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The Plough
(Web site http://www.theplough.netfirms.com/)
Vol. 4- No 24
Saturday 3rd November 2007
E-mail newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party
1) Editorial
2) Health Service Limps From Crisis To Crisis
3) Report on Basque Meetings
4) Irish Labour Youth supports Venezuelan revolution and Hands Off
Venezuela campaign
5) A Polemic
6) Media
7) What’s On?
Editorial
Below we reprint a leaflet from NIPSA issued during their continuing
industrial dispute with their employers the Educational and Library
Boards and the Department of Education under Sinn Fein Minister
Catrina Ruane. This dispute following the recent class action by the
Post office workers shows a slow rise in class struggle. The
appalling state of the health service in the 26 Counties highlighted
by the article below “Health Service Limps From Crisis To Crisis” is
an other example of how the economic policies driven by the IMF, the
World Bank and the E.U. are stripping public assets and selling them
off to private enterprise who then deliver poor quality service and
appalling conditions all in the name of profit. In the North the new
administration is not only delivering British political rule but
also implementing economic policies that has the business classes of
the north almost orgasmic with delight, So much for Provisional Sinn
Fein’s much vaunted “socialism”. With the scent of power their
radicalism disappeared like snow of the ditch in the sunshine!
Following a very successful tour of the North by a comrade from the
Basque Country (see Report on Basque Meetings) we hope more and more
Basque militants see the reality of the Irish Peace process for what
it is –a capitulation to international capitalism..
Finally we reprint from a British left wing paper a series of
letters on the IRSP. If the individual “Mark Kevson”
from Dublin
has genuine concerns about the IRSP and is not simply engaging in
political sectarian baiting then we would be only too happy to met
with and answer any questions he/she may have.
DEFEND CHILDRENS’ EDUCATION
Classroom Assistants went on strike to preserve and have recognised
three key points:
Defend their right to pay rates based on the 32.5 hour school
working week;
Stop their special needs allowance of 65 pence per hour being
taken away;
Maintain recognition of their NVQ Level 3 qualifications.
What about the £15m payout?
Classroom Assistants are being asked to sell out all their rights
and accept pay rate cuts for a one off
net payment of just £1,100 or £1,700 only. No Way! The 3 points
above are key to a properly funded education system, where the
community as a whole receives quality front line service in the
classroom. Anything other than that is a cut in service, a cut in
real quality terms, and an unacceptable attack on our childrens
future.
Classroom workers have not given up nor gone into hiding, but are
providing a window of opportunity to management who have
consistently failed in 12 years to come to the table with what is
rightly ours.
Classroom workers want the public and parents to understand that we
have suspended this strike to demonstrate that patience and care is
what we are about, but to know that we will return to the picket
lines on 30th October if the boards do not resolve this properly.
STOP ATTACKS ON CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Support Classroom Assistants’ fight
to defend their rights
fair and just pay
a better education for all children in the future.
Call on your MP, MLA, Local Councillor to demand fair pay and
justice for Classroom Assistants.
If you would like additional information please talk to the strikers
or
contact NIPSA by e-mail: nipsa517@seelb.org.uk
FREE STATE HEALTH SERVICE LIMPS FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS:
The situation in the twenty six county health service is staggering,
like drunken man, from one problem to another. It would appear that
the problems are deteriorating on a nearly daily basis. Perhaps if
the Minister charged with responsibility for the health service,
Mary Harney, did her job, that is of course if she knows how to do
it, a step in the right direction may be achieved. Unfortunately
this would appear not to be the case, certainly as far as the public
sector is concerned. According to reports in The Socialist,
September 2007, under the front page headline ‘€245 MILLION HEALTH
CUTBACKS’ the paper could inform us “The crisis in the health
service has deepened with the announcement by the HSE of cutbacks to
deal with a €245 million “overspend”.
Hospitals around the country have been ordered to implement a
recruitment ban, to lay off temporary and agency staff, and despite
what Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has said patients will
suffer‘. It should be common sense that patients will suffer
because, like in any other job, if fifty workers carry out a hundred
tasks in eight hours and this number of workers is reduced to thirty
with the same output expected in the same, or less, hours the
quality of what is produced will be inferior to that produced by the
former.
The same principle applies to the health service, though we are not
speaking of output per se, fifty nurses, for the sake of argument,
can not be expected to provide the same level of care and cover to
that once provided by say seventy five, basic mathematics should
tell you that. The paper continues ’Senior management at Cork
University Hospital (CUH) have outlined a series of proposals in an
internal document seen by The Socialist entitled “Cost Containment
Initiative”. A fancy phrase for health cutbacks’.
Bosses at CHU are to take whatever action they deem necessary to
’eliminate the budget deficit’ which means, whatever way it is
dressed up, inferior conditions for patients in the hospital and
others around the country which follow the same course of action. At
South Tipperary General Hospital an operating theatre is to be
reportedly closed. At Ennis Hospital a Cardiac Clinic, according to
reports, is to close to say nothing of the withdrawal of cancer care
at Mayo General Hospital. To add to all this because of government
incompetence there is no doubt that the country’s A&E departments
will once again hit the headlines, for the wrong reasons, this
winter.
The government have done nothing to relieve the shortage of beds
problem and are in fact travelling in the opposite direction to that
which they should be going because they are reportedly cutting
doctors hours, getting rid of essential nursing staff and reducing
other areas of medical procedures. Hardly conducive with relieving
the pressures on the A&Es, once again the previous simple
mathematical equation applies.
Increasing expenditure in the health service will help alleviate the
problems, providing the personnel presiding over knows what they are
doing which would appear to rule out the present person and her team
in the job. But a long term permanent answer needs far more drastic
surgery and is part of a far larger problem, capitalism.
The problems faced by working class people requiring health care is
only one, all be a it sizable one, aspect of the barriers faced on a
daily basis under the capitalist system. This system no longer
requires, if in Ireland it ever did, a large fit and healthy
workforce therefore those who are entrusted to govern the affairs on
behalf of this system do not see the necessity of prioritising these
problems in the health service and putting them right.
Of course we are talking exclusively about problems in the public
sector which are not generally faced by the privileged gang who use
the private facility. The problems faced by the health service are
just a few among many in a catalogue of difficulties faced by
working class people on a daily basis. Such issues of job losses,
often accompanied by home repossession, are a regular feature of
modern working class existence, real wage reductions, while An
Taoiseach and other so called Ministers receive huge pay increases
disproportionate to their responsibilities compared with the German
Chancellor, US President and British Prime Minister, and the
constant threat of unemployment on a more general and long term
basis than job losses alone.
All of these along with the crisis in the health service are
symptomatic of a system which does not, can not, and frankly was
never intended to provide goods and services for all on a regular
basis. A system which quite frankly has to go. The question is how
much longer are people going to walk round like ostriches with their
heads in the sand pretending they can not see what is before their
very eyes every day? The short term solution, certainly for health
is to nationalise completely the whole service financed through
higher taxation earmarked for specific areas of need with competent
people at the helm.
The long term permanent answer is the destruction of the capitalist
system and the evil of greed by the few at the expense of the many,
which is inept within it, and the establishment of socialism based
upon need before profit, equality, freedom and democracy minus the
word liberal. This will only come about, in Ireland, by the
establishment of a 32 county democratic socialist republic.
Kevin Morley IRSP, Dublin
Report on Basque Meetings
Recently three successful meeting were held on the Irish and Basque
Peace Processes in Belfast Strabane and Derry The meetings were
organised by the International Left Solidarity Committee, a group
composed of republicans socialists and Marxists, dedicated to
looking at issues of international significance for the working
classes.
Ibon Artola, (Editor of Euskal Herria Sozialista) gave a detailed
examination of the current state of the struggle for Basque
independence from a Marxist perspective and his analysis of the
so-called Basque Peace process. For his Irish audiences Ibon gave a
brief history of the Basque struggle.
The Basque Country is made up of seven provinces, Labourd, Basse
Navarre, and Soule all located in an area governed by the France,
and Viscaya, Guipuzcoa, Alava and Navarre all under the control of
Spain.
Following the overthrow of the Spanish Republic by a military coup
led by Franco and supported by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany the
ancient and unique Basque language was banned. The Spanish state
refused funding for the Basque language and culture, workers were
denied their right to use the language and even the graves of Basque
martyrs were interfered with to replace the Basque language on
tombstones with Spanish inscriptions. Also under the Franco
dictatorship Communists, Socialists but also Basques, were executed
for their resistance to the regime.
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna or ETA (Basque <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_language>
for "Basque Homeland and Freedom” ) was formed in 1959 originally as
a cultural response to the dictatorship’s attempts to impose Spanish
language and cultural values on the Basque people. From painting
slogans on walls and buildings, ETA eventually became an armed
Basque nationalist <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_nationalist>
organisation.
Ibon pointed out that at the beginning of the 20th century there
were those socialists who claimed that the rise of capitalism would
solve the national question. The reality has been different. The
Irish national question still has not been resolved. In Belgium
national differences are once more coming to the fore. In essence
capitalism is incapable of solving the national question. On the
contrary Capitalism uses the national question and the existence of
minorities to divide and thus weaken all sections of the working
class regardless of their nationality. Imperialism wishes to impose
itself on small countries and that the fight to overcome this was
essential.
The fall of the Franco dictatorship did not solve the national
question in Spain. After the death of Franco a new constitution gave
limited autonomy to three of the Spanish controlled Basque provinces
called the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC) while Navarre was not
allowed to opt into the BAC but made into a separate autonomous
region. By 1983 the BAC had limited autonomous powers including its
own elected parliament its own police force its own school system
and control over taxation. (It is worth noting that all of these
except most notably the control over taxation have all been granted
to the current Stormont administration.)
Theses changes while accepted and worked by the more conservative
nationalists in the PNC Partido Nacionalista Vasco <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_Nationalist_Party>
, a Christian-Democrat political party and which has been the
dominant power in the BAC, was rejected by the Abertzale Left
because it did not satisfy the national aspirations of many Basques,
nor did they bring peace to the Basque Country.
Spain still exerts extensive influence over Basque life, some
spheres of which, such as harbour authorities, customs, employment,
the armed forces and foreign relations, remain entirely under
jurisdiction of the central government. The central state apparatus,
including politicians, police including the local Basque police,
army and prisons, have continued to persecute members and
sympathizers of the Abertzale movement and to obstruct Basques'
attempts to construct their own political structures and to
articulate and defend a national sovereignty project.
The Spanish and the Basque ruling class, in the form of the PNV,
showed their reactionary nature by supporting the 2002 coup against
Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. They also endorsed the electoral fraud
perpetrated by the Mexican ruling class aided and abetted by USA
Imperialism.
The rise of ETA and a broadening of its support base in the
beginning was because of the failure of the Basque Nationalist Party
(PNV) to do anything. It was not in their interests because the
Basque bourgeoisie was and still is firmly bound with the Spanish
bourgeoisie. This is similar to the way the Irish bourgeoisie
despite its so-called formal freedom is intrinsically tied in with
the British ruling class and also subservient to USA Imperialism.
Ibon pointed out that 65% of the population of Spain is in favour of
a solution to the situation in the Basque country. In March 2006 ETA
declared a ceasefire. Hopes were raised for a settlement and not
only was there comparisons with the so-called Irish Peace Process
but clergy involved in facilitating the IRA ceasefires became
involved in delicate negotiations in the Basque Country. Sinn Fein
leaders including Gerry Adams also visited the Basque Country
encouraging militants to follow the Sinn Fein(P) example.
However the People's Party (PP) in Spain began arguing that the
Spanish ruling class was granting too many concessions to ETA. Its
leaders Rajoy called on the government to continue, "fighting
terrorism" and reject negotiations. Zapatero, the Spanish prime
Minister in fact stepped up repression. Despite the calls from left
Nationalists for round table talks there was little movement from
the Spanish Government. ETA militants were still been harassed and
detained and there was no movement on the issue of the prisoners. It
is the policy of the Spanish government to imprison political
prisoners at least 600 kilometres from their homes and some as far
as the Salto del Negro <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salto_del_Negro&action=edit>
prison in the Canary Islands <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canary_Islands>
. So prisoners’ families often travel hundreds of kilometres to
prisons to visit them, either in Spain or France. This has resulted
in a great financial burden being placed on many families. Many have
been killed in road accidents travelling the long distances.
Much to the astonishment of his Irish audiences Ibon pointed out
that the oppression included political prisoners not been released
as planned, with some having their sentences increased. Following
the Barajas bombing when ETA attacked an airport the Spanish
Government banned the Basque left nationalist youth organisation
Segi, declaring it to be a terrorist organisation because both Segi
and ETA have the same stated goals of independence and socialism.
ETA had bombed the airport in an attempt to put pressure on the
Spanish government. This had the adverse effect and resulted in a
series of repressive measures by the Spanish ruling class including
a widespread propaganda campaign aimed at undermining ETA. Batasuna
leader Ortegi summed up the new departure of Batasuna when he said
“How can we have a peace process with bombs going off?”
There are some on the left, as Ibon pointed out who argue that the
problem in the Basque Country is “terrorism”. They do so from the
safety of their well-paid parliamentary jobs without any
understanding of national oppression. The Basque problem is the
interference of the Spanish government in the affairs of the Basque
Country.
Ibon pointed to the example of Russia prior to the 1917 October.
There had existed a group called the Narodniks.The Narodniks
believed the peasantry was the revolutionary class <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_class>
that would overthrow the monarchy and they regarded the village
commune as the embryo of socialism. However, they believed that the
peasantry would not achieve revolution on their own, but instead
that history could only be made by heroes, outstanding
personalities, who would lead an otherwise passive peasantry to
revolution. They hoped that their acts of violence would lead to
spontaneous uprisings and social upheaval. Despite their
assassination of the Tsar for which Lenin’s brother was executed no
such uprisings took place. Instead it was the building of a
revolutionary party with mass support that eventually saw off feudal
Russia
There are also some militant youth who have launched attacks against
the offices of Spanish trade unions. Ibon pointed out the importance
of winning over the Spanish and French working classes to support
and solidarity with the Basque people and therefore it is wrong to
antagonise them by attacks on the organisations that the workers
regard as theirs. It is of the greatest importance that these young
people are won over to genuine Marxist politics. Revolutionaries
cannot turn our backs on the militant youth.
Ibon then went on to point out something that should be salutary
lesson for Irish republicans Every September there is a
demonstration in favour of the prisoners. This year it was banned
with little explanation. Basque policemen were sent to deal with the
demonstration and over 100 people were injured. Having Basques in
the police force or catholics in the PSNI is no victory when these
same forces are used to protect the status quo.
The PNV defend their own interests which are the interests of the
ruling
Class. They may talk about independence but the bottom line is that
PNV in the Basque Country, have no interest in independence for the
Basque country. They share the same interests as the Spanish ruling
classes have
Only the working class can solve the national questions, whether
it’s in the Basque country, Ireland, the Balkans or anywhere else.
During the Russian revolution the Bolsheviks managed to overthrow
the old order, despite Russia being a country with dozens of
different nationalities.
When Ibon Artola had finished his presentation in all three venues
there were discussions and questions and answer sessions. Naturally
some of these questions focussed on the issue of prisoners, their
actual conditions in jail and if they had any input into the Basque
Peace Process. Other questions included if the prisoners or their
organisations had tried to use the denial of human rights and
torture used by the Spanish government to take Spain to European
courts. It was pointed out that those who tried to see comparisons
between the peace processes in Ireland and the Basque Country failed
to see that the Republican struggle in Ireland had been defeated and
that in accepting both the Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews
Agreement republicans settled for less than the Basque Country had
achieved years ago.
A prominent feature of the meeting was that unlike many other
meetings on international issues organised by other groups the
audience at these meetings were overwhelming working class and had
an instinctive grasp of the class issues thrown up by the struggle
in the Basque Country.
Irish Labour Youth supports Venezuelan revolution and Hands Off
Venezuela campaign
By Hands Off Venezuela - Ireland
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
The conference of Irish Labour Youth passed a motion (no. 37) in
support of the Venezuelan Revolution last Saturday, 27th October.
The motion also called on Labour Youth "to build links with the
Irish branch of the ‘Hands Off Venezuela Campaign’." Resolution 37:
Socialism in Venezuela "Conference recognizes: The work done by the
people of Venezuela in bringing about a democratic socialist
revolution in their country. "Conference resolutely believes: That
this is an example of twenty first century socialism, and that it is
a socio-economic model that is worth aspiring to. While not being
faultless, its approach to redistributing wealth, democratising the
workplace and the providing social services is evidence that
socialism can be implemented democratically. "Conference condemns
the former TV station RCTV and the Venezuelan oligarchy in Their
attempts to organise a military coup against the democratically
elected government in 2001. "Conference further condemns: The forces
of U.S. imperialism which have continually sponsored and encouraged
right wing terrorists in Latin America in their attempts to topple
popular democratically elected government and replace them often
with a military junta. "Conference welcomes: The attempts by
President Hugo Chavez to initiate the economic transition from a
Capitalist state to a Socialist state, which is to be brought about
democratically through a ballot of the entire populace in the coming
months. "Conference further welcomes: The nationalisation of the
largest telecommunications company, the electrical power companies
and the four largest oil companies in the Orinoco River basin, which
had previously been controlled by foreign multinationals. This is in
turn has significantly reduced the cost of electricity and fuel for
the ordinary citizens of Venezuela. "Conference calls on: Labour
Youth to build links with the Irish branch of the "Hands Off
Venezuela Campaign" in the hope of creating awareness and solidarity
for the Venezuelan nation and its people in Ireland. "Conference
mandates: The international Officer to investigate the possibility
of organising a delegation of Labour Youth activists to visit the
country over the coming year."
The letters reprinted below first appeared in the Weekly Worker
http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/index.html We leave it to the readers
to make their own judgements
A POLEMIC
I am a long-time reader of the various websites of the left,
including the Weekly Worker. One of the websites I read on a regular
basis is the International Marxist Tendency’s In defence of Marxism
(www.marxist.com).
As an Irishman, I am shocked and dismayed by the IMT’s affiliation
with the Irish Republican Socialist Party. The Grant-Woods tendency
has long been associated with the view that Marxists should operate
within the “traditional organisations of the working class”, such as
the Labour Party. Why is it then that they associate with this
splinter of a splinter from the republican movement?
The IRSP has no standing within the Irish working class and is in
fact a miniscule organisation, far smaller and more remote to the
Irish worker than some that the IMT would classify as ‘sects’. Not
only that, but the IRSP through its paramilitary arm, the Irish
National Liberation Army, has a history of violence, terrorism,
internal feuding and organised crime.
How do the IMT and particularly Alan Woods, who always comes across
as an intelligent, articulate man, justify this association?
Mark Kevson
Dublin
IRSP politics
Mark Kevson asks, why support the Irish Republican Socialist Party,
given it is “minuscule” and has little support among the Irish
working class (Letters, October 11)?
Well, it is not for communists in Britain to advise, let along tell,
the Irish people to whom they should lend their political support.
But surely it is politics which counts, rather than numbers?
Otherwise, we should all of us just give up now! But, of course, we
all know from history that those advocating liberation and
emancipation always start off as small, sect-like minorities, before
building and developing strength, before ultimately becoming
irresistible and irreversible majorities.
My understanding is that the IRSP stands for national liberation and
socialist revolution in Ireland, expressed as three fundamental
objectives:
l The end of partition and the reunification of the island of
Ireland, with the complete removal of the British political and
military occupation in the north;
l The ending of British/European imperialist domination over the
whole of existing divided Ireland;
l And the common ownership and control of the whole of the resources
of Ireland by the working people of Ireland, for the benefit of the
working people of Ireland.
That is, for the working people of Ireland to be united, sovereign,
independent, self-determining, and to exist as equals and in peace
with the peoples of Britain, Europe and the world.
Further, the IRSP argues that all three fundamental objectives are
dialectically interconnected, interdependent and reinforcing: ie,
all must be progressed together, as part of an integrated and
coherent revolutionary political and military strategy.
As to the INLA, my understanding is that the organisation is
currently on cessation, accepting that the votes in the referenda -
on both sides of the partition border - on the Good Friday agreement
meant there was currently no political basis for a military
campaign. This does not, of course, equate to IRSP/INLA support for
the GFA, which, on the contrary, represents a defeat for
republicanism and socialism.
I struggle to think how any decent and principled socialist or
communist could disagree with any of the above ...
Andrew Northall
Kettering
Contradiction
Andrew Northall misses my point somewhat (Letters, October 18
<http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/693/letters.htm> ). It is not the
general aims of the Irish Republican Socialist Party I have a
problem with. It is their method and their record.
The Irish National Liberation Army, while currently inactive, has
not disbanded and the IRSP do not renounce their past. This is a
past rife with indiscriminate sectarian murders and internal
feuding. Even if they had been straight-up anti-imperialists using
the methods of what Trotsky and others called ‘individual
terrorism’, Marxists must oppose them.
To quote Trotsky:
“The disarray introduced into the ranks of the working masses
themselves by a terrorist attempt is much deeper. If it is enough to
arm oneself with a pistol in order to achieve one’s goal, why the
efforts of the class struggle? If a thimbleful of gunpowder and a
little chunk of lead is enough to shoot the enemy through the neck,
what need is there for a class organisation? If it makes sense to
terrify highly placed personages with the roar of explosions, where
is the need for the party? Why meetings, mass agitation and
elections if one can so easily take aim at the ministerial bench
from the gallery of parliament?”
Substituting self-appointed liberators with an Armalite for the hard
slog of the class struggle is a false method and completely contrary
to Marxism. At its best, it is Blanquism; at its worst, anarchic
adventurism. The terrorist cell is not controlled democratically by
the class it claims to represent; instead it places itself at the
head of the movement and resists removal by force.
My other point is that in much of their literature the International
Marxist Tendency reject what they call ‘sects’ as irrelevant. They
clearly state that Marxists must work within the mass organisations
of the working class. The IRSP is as far removed from the Irish
working class, from the day-to-day struggles of the class, as can be
imagined. Now I do not agree that it is correct today to try and
work within the Labour Party. There are times when entryism is a
valid method and there are times when it is counterproductive.
However the IMT raise entryism to a principle. How do they explain
the contradiction between their theory and their application of that
theory to the class struggle in Ireland?
Mark Kevson
Dublin
INLA’s past
Mark Kevson, in his original letter (October 11
<http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/691/letters.htm> ), makes the claim
that “the Irish National Liberation Army has a history of violence,
terrorism, internal feuding and organised crime.” Whilst I will
refrain from an attempt to sanitise past actions of the INLA, I feel
it necessary a few truths are laid bare.
The INLA does indeed have a history of violence, terrorism and
internal feuding - this is not something that can be denied. It is a
revolutionary organisation and a product of the conditions prevalent
within society at that time. I find it strange that an avid reader
of Marxist websites would neglect to mention that the Bolsheviks too
were guilty of these three points.
The Irish Republican Socialist Movement collectively have challenged
those who claim the INLA are involved in crime, whether drug dealing
or otherwise, to provide the evidence. It is 10 years since Irish
Republican Socialist Party spokesperson Kevin McQuillan challenged
journalists at the burial of a volunteer in Dublin and not one piece
of evidence has been forthcoming since from any quarter.
Mark continues: “The IRSP has no standing within the Irish working
class and is in fact a minuscule organisation.” Of all leftwing
organisations within Ireland of any hue, the IRSP is the only one
that has a strong base within nationalist working class areas. It is
safe to say the majority of the left in Belfast would be more
accustomed to Stranmillis than the Short Strand.
In Mark’s second letter (October 25) he claims “the IRSP do not
renounce their past”. This is correct. We do not deny or renounce
our past. To do so is entirely dishonest and not based upon Marxist
methods. Collectively we have painstakingly analysed our past and
drawn strong lessons for the road ahead. I would recommend Mark
gives the Ta Power document careful consideration.
If Mark is genuinely seeking answers as to the basis for the
International Marxist Tendency’s relationship with the IRSP, then I
am certain he could arrange to meet the relevant organisations and
discuss the matter.
Sean McGowan
Belfast
From The Media
No evidence' of collusion in NI murders
There is no evidence the security forces in Northern Ireland
colluded with loyalist killers in the murder of two Catholic
brothers 14 years ago, the Police Ombudsman said today.
However an investigation by Nuala O'Loan found the police
investigation of the murders by the Ulster Volunteer Force, despite
early effort, was unacceptably flawed and cut short after three
months.She upheld a complaint by the father of the murdered men that
the police failed to conduct a thorough investigation.
She also revealed that Special Branch had not passed on all relevant
intelligence to the police investigating the murders.
Gerard Cairns (22) and brother Rory (18) were gunned down by two
masked men at the family home at Bleary, near Lurgan, Co Armagh, on
the evening of October 28th, 1993.
No one has ever been convicted over the murders which happened in
one of the bloodiest weeks of the Troubles.
The Cairns family lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman claiming the
police and army had prior knowledge of the attack on the brothers,
and that they had allowed a clear path for the murderers through
what they believed was an unusually high level of security activity
in the area.
The family also alleged police did not carry out a proper
investigation and failed to keep the family updated on its progress.
Investigators from the Ombudsman's office examined police documents
spanning nine years, assessed intelligence about the murder and
interviewed serving and retired police officers, retired soldiers
from the Royal Irish regiment and 54 civilians.
Mrs O'Loan concluded: "There is nothing to suggest that the security
forces colluded in the brutal murders of Gerard and Rory.
"There is no evidence that the police had any advance warning, that
they knew Gerard and Rory would be targeted and no evidence that
they could have prevented the attack. This was a purely sectarian
attack."
However Mrs O'Loan said the Special Branch had failed to pass on all
relevant intelligence to the police inquiry team, and she upheld the
complaint the family had not been kept informed about the police
investigation.
She said: "Although much good work was done in the initial stages of
the investigation, within three months it had been stripped of
resources and had effectively ground to a halt."
She expressed "grave concern" the RUC had begun to wind down the
investigation within just two weeks of the killings.
Mrs O'Loan added: "I acknowledge the enormous pressure on police
officers during this difficult time. Nevertheless, it is
unacceptable that the investigation effectively ended after just a
few months and has not since been properly reviewed for new lines of
inquiry.
Mr Cairns had alleged two local loyalists had carried out the
murders but had not been charged because they were security force
agents.
Irish Times
What’s On?
FROM THE IRELAND-PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is pleased to announce
that the European Première of the multi-award winning documentary
film Occupation 101 will take place in Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin
at 7:30 PM on Tuesday 6th November 2007.
Tickets are €10 or €5 for unwaged/students. To book in advance -
please call the IPSC office on 01-6770253 or email us on
supportpalestine@ireland.com. Tickets can also be bought on the door
on the night.
Regional Screenings:
Limerick
Weds 7th Nov 2007
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Castletroy Park Hotel, Wednesday 7th November
Donegal
(First event of new IPSC Donegal branch!)
Thurs 8th Nov 2007
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Abbey Theatre, Ballyshannon Thursday 8th November
Belfast
Friday 9th November
Time: 7:00pm sharp
Venue: An Culturlann Theatre, 216 Falls Road, Belfast.
The showing will cost £5 waged and £3 unwaged.
OCCUPATION 101
A thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the current and
historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and U.S.
government involvement, Occupation 101 provides a comprehensive
analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding the conflict and
dispels many myths and misconceptions. The film also details life
under Israeli military rule, the United States' role in the
conflict, and the major obstacles which stand in the way of a
lasting and viable peace. Rare footage and testimony never shown by
most media outlets are presented. The roots of the conflict are
explained with incisive commentaries from leading Middle East
scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders and
humanitarian workers whose voices have too often been suppressed in
Western media.
http://www.occupation101.com
Anti-Racism Workplace Week, Dungannon and South Tyrone, event,
Wednesday 7th November 2007
Dungannon and South Tyrone Council
"Anti-Racism Workplace Week" 5-12 November 2007
Wednesday 7 November 2007
East Tyrone College – Main Hall
6pm – 8pm
Free entrance – open to public
ICTU and Trade Unions will be giving employment rights information
for migrant workers and ethnic minorities
Glór na Móna as part of their annual Féile Gaeilge le Bród festival
present
The inaugural Harry Holland memorial Lecture
by a prominent Irish Language activist TBC on 'The revival of the
Irish language: past, present and future'
Thursday 8th November @ 8pm
Gort na Móna CLG
Belfast
Followed by live traditional music session
Glór na Móna will also be officially launching their festival also.
Shell To Sea Rossport f day-of-action on November 9th.
Shell are running a high pressure gas pipe close to the houses of
local Mayo people. They have refused to move their operation
offshore, claiming it would be too expensive. Shell makes a profit
of €375million every week. The cost of moving the Rossport operation
offshore would be €360million.
Under the deal that the oil & gas multinationals were given by
Fianna Fail, the taxpayers of Ireland will receive:
1) No royalties from the oil and gas,
2) No share of the oil and gas,
3) No reduced price for the oil and gas.
4) Nothing, nada, zilch. AND
5) The companies can write off all their capital costs against tax
for up to 25 years.
The locals have kept the struggle going. often against great odds.
Far from being frightened off, whether by the power of their enemy
or the role of the Gardai as Shell's cops, they have grown
increasingly militant. There have been sit-downs and site
occupations. To win requires large numbers of people being prepared
to stand together and use their numbers to stop Shell's plan. A
large turnout on November 9th will help to build a stronger
campaign.
WSM Delegate Council, October 2007
For information about busses to Rossport call 0879935876
More: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84701
1a.4 Rights at Work Information Day, Belfast, Saturday 10 November
This event is an introduction to employment rights and trade unions.
Participants will also have a chance to talk to trade union
representatives and discuss specific employment issues. A social
evening will follow in the John Hewitt bar with musicians playing
Irish session, a Polish band and Motion Project.
Rights at Work Information Day,
Saturday 10 November,
Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre
45 – 47 Donegall Street
2 -5 p.m
· • Introduction to employment rights for migrant workers in
Northern Ireland.
· • Information on trade unions, membership and assistance they
offer.
· • Launch of ‘Your Rights at Work’ card published by Irish Congress
of Trade Unions and Equality Commission.
· • Meeting with the representatives of:
- Irish Congress of Trade Unions
- Equality Commission
- Belfast Trades Union Council
- Trade unions
Information and materials available in variety of languages.
Light refreshments will be served.
Multicultural Music Experience
Saturday 10 November,
The John Hewitt bar, Donegall Street
5.30 until late at night
Celebration of ethnic diversity played by artists from all over the
world, including:
· Irish traditional session
· Quatro Potrzebne – Polish band
· The Motion project – Northern Ireland’s multi-cultural music
collective.
· Everybody welcome!
INCORE Conflict Documentary Film Festival, next film Wednesday 14th
November
Wednesday 14th November 2007: International Day of Tolerance (16
Nov)
Iraq in Fragments (2006)
Iraq is pulled in different directions by religion and ethnicity but
its disparate groups - Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds - share a common
fate: living in a world ravaged by years of repression, occupation
and violence. This film explores that through the lives of ordinary
Iraqis. (94 min.)
*Discussion to follow chaired by Professor Tom Fraser*
Wed 12th Dec 2007: Human Rights Day (10 Dec)
The Crying Sun (2007)
Addresses the impact of armed conflict in Chechnya through the
stories of people disappeared/ displaced from the mountain village
of Zumsoy, highlighting villager’s struggle to maintain cultural
identity and traditions. (26 min.)
*Discussion to follow chaired by Dr. Stephen Ryan*
Full details on the INCORE Conflict Documentary Film Festival are
available at www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/pdfs/filmfestival2007.pdf <
INCORE Conflict Documentary Film Festival, next film Wednesday 14th
November
Venue: Magee campus, MB127 Derry
Wednesday 14th November 2007: International Day of Tolerance (16
Nov)
Iraq in Fragments (2006)
Iraq is pulled in different directions by religion and ethnicity but
its disparate groups - Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds - share a common
fate: living in a world ravaged by years of repression, occupation
and violence. This film explores that through the lives of ordinary
Iraqis. (94 min.)
*Discussion to follow chaired by Professor Tom Fraser*
Wed 12th Dec 2007: Human Rights Day (10 Dec)
The Crying Sun (2007)
Addresses the impact of armed conflict in Chechnya through the
stories of people disappeared/ displaced from the mountain village
of Zumsoy, highlighting villager’s struggle to maintain cultural
identity and traditions. (26 min.)
*Discussion to follow chaired by Dr. Stephen Ryan*
Full details on the INCORE Conflict Documentary Film Festival are
available at www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/pdfs/filmfestival2007.pdf
<http://www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/pdfs/filmfestival2007.pdf>
A DAY AROUND
THE LOOM
*Watch crafters working!
* Enjoy demonstrations of old techniques!
* Take a valuable piece of crafts home!
On Saturday, Nov.24th 2007
At The Flax Mill, Derrylane, Dungiven
From 10 am – running all day.
Local genuine crafts only, no dealers, no products from
child-labour.
Tea and refreshments.
For details phone Flax mill textiles 02877742655
Note: A day around the loom is a private event. There is no
entry-fee and the owner reserves the right to refuse admission |
