Labour and Drumcree

A Chairde,

The decision in 1996 to force the Orange march through Drumcree was a potent illustration of the basis of Unionist power in the Six County statelet and the British support for it. Several days of threats, and some quite explicit violence including indiscriminate murder soon broke the expressed resolve of the Major administration. In complete blindness to the lessons of history the analysis was given that this was the expected reaction of a weak government reliant on unionist support in Westminster. The tacit lesson being that if only there were a strong government then only would the nationalist people be treated with dignity and respect but real negotiations would take place to resolve the causes of the war in Ireland.

So along comes Blair the new broom with this 180 seat majority. Never mind that the history of Labour with respect to Ireland is an ignominious one, never mind the bipartisan support for every piece of Tory repression, never mind the rhetoric of Blair when he said he would never see unification. Never mind all of that, we were expected to accept that the ``new' administration would turn its back on its own history and that we could take with them, reach an agreement and resolve the conflict.

The few short weeks of the new administration have exposed the truth. Just as Major sought and required our surrender so too does Blair.

Drumcree in 1997 is a potent illustration of that. Blair and Mowlam prevaricating every day in the run up to the 6th of July was enough to show which way the decision would ultimately be made. As it was. Nationalist people again corralled into their ghettos, imprisoned in their own homes to enable the unionists to again parade their power and indulge their triumphalism at our expense. Nationalist people yet again exposed to the complete contempt that the British state and its Orange allies have for us. Mowlam and Flanagan bleating that it was the lesser of two evils and they chose to surrender to the threats of violence by the loyalist murder gangs.

This the reality that we need to face, the British state has no ability, no desire, no willingness, and no intention fo recognising the rights and aspirations of the Irish people int the ace of explicit threats from eh Loyalist paramilitaries. They have no concept of peace, equating peace with an absence of overt violence. To them the Six Counties was peaceful until the advent of the Civil Rights protests more than a quarter of a century ago when the people rose and said ``no more''. The Brits hark back to those days and would have the Irish people return to them if they could - if we would. How long more do they expect our political representatives to traipse up to their table only to be denied even the crumbs from it?

The lies that the Brits have no selfish interest in Ireland and are merely disinterested facilitators of conflict resolution is exposed to the world. On Sunday 6 July Blair and Mowlam declared their intention to pursue that conflict.

Patrick Hayes,
Frankland Prison,
Finchale Avenue,
Brasside,
Durham,
DH1 9ND,
England.

Save the Croppies' Acre

A Chairde,

It is with no surprise I read the letter of Aengus O'Snodaigh in An Phoblacht 17 July 1997 relating to the Croppies' Acre.

The National Grave Association have had a number of detailed discussions with a lot of groups on this matter.

In September of 1995 this matter was raised by the Secretary of the NGA at a meeting which Avril Doyle (former Minister of State) was preset. It was raised again in February of 1996 through a letter in the Irish Tines. A reply of sort assured the National Graves that there were plans for the Croppies `Acre. Are these the plans? A bus park!

The National Graves are asking all interested in saving the Croppie Acre to attend a meeting n the teachers Club Parnell Square on Saturday 26 July `97 at 2.30pm. The National Graves is not affiliated to any political party. All are welcome.

Matt Doyle,
National Graves Association,
74 Dame Street,
Dublin 2.

Croppie's Acre desecration

A Chairde,

The condition of the Croppies' Acre is even more disgraceful than depicted in An Phoblacht (17 Iúil). In fact, it is quite some time since the site has been a soccer pitch although the goalposts can still be seen jutting out of the overgrowth. While the Free State army was in possession the grass was cut regularly and the field was kept relatively neat. Since the ``Acre'' (the esplanade of Collins Barracks) has fallen in the hands of the Office of Public Works it has been allowed to grow wild.

Some ten years ago the soldiers of the Eastern Command erected a memorial (magnificent in its simplicity) out of their own pockets. Otherwise there would be no physical marker on the site.

It is worth recalling that the term ``croppy'' arose from the fashion of men having their hair cut short in the style favoured by Parisian democrats at the time of the French Revolution. The hairstyle was a dead give-away as to the republican sympathies of the wearer.

It should also be remembered that it was in Collins Barracks - then the Royal Barracks - that Wolfe Tone died. One hopes that the National Museum will give appropriate recognition to that fact int heir new enterprise.

Colm de Faoite,
Sráid Essex Thoir,
Baile Atha Cliath 2.

British gameplan

A Chairde,

Relief should not blind us to reality. The Orange order blinked on the edge of chaos. It made a tactical retreat and as a result there are divisions within its ranks. That's a gain, but neither the Loyal orders nor the British have conceded anything in principle.

Patrick Mayhew spelt out British policy after Drumcree II and that policy was confirmed in the ``game plan'' for Drumcree III. There was no question of opposing sectarianism. What the British hard promised to do and what they would do was try to talk the Loyalists around. That's what they did at Harryville. That what's they did at Drumcree III. That's what they did prior to the 12th. With a mass nationalist revolt on the cards they finally got the Orange leaders to blink.

Sow what we have is a process controlled by a government that has rule doubt in the harshest terms any consideration of a united Ireland and has also made clear that any reform needs the co-operation of the Trimbles and Saulters of this world. That means that the long-term outcome of ar review of parades is likely to e the institutionalism of sectarianism. On the broader political front it means a peace process that can only end in the same way.

The peace process and the nationalist family proved useless in the run-up to Drumcree. The only thing that prevented complete disaster was Sinn Féin breaking in action from that family and calling for mass action on the streets.

We need a strong united 32 Country action against sectarianism. Local committees are too weak and give weight to reactionary forces such as those in the Catholic church and other members of an imaginary nationalist family.

As socialists we specifically call on a silent trade union movement and on Irish working-class organisations to condemn the concept of ``equality of the two traditions'' this is a barely disguised receipt for sectarianism built into the fabric of a new state. The only real alternative to sectarianism is an Irish workers movement united against Orange sectarianism and British sponsorship of that sectarianism.

John McAnulty,
For Socialist Democracy.

Plastic bullets must be banned

A Chairde,

It is horrifying that those who are supposed to rescue and protect its citizens can attack not only adults, but children. That the RUC can open fire with plastic bullets and deliberately shoot on groups of youngsters as witnessed in Belfast and Derry recently is beyond the pale. Are the RUC recruiting psychopaths or what? Is this violent sadistic behaviour the result of RUC training or the presence and influence of the British army?

With so many adults and children being seriously injured, maimed and killed by plastic bullets since they were introduced into the Six Counties, the British government has got to ban their use immediately.

I wonder what Princess Anne, Patron of `Save The Children' would think of her mother's police force in Northern Ireland firing on children? Her address is:- Save The Children, 17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RD.

KJ Coleman,
Manchester.

Field day for capital

A Chairde,

In the light of the high-jinks connected with the accounts held by some of the more privileged members of our society in the Cayman Islands, perhaps it is no harm to consider the world which is emerging for such people on every continent.

With the MAI (multilateral agreement on investment which is being negotiated between the 29 richest countries of the OECD within the framework of the World Trade Organisation) there will be absolute freedom for the movement of capital (including profits from drug-trafficking) on a global scale into all areas of any particular nation's life. The Globe and Mail of Toronto stated: ``No government will be able to require foreign companies to hire locally or comply with employment targets.'' (3/4/97). The Telegraph Journal of New Brunswick wrote: ``This treaty will do nothing less than legally elevate unaccountable vehicles of private capital to the statues of government.'' (30/4/97). The US Council for International Business which sponsors this treat wrote to US official on 21/3/97: ``The Multilateral Agreement on investment is an agreement by governments to protect international investors and their investments... We will oppose any and all measures to create or even imply binding obligations for governments or business related to environment or labour.''

Those who will benefit from this treaty envisage a world unimpeded by labour laws or the protection of ordinary citizens. The state as a protector of the weak, the poor, the unemployed or the sick in the form of social assistance or nationally-run health services will cease to exist. These will be delegated to the private and ``benevolent'' (NGO) sectors. Privatisation of alls state enterprises will be completed.

The prototype for all this has been tested in Africa where in a large number of countries there are now governments in name only, with the IMF and World Bank in effective control. These organisations with their Structural Adjustment Plans have turned the continent of Africa into a fiefdom of big-business to exploit is oil and other resources with the people less than an after-thought.

As Tacitus, the Roman writer, said of the Roman conquest of the Celts in Britain:

``To robbery, butcher, and rapine, they give the lying name of government they create desolation and call it peace.''

Peter Moore,
Dublin.