Irish Republican Socialist Bulletin

IRSB No 3

2008-06-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

Irish Republican Socialist Bulletin
(Number 3)

Seamus Costello House
392 Falls Road Belfast
BT76DH Ireland
Phone: 028-9032=1024
e-mail: bulletin@irsm.org

Date Friday June 13th 2008
IRSB

In this issue:

1) Coming Events for Republican Socialists

2) More Sectarian Attacks

3) Harassment by Irish Political Police

4) Did You Know?

5) Rights For new Mothers

6) Gay Pride

7) A Right Wing Dog’s Dinner

8) Working Class Communities Under Threat in Inner City Belfast

9) Say No to Interface Violence

Coming Events for Republican Socialists

1) Public debate on the ‘Rising Cost of Living’ in the Landsdowne Court Hotel Antrim Rd. Starts 7.00pm, on Thursday 19th June. Present will be invited guests such as Junior Minister Gerry Kelly [SF]. Eleanor Gill – N.I. Consumer Council. Prof. Paddy Hillyard –Former Independent Chair of the Water Tax Review; the above invited guests will be contributing to the debate.

2) Ceartais – Public Meeting re- use of CF gas in Long Kesh 1974 and the Health effects in later life for those affected; Tuesday 17th off June, 7.00pm in the GlenPark – Ardoyne Ave. [This would apply to some of our ex-prisoners’ who were present during this event,)

3) Sunday 15th June – evening. As part of the 'Say No To Bush' Campaign, artist Christoff Gillen plans to write 'NO TO BUSH' in 50ft white letters on the Black Mountain. This will make the campaign visible to the whole of Belfast and complement the rally at City Hall on 16th June.

4) This Monday there is a protest out side the City Hall re- the planned visits’ later on off George Bush. This is a must. We have to be there with Banner and a few Starry Plough flags, although comrades may be working each Cumann could sent at least 2 there is a large crowd expected, so Media coverage will a cert, hope to see you there!!

5/ Bodenstown Commemoration; Sallins Sunday the 29th off June; all expected to attend and show support for comrades in the 26, who are under constant threat and intimidation from the ‘Branch’.

And they say nothing happening !!!

More Sectarian Attacks

Lime Court is Sheltered Dwelling for old people, situated at the bottom of the loyalist Peter's Hill/Shankill and sandwiched between there and the Catholic/Republican Carrickhill. The dwellings are totally occupied by senior citizens from both communities who are mostly aged between 70-80 years old.

At the weekend the grounds were invaded by a number of men who set about smashing windows of 4 dwellings with hammers and cudgels. The elderly residents were terrified and rightly so.
The PSNI have not highlighted this attack on the elderly but have agreed that it was sectarian. This comes after recent attacks on elderly peoples homes in the nearby Stanhope Street which were also sectarian. Some of those residents have asked to be moved away from the interface because they are frightened, and now it is being suggested in some circles that there is going to be a long hot summer campaign to force the catholic/Republican families out.

Next year 2nd August 2009 is the 40th anniversary of one of the worse days of the early troubles, when thousands of loyalists tried to storm the then Unity Flats. Not everyone is aware that on that day an elderly man Patrick Corry was beaten and stabbed by both loyalists and RUC men. When he was eventually conveyed to hospital, he was to remain there until he died 4 months later from his injuries This is still fresh in many of our minds and we will never forget how many battles were fought to keep this small enclave at the bottom of the Shankill Catholic/Republican. The first time that it was muted to bring the British Army on to the streets was during the 2nd-3rd of August 1969 and it was because of the pressure the RUC were under. But that's another story. During one of the many attempts to burn flats in Unity in 1969 the attackers were met with a hail of gunfire. Unity Flats never fell into loyalist hands and neither will Carrickhill.

Harrassment by Irish Political Police

The Seamus Costello Memorial Flute Band condemns the harassment at the John Morris Commemoration in Dublin on Sunday 8th June.

On arrival at the venue for the march the bus carrying the band was surrounded by Free State Special Branch.

Band members were mobbed on arrival by these people in suits and not allowed to leave the the bus until everyone gave their names one at a time.

There are band members as young as 12 years of age and these young people, who have committed no crime, were treated no differently to the adults by these bullies. Names and addresses were taken. Even the bus drivers name was taken.

We would like to point out that this harrassment has been ongoing for some time now whenever the band travels to the 26 counties.we will remain resolute. They will not, indeed they can not deter us from remembering the dead volunteers of the IRSM.
The harassment by the special branch at this commemoration was outrageous. Both members of the IRSP and non-members who came to pay respects were harassed. Over eight special branch cars were present, and at least twenty members of the special branch. Attendees were approached and asked repeatedly throughout the day for their details, three times or more.

During the commemoration itself with the speeches and laying of the wreaths, members of the special branch surrounded the graveyard in an intimidating fashion.

When the speaker equipment was being carried back to be put away in the nearby car park after the commemoration was finished, up to ten special branch men and women quick marched through the grave aisles and over to Dublin IRSP members and non-members and proceeded to surround and harass.

They accused those with cameras and phone camera’s of taking photo’s of them, despite the near impossibility of ‘not’ including them in any images of the commemoration seeing as they surrounded the periphery of the crowd. They proceeded to harass one lad who was a non-member of the IRSP and accused him of photographing them, which in itself is not illegal being in a public place. They took the camera off of him and then they demanded he show them how to turn the camera on, which he eventually did as they couldn’t figure it out. They then asked him to delete the images off the camera, all the while being surrounded by the special branch. In a change of mind, the special branch man removed and confiscated the memory card from the camera. One special branch man suggested his arrest. Later, a member of the special branch believed him to be a member of eirigi, while another asked his nationality. They also commented on his appearance and said he had changed his hair. All of which was of no business to them, and was naked intimidation.

This was a scandalous act, to confiscate the property of a member of the public who committed no crime and was not a member of any political organisation, but was simply an attendee.

After this, they then proceeded to harass members of Dublin IRSP. In one instance of harassment, special branch men circled a members vehicle looking to point out faults with the tyres or other components of the car. Finding nothing, they asked whether he was a fully licensed driver and whether he had a licensed driver in the car with him. Again, things were in order. They then checked the vehicles tax and insurance discs and claimed that they were possible forgeries. Unfounded claims.

During this time, again they asked for names and addresses of all who were present, despite already giving such details numerous times already. They asked for Ids and even took driving license numbers.

As some members walked back to the pub – three special branch cars drove past and tauntingly beeped their horn and made hand gestures out the window and laughed.

The commemoration was organised as a public event to commemorate a socialist volunteer who was murdered by this very same ilk. No members of the IRSP, and especially ordinary members of the public who attend should be harassed in such a way.

The political police force of the freestate showed their true colours yet again, and stooped to a new low, disrupting peaceful assembly, the confiscation of a persons private property, and with the accusing of members of the public not affiliated to any political organisation what-so-ever of membership of an ‘illegal’ organisation unless their property were handed over and details given.

They incriminated what was not criminal and confiscated what was not theirs.

Did You Know

Working people today have to work more than 50hrs a week to reach the same earnings power of those working less than 40hrs during the 1960s and 1970s. New technology has not give more leisure time to workers but rather more profit for the Bosses.

The last Act of Parliament of the old Stormont the Social Needs Act 1971 (the same legislation which created Local Authority Leisure Services and leisure centres) estimated that those employed had 30hours a week available to spend in leisure centres. That figure today combined with poor working conditions and long hours leaves 10 leisure hours.
However, only one person in four can afford to use the leisure centres more than one session a week.

Rights for new mothers

In un-organised non union work places, more often than not, employers fail to inform Women that since the April last year all employed women who are expecting a baby will benefit from new rights to maternity pay and leave. Many women are still only claiming maternity pay based on 26 weeks. The new rights are:

* *an increased period of Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity
Allowance*, paid for 39 weeks instead of 26. Statutory Maternity
Pay is paid at 90% of her average weekly earnings for the first
six weeks of her leave. After that, she will receive a flat rate
or 90% of her average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for 33
weeks. Maternity Allowance is paid by the Government at a flat
rate or 90% of a woman’s average weekly earnings for all 39 weeks;

There’s no change to the amount of notice employees have to give their employer about when they want to start maternity leave or when they’ll be coming back to work. However, *if an employee changes her mind about the date she intends to come back* to work from leave, she must give her employer at least 8 weeks’ notice before the new date (or before the date she originally planned to return, if this is earlier).

GAY PRIDE
The IRSP in North Belfast condemn totally the homophobic comments of Strangford MLA Iris Robinson on the Nolan show on Radio Ulster. Her comments included the biblical description of the homosexual act as an ‘abomination’, are totally inappropriate in a climate where gay people are regularly attacked because of their sexual orientation.
An IRSP spokesperson commented that gay people are due the same respect and protection of all other sectors within society. That an elected representative behaves in such a fashion and holds extreme views that Iris Robinson holds and espouses is in fact the real abomination.

A RIGHT DOGS DINNER

The promotion of DUP’s dynamic duo, the dick Dasterdly and Muttley of Unionism, Sammy Wilson and Gregory Campbell to the Stormont executive has been described by the IRSP in Belfast as another strike against anything ‘green’ and Gaelic. The fact that Sammy Wilson doesn’t believe in Global warming and Gregory Campbell makes a joke of the Irish Language in Stormont, does not bode well for the notion of consensual politics up at the big house on the hill. Watch this space!

Working class communities under threat in inner city Belfast

The decision to go ahead with a high rise apartment block in Donegal Street whilst a nearby social housing scheme faces further delays is a damning indictment on both the planning authority and the department of social development.
The IRSP fully support the sterling effort of St. Patrick’s and St Joseph’s housing action group in its campaign to achieve the required amount of social housing across North Belfast. The building of the social housing is being held up by red tape from the North West quarter regeneration. Private developers do not seem to attract the same planning delays as those for social housing. The long term effect of such decisions is housing waiting lists getting longer, more homelessness or further exploitation from private landlords. The IRSP are clear that there is no private housing solution to the long term need for social housing, if the present trend continues traditional working class areas in the inner city are under a very real threat.

North Belfast Interface Monitoring Group Poster Launch 2008
The North Belfast Interface Monitoring Group in partnership with youth providers from across North Belfast will be launching their interface poster initiative for 2008 on Wednesday 18th June at 4:30pm in Groundwork NI on Duncairn Gardens.

Pioneered by the North Belfast Interface Monitoring Group the initiative will distribute 20,000 leaflets and posters across schools, youth clubs and local communities to highlight the dangers and risks, particularly among young people, associated with summer rioting at interfaces. The initiative is calling on all with influence with our young people to exercise positive leadership at this time.
The message that young people are sending out that interface violence is not acceptable is highly significant and brings a new dimension to the poster campaign that is now in its third year.
Youth providers held focus groups of young people from the north of the city to consult with them on how they wanted to shape the image, content and message of the campaign.
This poster launch is the formal launch of a process which will leave everyone in no doubt of the dangers, risks and harm associated with sectarian conflict at interfaces. The poster launch will also aim to generate dialogue among communities around the role and responsibility of children, parents, church leaders, politicians and teachers to ensure that this summer passes off peacefully.
The poster will be launched this year primarily by young people who will be sending out the message “North Belfast Youth say no to interface violence”
Local schools and youth clubs and organisations will be invited to help deliver the message and to launch the initiative alongside local politicians and community representatives.
The poster will also be carried in a high visibility advertising campaign carried on Translink buses servicing North Belfast routes throughout the summer sponsored by OFM/dFM.
Project promoter Rab McCallum stated: “It is also of concern that 11 and 12 year olds are now routinely engaged in interface conflict within and between communities. People living on interfaces live in constant stress over the summer months. Irresponsible and reckless actions by young people or those consumed with alcohol often compounds the misery that residents must live with over the summer months.”
Michael Atcheson contributed: “The consequences of interface violence are seldom understood by young people who see this pursuit as fun. The poster initiative will raise awareness among young people that rioting at interfaces could damage their future prospects of employment, travel while also rewarding them with a criminal record or custodial sentence.”
Anyone wishing further detail on the interface poster initiative or the launch should contact;
Breandán Clarke brendan@nbin.info Tel: 07877874893
Or
John Loughran john@intercommbelfast.com Tel:

The NBCTF is actively supported by groups reflective of the diversity of North Belfast to include:North Belfast Interface Network, LINC Resource Centre, North Belfast Developing Leadership CEP, Teach na Failte, Concerned Residents of Upper Ardoyne (CRUA), EPIC, Mid Skegoneil Community Association, , Lower Shankill Community Association, The Corrymeela Community, Greencastle CEP, 174 Trust, Upper Ardoyne Community Partnership, Tar Isteach, North Belfast Alternatives, Intercomm, Ardoyne Focus Group, Cavehill/ Antrim Road Regeneration (CARR) and the Fellowship of Messines Association Project.

The Interface Poster that outlines the dangers of engaging in conflict at the interfaces is being promoted by the North Belfast Interface Monitoring Network. This is a sub group of the North Belfast Conflict Transformation Forum. This group enjoys membership from across all communities.

On the day of the launch there will be a symbolic distribution of the poster across interface communities and schools.

The poster will be displayed in all West Belfast Taxi Association cabs and Shankill Road Black Taxi Association.

This programme is being supported by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the Department of Social Development.

This programme is also being supported by the Network Reference Group, a coalition of all North Belfast Community Empowerment Partnerships.

For information or to arrange interviews please contact:

Breandán Clarke on 07877 874893 or at brendan@nbin.info

Or

John Loughran on 02890 352 165 or at john@intercommbelfast.com

This bulletin produced by the Collective Editorial Staff of the IRSP Bulletin

IRSB Number 02

2008-06-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

Irish Republican Socialist Bulletin Number 2

Seamus Costello House
392 Falls Road Belfast
BT76DH Ireland
Phone: 028-9032=1024
e-mail: bulletin@irsm.org

Friday June 6th 2008

IRSB

In this issue:

1) Housing in North Belfast
2) “ A Fenian C---"
3) Shared/Common History Initiative
4) Letter
5) The Plough
6) John Morris Commemoration

Housing in North Belfast

The IRSP in north Belfast are calling for brand new housing, owned by Oaklee Housing Association, that has lay empty for the past year because they haven’t been sold, to be rented out to people on the housing list.

The houses on the old Milk Marketing Board site on the Antrim Road should be brought into the social housing sector and help to alleviate the chronic housing shortage in North Belfast.

An IRSP spokesperson called on Oaklee to act swiftly and decisively. If these new homes are allowed to remain unoccupied because of the crash in the property prices it is the equivalent to the Housing Associations putting two fingers up to the homeless and those in housing stress.

“ A Fenian C---"

In Andersonstown in West Belfast recently the PSNI arrested a man who they already knew. The fellow was minding his own business but the cops spoke to his and referred to him re a "fenian C---" He naturally responded by saying” F... off, “ The PSNI pushed him to the ground and handcuffed him. A number of people witnessed this and reported what happened to other police who arrived later. They were ignored and the police took the word of the cop who had used the term in question, now claiming that he was assaulted. So much for the new dispensation.

Shared/Common History Initiative

Ex-Republican Socialist political prisoners are invited to participate in the following historical tours in June and July. If interested please contact Fra in the Teach na Failte office Belfast.

Weekend 1 – Target Date 20-22 June - Derry

Visits:
St Columns Cathedral
Rathmullen – Flight of the Earls Centre

Discussion topics:
Plantation of Ireland
Siege of Derry
Civil Right Campaign

Weekend 2 – Target Date 25-27 July - Wexford

Visits:
Boyne
Bodenstown
Battle of Wexford

Discussion topics:
United Irishmen
Formation of UVF
Formation of NI State

LETTER

We received the following letter and would encourage any of our ex-prisoners who were in Long Kesh during the burning of the maze to contact both Teach Na Failte and Ceartais.

A Chara,

I'm pleased to announce the formation of a new POW support group called, Ceartais........

The aim of Ceartais is to support former Long Kesh Prisoners and their families.

Our objective is to reveal the truth behind a CR Gas attack on hundreds of Political Prisoners by British Crown Forces on October 15, 1974.

We will also highlight the fact that scores of former prisoners have battled various forms of terminal cancer. Dozens of whom have tragically died.

Ceartais can be contacted on the following;

ceartais@hotmail.com
ceartais.blogspot.com

and www.bebo.com/ceartais <http://www.bebo.com/ceartais>

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.

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 Bohernabreena cemetery gate.

All are welcome to attend on Sunday the 8th of June at 2pm

This bulletin produced by the Collective Editorial Staff of the IRSP Bulletin.
All comrades are reminded to send in their contributions from all areas by Thursday of each week.

Due to technical difficulties our current e-mail address is as yet inoperable so please e-mail both bulletin@irsm.org and johnmartinps@virgin.net

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

IRSB Number 01

2008-05-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

Irish Republican Socialist Bulletin Number 1
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.