Friday May 30th 2008
Post: Seamus Costello House, 392 Falls Road, Belfast, BT7 6DH, Ireland
Phone: 028 90 321 024
e-mail: bulletin@irsm.org
In this issue:
1) Crip McWilliams
2) Teach Na Failte and Parades
3) Report from Sligo RSYM
4) Derry IRSP Press Release: Anti-community actions cause concern
5) Derry Hunger strike commemoration
6) Ending Hate Crime in the Community
7) The Plough
8) John Morris Commemoration
9) The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
10) Protest At Court
11) The Blanket
1. Crip McWilliams
Our thoughts are with our comrade Christopher (Crip)
McWilliams and his family as he battles a serious illness.
2. Teach Na Failte and Parades
Six members of the Republican Socialist Movement in their capacity as members of teach na Failte, attended a seminar organised by a Consortium of ex-political prisoners organisations on the theme of Parades. A presentation was made by Sean Murray who outlined the thinking behind the proposals made by the working body appointed by the British Government. A series of pointed questions were asked by the many participants from both republican and loyalist backgrounds and no doubt the IRSP will soon be making clear tour position on the proposals.
3. Report from Sligo Republican Socialist Youth Movement
Activity: A demonstration at a public and televised event (Eircom league of Ireland football game between Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers) to increase support for a “No” vote to the upcoming referendum on the Lisbon Treaty as well as increasing awareness of Sligo RSYM among the people of Sligo.
Political Analysis:
The display was an overwhelming success and it would be hard to imagine a better reception than that which it got. 5 people were involved in the display along with several flags such as the starry plough, communist flag, erin go bragh flag and the tri-colour flanking the main “No To Lisbon” banner. During the display a man walked all the way around the ground to personally shake our hands for the effort involved and to congratulate us. He commented on how the banner could be clearly seen from the main stand and said he was trying to make banners himself and the standard of ours were superb.
Unfortunately, the management committee of the club took exception to the banner due to its political nature saying a football club is not a political organisation and demanded it be taken down[The banner was already displayed for the whole first half of the game]. We flatly refused their demand as the club has previously endorsed a local Fine Gael councillor canvassing during a game in the run up to the last election and we felt this was very hypocritical.
It was during this episode that a group of local Sligo fans who we don’t know personally and were aged roughly 25-30 rallied around us, defending our demonstration. This was very heartening to see. The group backed us completely and insisted we bring this to the attention of the media in the form of a complaint, to highlight the bias present within the football club where members of certain political parties with an open cheque book can score political points through our local club but when working class youths attempt a peaceful and inoffensive demonstration, attempts are made to crush it. It was excellent and totally in the spirit of the demonstration that people from the community joined our side in protest against this treaty.
After the game the banner was brought to the side of the field so that all the people present could see it up close as they left the stadium. We were also well aware where the television cameras were placed as we had researched this and placed the banner in an area where it would get optimum exposure. Being a member of sporting forums on the internet myself I noticed the stir the demonstration had caused with it being openly discussed among local fans, both young and old. The attempts of the committee to censor the demo backfired on them as this just added to the attention it received. The whole event was highly beneficial as the point, getting young people discussing the treaty, was achieved. Our 3 core members has now risen to 4, plus 2 additional lads determined to help us after last night in way they can. I am optimistic they will indeed join us permanently in the near future.
Other news:
We have forged strong links with local independent socialist councillor and deputy mayor of Sligo Declan Bree. This man has over 30 years of experience behind him as a representative of the people of Sligo and Leitrim and will be a great asset to us as we have agreed to help each other in any future events we are involved in.
We have also established links with the Connolly Forum, which is a local organisation designed to bring all socialists of different affiliations together to speak on common ground and arrange events together.
I am in preliminary discussions with the Republican Network for Unity in Galway about getting involved with them also.
In the previous two months members of Sligo RSYM have attended many events on the organisations behalf such as forums on the EU Treaty, Easter Commemorations, Sligo’s save our cancer services campaign as well as the May Day celebration in Sligo town.
Signed: Ross Gildea
4. Derry IRSP Press Release: Anti-community actions cause concern
14 May 2008
During the early hours of Sunday morning, 11th May, at approximately 3.30 am, a member of the IRSP, Martin Collins, came across a group of young people who were in the process of burning a wheelie bin against the shutters of the Ladbrokes bookmakers in Central Drive in Creggan. When he noticed this he immediately stopped his car and approached the youths involved who ran off in the direction of Rinmore Drive. Martin Collins phoned the fire brigade who arrived a few minutes later and extinguished the fire.Commenting on the incident, IRSP member Martin Collins said,
“This type of activity is ongoing and persistent and the recent summer weather will, in our view, lead to a rise in this type of activity. What I witnessed was young people, some as young as twelve or thirteen, taking part in this activity at this hour of the morning. Serious questions have to be asked as to the parental responsibility shown as the majority of these young people were of school going age. There were six or seven youths involved in this and this goes against recent claims that this particular area has been cleaned up and that this activity has been halted. What I witnessed runs counter to these claims. I just don’t understand how children of this age were able to roam the streets at this hour and wreak havoc amongst the community. The IRSP would ask parents to be aware of where their children are and who they are with and to make sure that they are not involved in this type of anti-community activity. Anyone concerned about this activity are asked to contact the IRSP office in Leafair on 71353090.”
Commenting further Martin Collins also highlighted another incident where another member of the IRSP prevented an assault on an Italian tourist at the weekend.
“During the weekend also a group of young men were attempting to assault a tourist who was making his way between Waterloo Street and William Street. He was approached by the group of men, whose clear intention was to assault him. The IRSP member who was working nearby saw the plight of the frightened tourist and immediately intervened and prevented the assault.”
Martin Collins praised the IRSP member for his intervention, but also said that both incidents reflect need for a unified community response to anti-social activity in Derry.
5. Hungerstrike Commemoration in Derry
Speech Delivered by Paul Gallagher.
Friends and Comrades,
It is a pleasure and an honour to be asked to deliver this oration at this the 27th anniversary of the 1981 hungerstrike. We are here today to pay tribute to the men and women who in 1981 steadfastly stood against the might of British Imperialism from the cells of Armagh and Long Kesh.
Following years of protest the men in the H-Blocks took a heroic decision in 1980 to continue the fight against British injustice with the only weapon that they had at their disposal, their own bodies and began a hungerstrike. Fortunately none of them died because the British offered an agreement to end the strike that they later reneged upon and this then led to the second hungerstrike in 1981 led by Bobby Sands and Patsy O’Hara. Sadly during that second hungerstrike 10 of our friends and comrades lost their lives.
As well as the hungerstrikers we also remember all the volunteers and comrades of the Republican Socialist Movement who dedicated their lives in the struggle for national liberation and socialism in Ireland. Not only do we remember and honour the memory of our fallen comrades but we also pledge ourselves again to their political ideals and goals
As we gather here at the graveside of Mickey Devine and Patsy O’Hara we remember the political ideals that made them the political activists that they were. They knew that just getting rid of the Brits was never going to be enough. They were socialists as well as republicans and held within them a deep desire to see socialism gain a victory in Ireland. It was with these beliefs that they chose to join the Republican Socialist Movement. They became involved in the military effort as well as solid political work. They were model revolutionaries who never shirked from their commitment.
It is with this political perspective that we must look at the changes in the North today and analyse them. These past years has seen many changes on the political landscape. Sinn Fein now sits on the Stormont executive that they once proclaimed should be smashed. They now advocate support for the the Police Service of Northern Ireland that they one said should be disbanded. The reality on the ground with this force is that nothing has changed and their primary role remains the upholding of British Law in Ireland.
On the economic front workers are paid less in Derry than in the rest of the north, unemployment is rising, manufacturing plants have closed down, fuel prices are rising, food prices are rising, taxes are going up, water charges are coming in and at the same time services are diminishing. Stormont has done nothing for the people of the North except invite American investors here whose only aim will be to see how much profit that they can squeeze out of Irish workers before they scuttle off somewhere else when the incentives dry up. Stormont is an extension of British Parliamentary law and only does the bidding for the real power holders in Westminster. Every party in Stormont opposed as unjust the proposed Water Charges whilst outside the doors of Stormont, now Conor Murphy is deciding whether to send us one bill or two separate bills! Some rejection there! I also want to offer our support to those whose trial begins shortly in Belfast. The Raytheon 9 and we uphold and stand by their actions that resisting war crimes is not a crime.
Here today I would like to acknowledge the recent passing of republican icon Brendan the Dark Hughes. This first hungerstrike was led by Brendan Hughes. He died in Belfast recently after a long fight against the long term effects of the hungerstrike. I would like to pay tribute to Brendan and remember his leadership and input to the struggle during that time and since. Brendan Hughes was a humble man who did not strive for the wealth and trappings of power. To him the movement sought power in order to bring about revolutionary change that would be beneficial to the working class people of Ireland. He rejected outright the Stormont direction and opposed the idea that republicans could somehow manage Stormont in order to bring about a united Ireland. And of course he was correct in that view. The Stormont assembly has copper fastened the unionist veto through the absurd and sectarian voting system.
Comrades we are no closer to the republic of Connolly or Costello or of O’Hara or Devine and this is why we should redouble our efforts at building that socialist alternative. Too many lives were lost fighting for the republic; too many families denied fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. Too much has been lost to give up now. We are not saying this is an easy road to take; in fact this is a more difficult course of action. Republicanism is nowhere near the strength it was when Mickey Devine and Patsy O’Hara and their brave comrades died in Long kesh. You will hear whats your alternative, you will read it in the papers, you will hear it on the radio and you will see it on the television. As you leave this graveyard today I want you to give that alternative and that alternative is ‘Lets get back to Republicanism’ Lets get back to Socialism’ and let’s get on that road to Irish National Liberation.
Go Raith Maith Agat.
Press Release Re: RUC/PSNI at weekend march
22 May 2008
Irish Republican Socialist Party representative Martin Collins has reacted with dismay following the comments by PSNI chief inspector Chris Yates in relation to Sunday's Hungerstrike commemoration in Derry."Chris Yates is quoted as saying that he was pleased with the outcome of the parade. Well he would be. If he was totally honest he would also say that despite massive provocation from the PSNI the marchers held their dignity and ignored the provocation of the PSNI on Sunday. What we witnessed was totally at odds with what Chris Yates has declared in the press. We had PSNI jeeps at the back of the parade revving up close to those at the back of the parade, we had members of the PSNI within these jeeps jesturing to marchers, we had PSNI personel within almost every vehicle recording the parade with handheld camcorders and digital cameras, we had the PSNI helicopter hovering just above the ceremony at the City Cemetery, so low in fact that the noise of this almost drowned out the sound from the public address equipment. But we in the Republican Socialist Movement have an inbuilt resolve not to be intimidated by sectarianism and British state intimidation.
Martin Collins continued: "So all in all our conclusion is that the PSNI have not changed. They have exposed themselves yet again as sectarian bigots who are violently anti-republican. Sinn Fein tells us that they can hold these people to account. This is a lie and has been bourne out by the facts yet again. We have been speaking to the organising committee since the events of Sunday and these discussions will continue and one of the main topics of discussion yet to be decided is whether to notify the parades comission of further events. If our members and supporters are going to be harrassed and intimidated whether the committee notifies or not then simple logic dictates that there really isn't any benefit to our marchers if the organising committee notifies.
ENDS
6. Ending Hate Crime in the Community
Two comrades from the Republican Socialist Movement representing Teach na Failte, Fra Halligan and Gerry Ruddy attended a conference on “Ending hate Crime in the Community” in the Ramada Hotel Portrush on Wednesday 30th April. There was an introductory speech by Junior minister in the OFMDFM Gerry Kelly but of greater interest was the keynote speech by Richard Benjamin the co-ordinator of “Nil By Mouth” (http://www.nilbymouth.org/ )
Nil by Mouth is an independent campaign leading the challenge to rid Scotland of sectarianism. Sectarianism runs deep in Scottish society. Bigoted comments and jokes perpetuate a culture of prejudice, which often results in violence and has been tolerated for too long. The campaign aims to…
EDUCATE
Through workshops and training to raise awareness and promote greater understanding of sectarianism
FOCUS
By raising the profile of the issue through the media, publicity campaigns and presentations at key events
MOTIVATE
Encouraging the Scottish government to step up their efforts against sectarianism by devoting more resources to tackle the problem NITE
Working with all sectors of society to encourage a greater united effort to challenge religious hatred.
Comrades present participated fully in the day long conference involving themselves in workshops on awareness raising campaigns, practical approaches to stopping sectarian/racist violence, and discussion groups on homo-phobia, racism and sectarianism. In all these events republican socialists pointed out the deep class divisions in society that fed the evils of sectarianism and racism.
7. The Plough
E-mail newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party can now be accessed at
http://theploughblog.blogspot.com/
This includes all back copies of The Plough.
8. John Morris Commemoration
The annual wreath laying commemoration for fallen INLA volunteer John Morris will take place at Bohernabreena cemetery in Tallaght co Dublin on Sunday the 8th of June at 2pm.
Assemble at The Mill Pub Tallaght.
All are welcome to attend on Sunday the 8th of June at 2pm
9. Protest At Court
The IRSP joined many others to participate in a picket against the trial of Derry Anti War Coalition (DAWC) activists, the Raytheon 9, on Tuesday May27th, in the Laganside Courts in Belfast. The Raytheon 9 are charged with criminal damage and affray as a result of the non-violent direct action taken by DAWC on 9th August 2006 at the height of the Israeli assault on Lebanon. The Raytheon Nine come from a diverse range of political backgrounds and include a former political prisoner associated with the Republican Socialist movement who long ago began protesting outside the Raytheon plant with the Starry Plough flag. Good luck to Dicey and all his fellow accused.
10. The Blanket
It is sad to see the demise of the Blanket a thoughtful analysis of the ongoing so called peace process in Ireland. Its defence of the right of free speech itsopenness to different ideas and its searing honest exposure of the hypocrisy at the heart of northern politics will be sorely missed.
The IRSP salutes all those involved in that noble enterprise.
11. Sectarian attacks in North Belfast
Despite all the efforts that have been made particularly by grass roots activists in working class areas sectarian attacks unfortunately still continue. IRSP leading member Emmanuel Conway is pictured below investigating the latest of these attacks against working class communities.
In Parkside gardens in North Belfast. A resident points to where the stone throwers are attacking the back of their houses. We also show a broken window in a house and a photo of 87yr old Cassie McMahon a victim of sectarian intimidation.
This bulletin produced by the Collective Editorial Staff of the IRSP Bulletin. If you wish to subscribe to the Bulletin please contact bulletin@irsm.org with the word Subscribe. To unsubscribe e-mail bulletin@irsm.org with the word unsubscribe.
