Still breaking stone

A chairde,

Danny Morrison's review of Peter Taylor's 'Provos' has an "endgame" feeling. 'Provos' itself presents the republican struggle as history. Reports that Sinn Féin sees the Framework Document as the basis for a peace settlement heightens the endgame mood.

In an important restatement of principle (An Phoblacht 11 September), the IRA rejected the Mitchell principles which seek to disarm the struggle. The IRA placed any settlement in the context of British withdrawal and 32 County self-determination. Where the Framework Document and talks groundrules define the conflict as unionist against nationalist, the IRA reasserted the centrality of British rule.

There is no endgame mood here. Perhaps Danny Morrison has posed the wrong questions. He asks how can we win over sections of unionism, not how can republicanism win over those who support the SDLP and Leinster House parties? Such a question challenges the politics of alliance with constitutional nationalism.

Nor is the question of strategy a choice between armed struggle and constitutional politics. Alone, neither is sufficient. If the Framework Document is 'Sunningdale for slow learners', those who disagree with the peace strategy have learned nothing if they propose "re-running the film from December 1969". We don't: we try to learn from the mistakes of republican strategy past and present, in order to develop a republican politics and a strategy for republican objectives.

The Ireland Institute held its inaugural public meeting in Dublin in September. The contributions, virtually ignored by the media, offered a progressive framework for such a republican politics.

Thomas Keneally argued that republicanism is not merely a reaction to imperial occupation: ending occupation is not an end in itself, but a means to new political, social and economic arrangements. he warned against cultural, religious or national sectionalism: nationalism is not a republican organising principle. He advanced the human capacity for cooperation and community (the basis for republican socialism?) against competition, the market and capitalism which reduce the citizen to winner or loser in an economy.

Mary Cullen said that the United Irish societies sought to overthrow a system based on three major exclusions centred on class, sex and religion. They became convinced complete separation from England was necessary. Irish republicanism advocated separatism and social and political revolution, and regarded armed struggle as a tactic to be used if needed. The limitations of nationalism appeared when she noted that the progressive republicanism of the Democratic Programme was not implemented in the Irish Free State. She argued that the core values of republicanism, government by and for the people, must become the centre of debate.

Thomas Keneally quoted Yeats:

"Parnell came down the road, he said to a cheering man: Ireland shall get her freedom and you still break stone." The Sinn Féin delegates at Stormont should consider these words. Is Ireland to be denied freedom too?

'No other law',
Dublin.

Process belongs to us all

A chairde,

It seems fairly obvious that there are still some elements both inside and outside this country that are trying to wreck the current Peace Process. The people of Ireland have got to be on their guard to ensure that the peace talks move on and develop. There are "dark rumblings" on all sides that a fifth column is active in attempting to destroy the talks. When you hear rumours about "high profile assassinations" it's time the people grab hold of their process. Remember the Peace Process belongs to us all.

The vast majority of people on this island want to see inclusive negotiations and a democratic peace settlement. The cynics and begrudgers are out there. Look at the current situation in the Middle East. It's a time for cool heads and decisive leadership.

Finian McGrath,
Dublin 9.

Sligo Saoirse

A chairde,

In Sligo/Leitrim efforts are being made to re-vamp and re-organise a Saoirse campaign for the repatriation of Irish POWs in England and the ultimate release of all Republican POWs. To date initial meetings have been held in both Sligo Town and Ballinamore in County Leitrim. Sligo Saoirse launched its campaign in September with a public meeting addressed by Edel Kelly, wife of remand prisoner Patrick Kelly, who is held under very stringent conditions in the SSU in Belmarsh. The next meeting takes place in the Silver Swan Hotel in Sligo on Thursday 9 October at 8.30pm. Members of the public are invited to attend.

The Leitrim branch of Saoirse launches its campaign with a public meeting to be addressed by relatives of political prisoners, including Edel Kelly. The meeting takes place on Wednesday15 October in the Sliabh an Iarainn Hotel, Ballinamore, at 9pm. All are welcome.

The plight of the prisoners in England is causing great concern because of their isolation and the vindictive nature of the British prison regime, which, experience has taught us, only deteriorates during a cessation of armed struggle.

It is essential that all republicans sense the urgency of the present situation and turn out in support of the prisoners, some of whom are entering their 23rd year of imprisonment in England. Of particular concern is the plight of the lifers in Long Kesh and the Forty Year men in Portlaoise. The least that we can do during this period of cessation is work for their repatriation and release.

Ensure that you give your support by attending the next meeting, your presence would be appreciated.

Corinna Ní Chárthaigh (Sligo),
Owen Carron (Leitrim).

Criminal transferred

A chairde,

I am writing to express my outrage at the decision to repatriate a loyalist criminal from Scotland to Ireland at the behest of the PUP, while Volunteers of the Irish Republican Army, guilty of no crime, are rotting in British jails, prisoners of a war that isn't.

The decision announced on Friday in a statement by Mo Mowlam to repatriate the convicted loyalist murderer Jason Campbell serves only to highlight the unremitting double standards of the British government.

Campbell, a Rangers fan, was jailed for life for the 1995 slaying of a 16 year old Celtic supporter in broad daylight outside a Glasgow pub.

His actions, that of a drunken football hooligan propelled by sectarian hatred, cannot, even in the twisted world of the British judicial system be construed as a political offence. Yet, as a concession by a politician, to a political party, during a political process, the British government have chosen to repatriate a criminal.

This latest insult by the British government is exacerbated by the legitimate foreboding that the only change this cessation will bring to the real political prisoners, Irish Republicans in British jails, is a deterioration of conditions and further deprivation of basic human rights as was the response of the British government to the 1994 cessation.

A 1981 quote from Margaret Thatcher springs to mind, "Crime is crime is crime: it is not political." In the case of Jason Campbell, I must admit I agree with the woman.

David McDonnell,
Sligo.

Aim is unity

A chairde,

It was suggested by Nick Martin-Clarke (An Phoblacht 11 September) that Republicans should aim, if they cannot get a United Ireland by next Spring, for Unionists and Nationalists in the Six Counties to opt to become two separate sovereign peoples. 'Britain and Ireland would waive claims to territorial sovereignty and assert instead their sovereignty over those people in Northern Ireland who identify as British and Irish respectively'.

This I think would be unworkable and divisive. The territory of Northern Ireland belongs to all the people of Ireland. Why should the people of the 26 Counties be asked to waive claim over their own country? Instead of creating a cohesive society, Nick's scenario would exacerbate the divisions already present in the Six Counties and divide the people even further. What Northern Ireland needs is a new, all-Irish cohesive approach (with no British interference). It needs new structures that create, sustain and develop an equal, just, united, one people, one nation society. Surely the task of Republicans is to unite the Irish people, not separate them.

L.M. Watson,
England.