stopping
power' than standard PSNI sidearms. So the question has to be asked
who are the PSNI/RUC intent on stopping?

*******

IN SUPPORT OF RATHENRAW RESIDENTS

"We would like to lend support to the community in Rathenraw following
the recent intimidation in the area by outsiders pushing their own
agenda.

"The incidents leading up to the intimidation are well documented,
with a small unrepresentative clique trying to impose their will on
the community.

"That community has suffered intimidation from loyalists and drug
dealers in recent years and has battled valiantly to overcome these
scourges, it would be a tragedy if they were forced undo all their
good work by threats from those who they believed were on their side.

"We also reject the slander machine that has seen these community
representatives became 'rogue elements' and 'anti social' over night
or more accurately since they left Sinn Fein.

"We support the right of community associations to act in the
interests of their community and to be free to act independent of
political bias.

"We are aware that many of the residents in Rathenraw would not share
our political perspective but we support their right to organize free
from intimidation regardless. It is essential that ALL republicans
face down such intimidation, silence will surely lead us into a
provisional dictatorship."

Statement from ANDY MARTIN, 32 County Sovereignty Committee
Belfast, 18/08/2004

*******

REPRESSION IN RATHENRAW

Anthony McIntyre / 16 August 2004

To many of us who live in Belfast, the Rathenraw Estate in Antrim town
for long conjured up the image of a drugs bazaar where various
substances were bought and sold on the open market. It had the feel of
a mini-Amsterdam. In recent years a vigorous community response has
changed Rathenraw completely. The transformation there has been more
than a mere face-lift. Talking to the residents who live there, a
strong vibrancy and confidence is exuded. Once the estate to escape
from it has become a sought after place of residency for many families
eager to ensure their young grow up free from the menace of serious
drug abuse.

Of the numerous residents I have spoken to over the past month none
dissented from the view that Sinn Fein played a major role in the
clean-up campaign. A large measure of the party's electoral success in
Antrim town and the surrounding area can be explained by the hard work
put in on the ground and in particular the zero tolerance displayed
towards drug dealers.

In Rathenraw, many of those people who were at the coalface of
community activism, now find themselves seriously at odds with the
party on whose behalf they laboured so strenuously. In fact the entire
Rathenraw Sinn Fein Cumann has resigned. Some of those who stepped
outside of the tent had given much of their time and energy to
promoting republican politics. In the case of Paddy Murray who chaired
the Cumann, most of the 1990s imprisoned did little to subdue his
commitment to the political vision that drives him. Aine Gribbon, a
mother of eight, was a three times candidate for the party in local
council elections.

Having made many trips to the estate over the past month in response
to requests by residents who felt they were voiceless, I quickly
detected the frustration experienced by people who were convinced they
were being given grossly inadequate political representation by the
two Sinn Fein politicians on Antrim Council. From house to house, the
message was the same, useless. This held true for Sinn Fein voters,
former party members and residents with no party affiliations, alike.

Underlying tension between Rathenraw republicans and the Sinn Fein
bureaucracy first exploded when a local republican band was prevented
from taking part in a South Armagh hunger strike commemoration in
May.

It was accused of having a reputation for being rowdy. New Sinn Fein,
wanting to appear respectable, decided that much of its previous
earthy character would have to be jettisoned. The response of the
Rathenraw Cumann was to resign.

Since then, the former Cumann members have claimed that in a bid to
isolate and undermine them, the two local councillors and unelected
party apparatchiks have engaged in a campaign of vilification. When
the estate was subjected to sectarian attack, the former party members
who rallied to its defence were accused by their former colleagues of
having provoked the loyalists. Since then they have been described as
gang leaders and 'Fagin' type characters.

In recent weeks the campaign against Rathenraw republicans was
intensified and extended to community workers. This has culminated in
committee members of the Rathenraw Community Association, a
democratically constituted body, being intimidated and told to stand
down from the committee.

What for long may have been a manageable tension suddenly exploded
into serious confrontation in the wake of a planned PSNI operation
which led to the interception of a car leaving the estate in which a
large consignment of drugs was discovered. The Community Association
was aghast. Its community image promotion campaign had sustained a
considerable dent. The person arrested allegedly in possession of the
drugs was only accepted into the community, against the wishes of
those who lived there, on the insistence of a local Sinn Fein
councillor who vouched for the good character of the person. The
residents' objections were based on a strong belief that the man would
bring the drugs trade into the estate.

After the arrest the Community Association told the partner of the man
in custody that she would no longer be welcomed in the estate. Such an
approach has many drawbacks and community associations must tread very
carefully in order to ensure that an injustice is not created. A
prominent Belfast Sinn Fein member tried to pressurise the Association
to rescind its decision to ask the woman to leave. With little headway
having been made, a leading figure in the Provisional IRA informed the
Residents Association chair that the woman would be staying and there
would be no further questioning of the decision.

Unhappy with the manner in which the issue was being dealt with the
Association called a meeting last Wednesday in the local community
centre. The meeting was publicly advertised and the hall was packed.

There seemed to be a cross representation of views and while the
discussion that took place gave rise to disagreement on a range of
issues there was little sign of rancour. What was evident was that the
Rathenraw Community Association had the confidence of the body of the
hall. Many of those who spoke did not pull their punches when it came
to being critical of Sinn Fein. While allegations of threats, bullying
and intimidation all surfaced, the general critique seemed to be one
of no proper political representation.

Sinn Fein clearly not happy with the stand taken by the Community
Association, moved muscle into the estate on Friday. Two Sinn Fein
councillors accompanied by seven carloads of people weaved their way
through the streets. In some cases homes of those who had been
critical of the party were photographed. A female youth worker claims
to have been told she would have to leave Antrim for good. Other
reports indicate that one man who came out to complain about the
heavy-handed approach was told he would have every bone in his body
broken if he did not go back into his home. Most sinister of all was
the charge that the home of the chairperson of the Community
Association was the site of a visit by seven men who banged loudly on
the door and peered through the windows. At one point one of the
visitors was said to have pulled a balaclava over his face.

If these reports are true, and they are coming from more than one
source, then Sinn Fein is engaged in thuggish intimidation of those
who challenge the party’s writ. It now seems clear what one local
party councillor meant when he told both the Antrim Guardian and the
Antrim Times that the Republican Movement would deal with those it had
taken umbrage with.

The Rathenraw Community Association should be free to make decisions
about its own community without the threat of force being hurled in
its direction. If it makes the wrong decision, bullying its members is
not the way to rectify matters. The bulk of these people, republicans
included, does not oppose the peace process and have no allegiance to
any other republican group. The former Sinn Fein members stayed with
the party through thick and thin. They did not quit over strategic
disagreements. Many of them would be happy to be back in Sinn Fein if
the party was to function with more accountability and deliver
effective representation. What the people of Rathenraw need is to be
listened to not threatened. They are not pawns in some strategic game
that demands of them that they give up their concerns and aspirations
for their own community as part of a bigger picture that none of them
are allowed to shape or critique.

If what is happening in Rathenraw is weighed up in a context of Sinn
Fein trying to achieve power, what will the party do in order to hold
onto that power? Thoughts of it ever acquiring control over justice or
policing must invoke images of the Broy Harriers.

(from The Blanket August 16, 2004)

*******

CIVIL SERVICE DISPUTE ESCALATES

NIPSA Civil Service Executive met Thursday 19.08.2004, to discuss the
latest management offer and the union response.

At the behest of the left-coalition "Time for Change" grouping the
Executive has finally taken the decision to recommend rejection of the
offer and escalation of the action to an all out strike.

Branch meetings will be held over the next few weeks to discuss and
vote on the proposed strategy of the Executive.

This dispute has now reached a critical point. Members now have the
opportunity to bring the dispute to a successful conclusion through
all out, hard hitting, and all member strike action that will have the
effect of shutting down the NI Civil Service in its entirety.

"Time For Change" activists shall be meeting shortly to agree a
strategy to ensure a yes vote for an all out strike, and more
importantly to prepare an action plan to carry such a decision through
on the ground.

"Time for Change," and indeed all active NIPSA members, are gratefully
aware of the solidarity shown by other trade unionists and the wider
working class in the north during the current dispute, and would call
on all socialists to consider what further action they can take to
support civil service workers as this struggle reaches its climax.

*******

What's On

*

Friday 27th August

Belfast Calling Palestine: A Benefit Gig in Aid of Palestinian
Children

In THE RED DEVIL BAR, FALLS ROAD, BELFAST

Organised by the Collective of Musicians of Belfast Organisation

*

16th DESMOND GREAVES SUMMER SCHOOL

Friday-Sunday, 27-29 August 2004.

Irish Labour History Museum, Beggars Bush, Haddington Rd., Dublin 4

Friday 27 August

7.30pm: "An Analysis of the proposed Constitution for Europe" by
Anthony Coughlan, Secretary, The National Platform EU Research and
Information Centre; Chair: Patricia McKenna, former Green Party MEP

Saturday 28 August

2.30 pm: "Irish Capitalism -- Loyal to Whom?" Mick O'Reilly, ATGWU
official, will examine developments in the South and Dr Alan Harper,
Department of Sociology, Queen's University Belfast, will examine
developments in the North of Ireland; Chair: Damien Kiberd,
broadcaster and former editor, Sunday Business Post

EVENING SOCIAL from 8 p.m. onward at the home of Helga and Cathal
MacLiam, 24 Belgrave Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Sunday 29 August 29

11.00 am: "Coalitions -- the Way Forward for Progressive Politics in
Ireland?" by Roger Cole, Chair of PANA and member of the
Administrative Council of the Labour Party; Chair: Seamus O'Tuathail
SC

2.30 pm: Forum on "Power Politics and the EU"; "The EU as a Global
Power" by Dr Andy Storey, School of Development Studies UCD and
council member of Afri-Action from Ireland; "Democracy in the EU" by
Cllr. Deirdre De Burca, Irish Green Party; Chair: Aengus O'Snodaigh
TD, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Foreign Affairs.

*

Thursday, September 2nd, 8pm

Cork WSM open meeting

The Rise of Islamic Fundamentalism

Independent Workers' Union hall,

55 North Main Street, Cork

*

Saturday September 25th 1-6pm

What sort of anti-racism do we need?

A day of talks and discussion, organised by the WSM, with speakers
from anti-racist and immigrant groups Saturday September 25th 1-6pm

Teachers Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin

*******

NO RETREAT

The Secret war between Britain's Anti-Fascists and the Far-Right.

New book by Dave Hann and Steve Tilzey

For nearly 20 years a secret war has been waged between Britain's
anti-fascists and the extreme far-right. A war fought not with
placards and leaflets, but with boots, bottles and iron bars. For the
first time ever, two leading participants in that struggle tell the
extra-ordinary tale of the militant anti-fascist members of the
Squads and AFA's Stewards Group.

Published by Milo Books. 304pp. Price £7.99. Available on 1st
November 2003.

ISBN 1 903854 22 9

Available from Waterstones, Dillons, and many independent booksellers.

Can also be ordered on-line from http://www.turnaround-psl.com/ --
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ -- http://www.amazon.de/ --
http://www.amazon.co.jp/ or http://www.bookmarks.uk.com/ as well as
many other on-line booksellers.

*******

Please feel free to comment on the contents of The Plough. We welcome
political comments and criticisms.

If you know of anybody who might wish to receive The Plough please
send his or her e-mail address to johnmartinps@eircom.net.

If you wish to receive back copies of the The Plough please e-mail
to johnmartinps@eircom.net stating which numbers you wish.

To unsubscribe to The Plough please send e-mail
entitled "unsubscribe" to johnmartinps@eircom.net.

It is the policy of The Plough to acknowledge information and
articles from other sources.

Subscribe to the bi-monthly
"The Starry Plough/An Camchéachta"
P.O. Box 1981, Derry, BT48 8GX, Ireland.
THE VOICE OF REPUBLICAN SOCIALISM!
Email: starry_plough@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.irsm.org/irsp/starryplough/

Fighting Fund/Donations
To: The Starry Plough
First Trust Bank, Derry, BT48 6BU
Account No. 14986015 Sort Code No. 93-86-10

http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html (Pairtí Poblachtach Sóisialach na
h-Éireann)
http://www.wageslave.org/jcs/ (James Connolly Society)
http://www.marxists.org/archive/connolly/ (James Connolly Archive)

The Republican Socialist Forum from Derry IRSP
http://rsmforum.proboards23.com/

Republican Socialist Online Merchandise - A website that offers a
central place to go on the Internet to find good quality items with a
distinct Republican Socialist theme. Proceeds from sales from this
effort go towards the IRSM and its various projects.
http://www.angelfire.com/folk/irishshop/

Teach Na Failte Memorial Committees - A new 2004 full colour glossy
calendar is available now on the RSM online shop. It celebrates the
brilliant work undertaken by the Teach Na Failte Memorial Committees
this past year throughout the six counties with full colour
photographs on each page. This calendar can be viewed online by
clicking the link below.
http://www.cafeshops.com/rsmshop.8844526

*

Support the IRSP

Standing Order Form

To the Manager First Trust Bank, Andersonstown.

Please pay First Trust Bank Andersonstown Branch, Belfast, and credit
to Irish Republican Socialist Party, A/C Number 70490021, Branch Code
93-84-75

The sum of:
Amount in words:

Commencing date: and thereafter every month till further notice.

And debiting A/C number:

Name (Please print clearly):
Date:

Address:


Signature:

Wednesday 18 August 2004

The Plough Vol 01 No 52

The Plough #52
18 August 2004

E-Mail Newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party

1. Editorial
2. UK Textiles Union Supports Call for Emergency Action
3. BA Have 'Cried Wolf' Too Often
4. The Bolivarian Programme
5. What's On
6. No Retreat

*******

EDITORIAL

° First apologies for the delay in this edition of The Plough.
This was due to technical difficulties away beyond the editor's
control. Please let me know ASAP if you have difficulties reading
this edition of The Plough as I am now operating on a new system and
it may need fine tuning.

° The recent increase in racist attacks in Belfast, particularly
in loyalist areas, may have given some satisfaction to nationalists
who think such things don't happen in nationalist areas. Such a
belief is in itself racist. Racism does exist in nationalist areas.
We know of two recent vicious racist assaults by people from a
nationalist background. The IRSP encourages its members to stand up
to the racists and bully boys and if anyone knows who is responsible
for any racist attacks please don't hesitate to let us know.

° The Plough would like to congratulate our IRSP comrade from the
Short Strand for his famous victory in the Big Brother competition in
the Ardoyne festival. We understand his slogan was "forward to
victory!!!"

*******

UK TEXTILES UNION SUPPORTS CALL FOR EMERGENCY ACTION

11 Aug 2004

The T&G, representing thousands of UK textiles workers, has today
lent its support to a call from the International Textile, Garment
and Leather Workers' Federation that the international community
should hold an emergency forum unless the WTO takes urgent action to
prevent a disaster in some of the poorest textile-producing countries.

At the end of this year, trade restraints covering the global
textiles industry will come to an end, and already buyers are heading
to China as the cheapest source of production. Some estimate that
within five years China will 80% of all clothing and textile imports
into Europe and the United States.

Peter Booth, T&G National Organiser for manufacturing, said the union
supports the ITGLWF call from its General Secretary Neil Kearney:

"Factories in some of the poorest countries are closing or being
threatened with closure. Bangladesh looks set to lose one million of
its 1.8 million textile jobs, Indonesia could lose one million jobs
and Sri Lanka could lose 300,000 of its 350,000 textile jobs. This is
a global crisis and urgent international action must be taken.

"Whilst we have been long concerned with the position of the UK's
textile industry, the situation facing some of the poorest nations in
the world demands global attention and a global solution. The ITGLWF
is absolutely right to call on the WTO to avoid catastrophe, and if
the WTO fail to respond immediately, the T&G will support an
emergency forum under the auspices of the United Nations to bring
together the WTO, the ILO, OECD participation."

*******

BA HAVE 'CRIED WOLF' TOO OFTEN

16 Aug 2004

With only days to go before the declaration of the strike vote for
over eight thousand British Airways ground services staff plus check-
in, sales and admin staff, the largest trade union involved, the T&G,
stepped up the pressure for a negotiated settlement. Brendan Gold,
the T&G national secretary for civil aviation revealed new figures,
mainly from BA's own accounts, which demonstrated that the demands
for wage restraint have already been delivered and that the cost of
settling the dispute will be only £10m a year. Government figures,
also based on BA accounts, also showed that the effects of the
workforce tightening its collective belt meant that the company had
profited from its employees at nearly twice the rate of inflation.

Writing in "BA News" the company say the unions' claim, which BA says
is the equivalent of 14.5%, will cost £72m over three years. Based
on this the T&G calculates the BA offer of 8.5% to be an extra cost
of £42 which means the difference is just £30m or £10m a
year. The union believes BA will have already lost this sum through
lost bookings because they have failed to settle the dispute.

The company has continued to grow in face of global competition, the
post 9/11impacts on travel, the war in Iraq and the Sars epidemic. A
review of BA's 2004 first quarter results showed:

° Operating margins at 7.8% are the highest since 1997

° Net debt down £334m to £3.8 billion which is the lowest
since 1997

° Passenger capacity in available seat kilometres increased by
3.4% and revenue passenger kilometers were up 7.9%

° Cargo volumes in cargo tonne kilometres were up 15.1% and
overall load factors went up by 2.3 points to 69.2%

The other key findings from the T&G research showed:

° Average wages and salaries of BA staff have increased by 4.1%
between 2001 and 2004 whilst inflation (taken as the Retail Price
Index) has increased by 7.3% over the same period

° Profits have grown by over 50% between 2001 and 2004

° Employee costs at BA have fallen by 11.3% between 2001 and 2004

° The wealth created per employee (known as 'Value Added) has
risen by over £7,000 from £50,400 in 2001 to £57,600 in 2004
(Source: DTI Value Added Scoreboard 2004)

° Early figures for 2004-05 show total passenger numbers growing
at a faster rate than the previous two years.

"These figures show what our members know in plain terms that they
have delivered for BA," said Mr. Gold. "Profits are up, employee
costs are down and will continue to fall as our people accept and
adapt to new situations. Their contribution must be recognised."

"I think the board should think very carefully now because they have
cried wolf once too often," added Mr. Gold. "In the last few days of
the ballot, the board should put some new money on table. They can
afford it. Our members know it and now the travelling public know it."

*******

THE BOLIVARIAN PROGRAMME

A few weeks ago in Caracas I had a lengthy discussion with Chavez
ranging from Iraq to the most detailed minutiae of Venezuelan history
and politics and the Bolivarian programme. It became clear to me that
what Chavez is attempting is nothing more or less than the creation
of a radical, social-democracy in Venezuela that seeks to empower the
lowest strata of society. In these times of deregulation,
privatisation and the Anglo-Saxon model of wealth subsuming politics,
Chavez' aims are regarded as revolutionary, even though the measures
proposed are no different to those of the post-war Attlee government
in Britain. Some of the oil-wealth is being spent to educate and heal
the poor ... When I asked Chavez to explain his own philosophy, he
replied: 'I don't believe in the dogmatic postulates of Marxist
revolution. I don't accept that we are living in a period of
proletarian revolutions. All that must be revised. Reality is telling
us that every day. Are we aiming in Venezuela today for the abolition
of private property or a classless society? I don't think so. But
if I'm told that because of that reality you can't do anything to
help the poor, the people who have made this country rich through
their labour and never forget that some of it was slave labour, then
I say 'We part company'. I will never accept that there can be no
redistribution of wealth in society. Our upper classes don't even
like paying taxes. That's one reason they hate me. We said 'You must
pay your taxes'. I believe it's better to die in battle, rather than
hold aloft a very revolutionary and very pure banner, and do
nothing ... That position often strikes me as very convenient, a good
excuse ... Try and make your revolution, go into combat, advance a
little, even if it's only a millimetre, in the right direction,
instead of dreaming about utopias.' And that's why he won.

By Tariq Ali
http://www.counterpunch.org/tariq08162004.html

*******

WHAT'S ON

*

Wednesday 18th August
Belfast, North of Ireland

SOUTH BELFAST ANTI RACISM NETWORK

PLANNING MEETING

WEDNESDAY 18th AUGUST -- 7.30pm at ONE WORLD CENTRE IN LOWER CRESCENT

There will be a meeting of the South Belfast Anti-Racist Network in
the 1 World Centre, this Wednesday @ 7.30pm.

This will be an extremely important meeting for all of us living in
South Belfast who want to spread the impact of the ARN into local
areas. Given the number of racist attacks in our area and that the
Somasundran family live in the locality, the need for an active,
visible group is extremely necessary,

*

Sunday 22nd of August 2004 in Derry City

National Hunger Strike Commemoration March and Rally to City Cemetery

Gather in Rosemount at the Village Inn for 2.00pm

*

Friday 27th August

Belfast Calling Palestine: A Benefit Gig in Aid of Palestinian
Children

In THE RED DEVIL BAR, FALLS ROAD, BELFAST

Organised by the Collective of Musicians of Belfast Organisation

*

16th DESMOND GREAVES SUMMER SCHOOL

Friday-Sunday, 27-29 August 2004.

Irish Labour History Museum, Beggars Bush, Haddington Rd., Dublin 4

Friday 27 August

7.30pm: "An Analysis of the proposed Constitution for Europe" by
Anthony Coughlan, Secretary, The National Platform EU Research and
Information Centre; Chair: Patricia McKenna, former Green Party MEP

Saturday 28 August

2.30 pm: "Irish Capitalism -- Loyal to Whom?" Mick O'Reilly, ATGWU
official, will examine developments in the South and Dr Alan Harper,
Department of Sociology, Queen's University Belfast, will examine
developments in the North of Ireland; Chair: Damien Kiberd,
broadcaster and former editor, Sunday Business Post

EVENING SOCIAL from 8 p.m. onward at the home of Helga and Cathal
MacLiam, 24 Belgrave Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Sunday 29 August 29

11.00 am: "Coalitions -- the Way Forward for Progressive Politics in
Ireland?" by Roger Cole, Chair of PANA and member of the
Administrative Council of the Labour Party; Chair: Seamus O'Tuathail
SC

2.30 pm: Forum on "Power Politics and the EU"; "The EU as a Global
Power" by Dr Andy Storey, School of Development Studies UCD and
council member of Afri-Action from Ireland; "Democracy in the EU" by
Cllr. Deirdre De Burca, Irish Green Party; Chair: Aengus O'Snodaigh
TD, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Foreign Affairs.

*******

NO RETREAT

The Secret war between Britain's Anti-Fascists and the Far-Right.

New book by Dave Hann and Steve Tilzey

For nearly 20 years a secret war has been waged between Britain's
anti-fascists and the extreme far-right. A war fought not with
placards and leaflets, but with boots, bottles and iron bars. For the
first time ever, two leading participants in that struggle tell the
extra-ordinary tale of the militant anti-fascist members of the
Squads and AFA's Stewards Group.

Published by Milo Books. 304pp. Price £7.99. Available on 1st
November 2003.

ISBN 1 903854 22 9

Available from Waterstones, Dillons, and many independent booksellers.

Can also be ordered on-line from http://www.turnaround-psl.com/ --
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ -- http://www.amazon.de/ --
http://www.amazon.co.jp/ or http://www.bookmarks.uk.com/ as well as
many other on-line booksellers.

*******

Please feel free to comment on the contents of The Plough. We welcome
political comments and criticisms.

If you know of anybody who might wish to receive The Plough please
send his or her e-mail address to johnmartinps@eircom.net.

If you wish to receive back copies of the The Plough please e-mail
to johnmartinps@eircom.net stating which numbers you wish.

To unsubscribe to The Plough please send e-mail
entitled "unsubscribe" to johnmartinps@eircom.net.

It is the policy of The Plough to acknowledge information and
articles from other sources.

Subscribe to the bi-monthly
"The Starry Plough/An Camchéachta"
P.O. Box 1981, Derry, BT48 8GX, Ireland.
THE VOICE OF REPUBLICAN SOCIALISM!
Email: starry_plough@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.irsm.org/irsp/starryplough/

Fighting Fund/Donations
To: The Starry Plough
First Trust Bank, Derry, BT48 6BU
Account No. 14986015 Sort Code No. 93-86-10

http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html (Pairtí Poblachtach Sóisialach na
h-Éireann)
http://www.wageslave.org/jcs/ (James Connolly Society)
http://www.marxists.org/archive/connolly/ (James Connolly Archive)

The Republican Socialist Forum from Derry IRSP
http://rsmforum.proboards23.com/

Republican Socialist Online Merchandise - A website that offers a
central place to go on the Internet to find good quality items with a
distinct Republican Socialist theme. Proceeds from sales from this
effort go towards the IRSM and its various projects.
http://www.angelfire.com/folk/irishshop/

Teach Na Failte Memorial Committees - A new 2004 full colour glossy
calendar is available now on the RSM online shop. It celebrates the
brilliant work undertaken by the Teach Na Failte Memorial Committees
this past year throughout the six counties with full colour
photographs on each page. This calendar can be viewed online by
clicking the link below.
http://www.cafeshops.com/rsmshop.8844526

*

Support the IRSP

Standing Order Form

To the Manager First Trust Bank, Andersonstown.

Please pay First Trust Bank Andersonstown Branch, Belfast, and credit
to Irish Republican Socialist Party, A/C Number 70490021, Branch Code
93-84-75

The sum of:
Amount in words:

Commencing date: and thereafter every month till further notice.

And debiting A/C number:

Name (Please print clearly):
Date:

Address:


Signature:

Tuesday 10 August 2004

The Plough Vol 01 No 51

The Plough #51
10 August 2004

E-Mail Newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party

1. The Republic of James Connolly
2. Impressions of a Revolution
3. Anti-War Court Case-Solidarity for Comrades
4. Anti-Racist Network
5. Police Ombudsman's Report -- 'A Whitewash'
6. Freedom to the Six Basque Nationalists Imprisoned in Mexico!
7. Colombia: Super Urgent Action
8. What's On

*******

THE REPUBLIC OF JAMES CONNOLLY

Speech for the Kevin Lynch Commemoration, Dungiven, delivered by
Gerard Murray on Sunday, 1 August 2004

Struggles take many forms and the republican struggle in Ireland has
taken many forms. Armed struggle against British imperialism, street
protests, riots, hunger strikes, pickets all have been weapons in the
armoury of republicans. The sacrifice of Kevin and his comrades and
their use of the hunger strike was on the immediate issue of
political status. The refusal since the republican struggle began in
the 1790s of Irish republicans to accept criminalisation is absolute.
Nobody, especially not an administration of Brits, whose hands are
covered with the blood of thousands of innocent Iraqis, has the right
to call republicans, who oppose their claim to rule this island,
criminals. We are not and we never have been terrorists. Kevin and
his comrades were never terrorists. They were freedom fighters,
patriots and anti-imperialists.

Today as we salute the memory of Kevin Lynch, hunger striker and
political prisoner, it would be remiss of us not to express our full
solidarity with current republican political prisoners in Maghaberry
and re-iterate our call for the immediate release of Dessie O'Hare
and the other qualifying republican prisoners under the terms of the
Good Friday Agreement. We make no distinction between different
republican groupings when it comes to solidarity with republican
prisoners. Do not forget there would be no republican prisoners in
gaols if there were a final settlement to the national question. And
so long as the national question is unsettled then so will there be
republicans who will wage a struggle to establish a republic on the
island for all the people of the island.

It has been a learning experience for many of us as we watch how the
Brits were able to transfer that same national question down to the
level of "divided communities." We have had recently various
spokespersons for the great and the good reduce the problems here in
the North to the levels of flag and parades disputes. This is now
called a community problem. In recent weeks statements from a wide
range of bodies including statements from two PSNI-RUC spokesmen
claimed that the communities could only resolve the issues. The
implication of this is that the "two communities" can sit down and
resolve the problem while the state bodies act in a mediating role!

Let me run that by you again. The state bodies act in a mediating
role.

Ah, yes, now I see it --­ the paratroopers in Ardoyne on July
l2th, 2004 were mediating -- just like they did on Bloody Sunday,
1972. And, yes, the Parades Commission made two rulings that the
mediating RUC -- oops, sorry, PSNI -- overruled in order to allow
loyalists to trample the croppies back into the ground in Ardoyne and
Lurgan. And, oh, did you not realise that the British state is
neutral between the two communities and only want to help us get
together and be nice neighbours!! Really those Catholics and refugees
who are being petrol bombed and pipe bombed from their homes
by "decent loyalists" will really have to be nicer to their
neighbours and do nothing to offend them -- like being different.
Blame is allocated equally by the great and the good. We are all to
blame and those who claim jurisdiction over us really have our best
interests at heart.

But we know different. The reality is that sectarian elements in
unionism want to lord it over nationalists. It is a case of "croppy
lie down". They are aided and abetted in this by a range of state
bodies including the NIO, the police force, the prison service and
the intelligence agencies. Many employees of state bodies acquiesce
in sectarian attitudes and actions. The theft of security documents
by RIR soldiers from Castlereagh and the subsequent handing over of
them to the UDA shows the continuing close contact between armed
loyalism and the British military.

Six years after the Good Friday Agreement, in terms of troop levels
and collaboration, nothing has really changed. The Independent
Monitoring Commission has highlighted the ongoing high number of
British soldiers stationed in the North.

In a report on British demilitarisation, the commission said troop
levels in the North were at just under 15,000. This is larger than
the number of British troops in Iraq.

This number was supposed to be reduced to 5,000 as part of Britain's
commitments under the Good Friday Agreement.

Six years on from the so-called historic Good Friday Agreement we do
not have justice, democracy or freedom. We have a biased police
force, a bigoted prison service, and an arrogant bevy of British
overlords making decisions for us, no democratic assembly and naked
sectarian hatred given free range every July. Unionism simply does
not recognise the right of people in the North to be either
republicans or nationalists. Like the Bourbon Kings of France they
have learnt nothing!! July 2004 confirms that the state of Northern
Ireland is in essence still a cold house for nationalists.

It is very important for us as republicans not to fall into the trap
posed by the misuse of language. We all have seen how the spin
doctoring of the Blair government in Britain has turned language
around so that the truth becomes lies and lies become the truth. The
armed occupation of a foreign country becomes its liberation.

We reject the notion that there are two separate divided communities.
There are not two communities -- instead we have a divided working
class who clash in deprived areas. And while elements of that self
same working class clash particularly in July those who benefit from
the sectarian clashes jet off to sunnier climates tut-tutting about
the fighting going on amongst the lower classes.

Was it for this that men and women sacrificed the best years of their
lives in struggle, in prison, in exile and for many in death? Was it
for this that the hunger strikers died? Surely it is legitimate to
ask hard questions? Is it not time to call a halt to the endless
round of talks about talks about talks?

Don't misunderstand what we are saying. We republican socialists are
in favour of dialogue. We emphatically state that armed struggle is
not the way forward. To go down that road at this time is to go down
the road to nowhere. It is not an option. Armed struggle today is
emphatically not the road that leads to the Republic.

Yes, dialogue is possible but there can be no more pussyfooting
around. If there are those who refuse to talk to any section of
republicanism or nationalism then it should be clearly understood
that republicans can and will withhold their consent to the running
of the six county state. And we believe it should be clearly
understood that from the republican perspective any arrangement that
is internal is temporary, transient and transparent. Surely it is
time for republicans, socialists, radicals and anyone else who cares
to come together and say loud and clear -- the Good Friday Agreement
has not worked, does not work, is unlikely to work in the future.
Northern Ireland as a political entity does not work. There is no
permanent solution possible that envisages the continued existence of
the sectarian six county state.

Our whole history of struggle, our experiences of fighting the Brits,
of living under the thumb of reactionary unionism, of enduring
prisons, hunger strikes, brutality and sectarian hatred has steeled
into our souls the unbreakable belief that the only solution to our
problems is the establishing of a Republic that the workers, that is
the vast majority of the people of Ireland, Catholic, Protestant,
Dissenter and refugee, control.

At the end of the day the only class republicans can rely on is not
that class that sucks you in and then sells you out but the Irish
working class, the incorruptible inheritors of the fight for freedom.
In perpetuating and honouring the name of Kevin Lynch, hunger
striker, soldier, socialist, we reaffirm our commitment to the
Republic of James Connolly.

*******

IMPRESSIONS OF A REVOLUTION
By Heiko Khoo ­from The Hands off Venezuela Campaign

Caracas is a place where people have woken up. Revolution is part of
everyday vocabulary, not in the sense of the dead phraseology of the
former Stalinist states where the very word was designed to send
people to sleep, but in the genuine meaning. Everywhere, amongst
street vendors of cheap jeans and magic herbal potions, you also find
a vendor selling laws. The Law on Armed Forces, the Law on
Intoxicating Substances, the Law on the Rights of Women and Children,
and dozens of others. These law pamphlets are not for the consumption
of students at the law faculty but for the poor. Not so the poor can
to read the laws to become lawyers, but to know how to exercise their
rights according to 'their laws'. The masses feel that politics,
government and the state belong and should belong, to them. Further
along you find a vendor selling pirate DVD's of US films and
pornography, amongst the films Fahrenheit 9-11 and The Revolution
Will not be Televised are given pride of place. A vendor selling
posters has half his stall decked out in posters of supporting Chavez
and the revolution. When I asked their price he says they are not for
sale. A T-shirt saleswoman shows her Che and Chavez shirts, but also
has opposition ones, I ask 'what this?' She says they're for
the 'squalid ones' as the opposition are known. Two men digging
through piles of stinking bin bags in search of something of value
stand upright and I see they are wearing Chavez Will Not Go T shirts.
We stop and talk to older men and women in the Plaza Bolivar. On
hearing we are supporters of the revolution from Europe we are
welcomed as comrades with warmth, there is no hostility. They seek to
know our views and give back with power their own views. The more
radical the speaker the more the audience approves breaking into
applause as the crowd around listens intently. Here on the street the
phraseology is more direct and the overthrow of 'the capitalists' is
more readily spoken of than in intellectual circles. A cavalcade of
motorbikes takes off to defend and strengthen the resolve of the
masses by their hooting and flag waving. A man stands behind a
microphone 25 meters further on warning that after the 15th the day
of the referendum, 'we must deal with the traitors in red berets'. He
is referring to the enemies of the revolution who are seeking a
compromise with the opposition, with capitalism. He is referring to
those who are corrupt within the revolution, the bureaucrats and
careerists.

Young teachers at the Bolivarian University tell me later that night
that this man, I assume they mean him by their description, is 'more
chavista than Chavez', they appreciate his determination.

At the Simon Rodrigez Experimental University, deep inside the
impoverished district of El Valle, a crèche full of children and
children's' party are noisily taking place, upstairs the local Ali
Primera Radio station is broadcasting in FM as the forum, voice and
self-organised entertainment channel of the community. On the
stairway, a group of twenty or so local activists for the NO vote
gather and discuss and plan their action, in another room the
Marxists are meeting, next door a room full of beds for those needing
rest, this building is a revolutionary centre, organisational,
cultural, political and social. There is to my knowledge not a single
building in all Europe used like this, this despite decades of
attempts to create 'alternative spaces' by the left, sometimes with
significant funds behind such projects!

The dynamism and creativity of revolution sweeps aside petty
bureaucratic formalism and impels the masses to participate. In a
nearby restaurant, well a room that passes as one, we are served food
and beer. Meeting me on the street afterwards the owner asks, why and
for whom I am filming, when I explain for Hands Off Venezuela a look
of great pride exudes from his face, I see him return to his open
door and shout out 'Viva la Revolution!' to his family inside.

At the experimental Bolivarian University symbolically located in the
former HQ building of the Petrol Company PDVSA, our guide Victoria
welcomes us as comrades, no suspicion or distrust. The professors
expound their thoughts and ideas and welcome ours. They are
more 'Bolivarian,' in the sense of believing in a theory of
encircling capital and its institutions rather than directly
attacking it. This does not at all mean they do not listen to and
discuss Marxist ideas, 'Chavez has said Marxism is an important
source of inspiration' they inform us, and at no stage do you feel
they have any barrier against you expounding and propagating your
views. One director who spoke more specifically of the 'Venezuelan
road', its 'uniqueness' and so on, welcomes us distributing Marxist
literature inside a prestigious event where the minister for higher
education was speaking. There is open an honest and open exchange of
ideas, what a relief after seeing movements in Britain from the
Labour Party to the Stop the War Coalition constantly react in a knee
jerk fashion to any serious criticism of their policies, strategy and
tactics, as if they have to repress opposition and alternative
viewpoints.

At a rally of the Commando Maisanta Electoral Platoons of Caracas,
the bureaucratic tendency has a stronger hand; some ten thousand
activists pack the hall. A certain former police officer by the name
of Freddy Bernal, who is now the mayor of Caracas Libertador Council,
takes the microphone. He rallies the troops with chants and slogans
and then asks for each district patrol to stand up, which they do
almost in Mexican wave style. But then our friend Freddy warns that
when Chavez arrives to address them, he may want to know details
about how the campaign is being run in each area. So Freddy Bernal
calls up representatives to interrogate them and gets them to parrot
out his requested facts and figures about their local area commando.
A week or two before, someone on 'Alo President' castigated the local
organisation of the Commando, Chavez railed against the bureaucrats
responsible. Mr. Bernal's concerns appeared to emanate from a fear
for his own position more than the efficiency and success of the
situation on the ground. Bernal then called on each district to rise
to their feet and then for the leaders of each district to remain
standing, the 23rd January District rebelled, chanting 'We Are All
Maisanta', a chant which within seconds rung around the auditorium
from ten thousand voices. Freddy Bernal's face was visibly shaken,
and he was forced to desist from interrogating and demagogically
commanding. Chavez as it turned out did not request any such
information anyway, so Mr. Bernal was saved the public humiliation he
feared...for now.

*******

ANTI WAR COURT CASE-SOLIDARITY FOR COMRADES

Just a reminder about the anti-war trial on Thursday morning, 10.00
at Laganside, Belfast, N.I. We need to support the five charged as
they feel because it has gone on so long they have been forgotten.
They are Catherine Ross, Colette Dornan, Tomas Gorman, Padraig O
Connor and Darren Malone.

*******

ANTI-RACIST NETWORK

The first ever LMHR-ARN gig was held in the Empire Music Hall in
South Belfast last week and was a case of standing room to the back
door. Many attended from the Network, representatives from minority
ethnic organisations such as the African cultural and Chinese Welfare
association. Human rights activists and human rights organisations
from Amnesty International to the Equality commission, attended as
well as rank and file trade union representatives from NIPSA to
Unison, various grassroots community, women's and gay rights
campaigners also attended. Many people who came along to hear the
bands and to lend solidarity to the cause also joined grassroots
environmental, anti-war, anti globalisation, community, solidarity,
and campaign activists. So a broad collection of organisations and
individuals lend support, with many people joining up to the network.
A good night and thanks for all who came to lend support for the
fundraiser.

The ARN will seek to hold a meeting in the near future to bring all
the various contacts that we have to date met, and who have held gigs
with us, and in solidarity for us. This as so to plan further gigs
around different towns and cities, similar to the ARN hosting
meetings in Sept to establish new groups of activists for the
network.

PS -- At the end of the month the ARN logo shall be voted on {via the
whole network} so again if persons want to put their ideas forward
for the logo that will eventually go on the badges, caps tee-shirts,
placards, art, and of course our ARN local and Central banners then
send your designs to the network.

D. Carlin -­ ARN

*******

POLICE OMBUDSMAN'S REPORT - 'A WHITEWASH'

Media revelations that the Police Ombudsman report is to clear police
of malpractice regarding the case of Dungannon man Noel Abernethy,
leads the 32 County Sovereignty Movement to conclude that the report
itself is a whitewash. Mr. Abernethy was acquitted last September of
attempted murder arising out of a gun attack on the RUC in
Draperstown in 2001. At his trial it was revealed that the police
investigating the case had routinely ignored forensic procedures and
incorrectly presented Mr. Abernethy's clothes to the forensic science
laboratory to be tested for gun residue.

Dr Anne Irwin, a senior forensic scientist told the court that the
police pressed her to test the clothes for forensics even thought she
had told them she could not. It was also revealed to the court the no
less than five police personnel of varying degrees of seniority
subsequently contacted Dr Irwin pressing for clothes to be examined.

In acquitting Noel Abernethy Judge Nicholson spoke of his concern
about the RUC/PSNI's requests.

The report by the Ombudsman cannot by any stretch of the imagination
claim to be impartial given that the ombudsman's office did not
contact Mr. Abernethy, his legal team nor, we assume Dr Irwin. Indeed
the ombudsman has to answer the question, is it or is it not wrong to
pressure the Independent Forensic Science Laboratory to ignore
procedure in order to secure a conviction or is the ombudsman
accusing Dr Irwin of perjury given that she testified in court that
this is exactly what happened. Mr. Abernethy was held by the RUC for
five days, an extension to his detention being granted when a senior
police officer lied to the court saying that machinery in the
Forensic science laboratory was defective. He then was remanded in
custody for a number of months in Maghaberry Gaol and following that
had his trial played out in public through the media. Now to add
insult to injury the ombudsman's office have cleared the police of
any wrongdoing and have not the courtesy to consult Mr. Abernethy nor
his legal team nor indeed do they have no plans to furnish them with
a copy of the report!!!

The message that this episode sends to the RUC/PSNI is clear, that it
is OK to ignore procedure and set up innocent people as long as you
don't get caught, and if you do get caught there are no consequences.
The message that this sends out to the nationalist community is
equally clear, that the ombudsman's office is just another British
state agency that exists, like the policing board, to vindicate and
lend credence the political police in the north. At its inception the
Police ombudsman was sold as an agency that would investigate and
uncover police malpractice it is clear that its real role is to
conceal or justify policing malpractice. The 32 County Sovereignty
Movement reiterate our demands for an independent, impartial non-
British inquiry into the internal workings, malpractice and
corruption of the RUC/PSNI, it is clear that one state agency cannot
adequately investigate another and that the police ombudsman has the
same political motivations as the RUC/PSNI.

Message Ends.

PRESS RELEASE FROM 32 COUNTY SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT

*******

SOLIDARITY!!!

FREEDOM TO THE SIX BASQUE NATIONALISTS IMPRISONED IN MEXICO!

The Asociación Diáspora Vasca, nationalist collective with
presence in more that 20 countries, calls out to the international
community to sign a petition to free the Basque citizens Asier
Arronategi (Mexican by naturalization), Jon Artola, Axun Gorrotxategi,
Joseba Urkijo, Felix Garcia and Ernesto Alberdi, illegally detained
for over a year at the Reclusorio Norte in Mexico City. Pending
against them there is an extradition request to the Mexican Government
by the Spanish Audiencia Nacional, an institution heir to the Franco
era Tribunal de Orden Publico and used by the Spanish Government to
persecute Basque nationalism. The petition and all the signatures
will in turn be delivered to Mexican President Vicente Fox.
The case against this six Basque citizens, initiated as a result of a
political and law enforcement deal, is plagued with blatant
irregularities, among them, the manipulation of documents by the
Spanish Ambassador. If the extradition takes place and they are sent
to Spain, they would be in the hands of a state that, as indicated by
the UN's Committee Against Torture, Amnesty International and
numerous world-wide organizations, tortures the Basque prisoners both
physically and psychologically.

To the dignity of Mexico.

To the solidarity among nations.

Free the six Basque nationalist prisoners!

Sign the Petition:
http://www.6demexico.org/firmas/guestbook.php

*******

SUPER URGENT ACTION

Colombian Army executes three leaders in Arauca (Colombia)
Samuel Morales and Raquel Castro Detained

FACTS:

Humanidad Vigente Corporación Jurídica denounces and
energetically condemns the extrajudicial execution of HÉCTOR ALIRIO
MARTÍNEZ, LEONEL GOYENECHE and JORGE PRIETO at the hands of the
Colombian Army. These three historic leaders were under the protective
measures scheme of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.

Alirio Martínez was president of the National Peasants Association
ADUC-Asociación Nacional de Usuarios Campesinos, Leonel Goyeneche
was a member of the Executive Committee of United Confederation of
Colombian Workers-CUT Arauca and Jorge Prieto belonged to the
Executive Committee of the National Association of Hospital Workers-
ANTHOC and the CUT. The three leaders were assassinated in an
operation carried out this morning by the Revéis Pizarro Battalion
of the Colombian Army in the hamlet of Caño Seco, in Saravena
municipality.

SAMUEL MORALES, Presidente of the CUT in Arauca, and RAQUEL CASTRO, a
member Arauca Teachers Association –ASEDAR were both detained in
the same operation.

These leaders have been spokesmen for the araucana community in the
numerous mobilisations, marches, civil stoppages that have taken
place in the face of military and paramilitary action against the
population that has cost so many lives. At the same time they have
led the continual and effective protests against the violation of
human rights that took place in the bombing of the village of Santo
Domingo in 1998.

The initial versions by the Reveiz Pizarro Mechanised Group reported
that the operation had "put down" three people and captured three
others.

Later, a few hours afterwards, the National Army claimed that the
three leaders had attacked a military unit that was trying to rescue
a kidnap victim and so they gave a military response, and the
military claimed to have seized arms and munitions. They also
signaled that they had started an investigation of the murder.

We are enormously concerned by this account as well as the competency
of the military judicial jurisdiction to carry out the investigation,
given that there are already multiple cases in Colombia and
especially in Arauca, in which the military authorities manipulate
the evidence to hide their responsibility and put blame on the
victims.

WE ASK:

Because of the above, we ask that you send messages immediately to
the people listed below demanding that the Colombian Government
urgently forms a Verification Commission composed of government
officials and Human Rights NGOs that goes to Arauca on 6 August to
verify the facts and avoid tampering with evidence, and to guarantee
an effective investigation.

… Programa Presidencial de Derechos Humanos y de DIH
Dr. Carlos Franco
Calle 7 N° 5-54
TEL: (+571) 336.03.11
FAX: (+57 1) 337.46.67
E-mail: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co
E-mail: fibarra@presidencia.gov

… Ministerio de Defensa Nacional
Dr. Jorge Alberto Uribe
El Dorado con Carrera. 52 CAN,
Bogotá.
Tel. (57 1) 315 01 11
Fax: (+57 1)222.18.74
E-mail: siden@mindefensa.gov.co, infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co,
mdn@cable.net.co

… Procuraduría General de la Nación
Dr. Edgardo José Maya Villazón
Carrera 5 No. 15-80
Santa Fé de Bogotá.
Tel: (57 1) 352 00 76
Fax: (+57 1)342.97.23
E-mail: anticorrupcion@presidencia.gov.co

… Fiscalía General de la Nación
Dr. Luis Camilo Osorio
Diagonal 22 B No.52-01
Santa fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+571) 570 20 00
E-mail: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co; denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co

… Defensoría del Pueblo
Dr. Wolmar Pérez Ortiz.
Calle 55 No. 10-32
Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Tel: (57 1) 314 73 00
Fax: (+571) 640 04 91
E-mail: secretaria_privada@hotmail.com

… Presidencia de la República Dr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez,
Cra. 8 No.7-26,
Palacio de Nariño,

Bogotá.
Tel: (57 1) 562 93 00
Fax: (+57 1) 566.20.71
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co

UN Human Rights in Colombia

… Oficina en Colombia de la ONU (Derechos Humanos), delegación
Nororiente colombiano.
Dra. Karen Sherlock
Tel: (57-7) 643 38 81, 657 26 47.
Fax: 1-6293637

Bucaramanga

COLOMBIA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN ADDS:

Please also demand the immediate release of Samuel Morales and Raquel
Castro. In your message please express concern for their safety and
that they are not being tortured.

And, in the UK, send messages to:
Colombian Embassy (UK): mail@colombianembassy.co.uk
With a copy to the Colombia Solidarity Campaign at
colombia_sc@hotmail.com

*******

What's On

*

Saturday, 14 August

Strategies for Fighting Racism and Fascism in Ireland -- A Panel
Discussion

Venue: Pilot's Row Theatre, Derry @ 12 noon, Saturday 14th August

Speakers include: Dave Hann, Anti-Fascist Action Manchester, co-
Author of 'No Retreat' -- a first hand account of the success of
British anti-fascists in breaking up British fascism in the 70's,
80's and 90's Spokesperson for Anti Fascist Action, Ireland; Davy
Carlin, activist, WARN, West Belfast Anti-Racist Network; Roseanna
Flynn, Activist, RAR-Residents Against Racism, Dublin; Dr. Robbie
McVeigh, Activist, writer and researcher into racism and anti-racism
in Ireland. Also speakers from Fascists Out! North Antrim and the
Belfast Islamic Centre.

This event is hosted by the Pat Finucane Centre

ALSO

Unity Gig that night, featuring Cruncher "viva la quintal brigada"
O'Neill, Decky "Bin Lid" McLaughlin and Seanchai (Irish American hip
hop from New York).

c/o PO Box 3355
Dublin 7
Ireland

http://www.geocities.com/irishafa/

*******

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