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The Plough
Volume 3, Number 24
1 May 2006
E-Mail Newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party
1) May Day Statement of the IRSP
2) What is National Liberation?
3) Letter to the Village
4) BASF: Sign the Petition Against Censorship
5) What's On
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MAY DAY STATEMENT OF THE IRSP
The Irish Republican Socialist Party sends May Day greetings to
workers world-wide. May Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of
the working class movement. We applaud the struggles for liberation
and socialism taking place around the globe. The swing to the left in
South America gives hope for a revival of the message of socialism.
The growing revulsion at the continuing occupation of Iraq by the
imperialist forces of the USA and Britain shows that people are no
longer prepared to accept at face value the lies spewed out by the
leaders of the occupying nations.
Here in Ireland opposition is growing to the slavish toeing of the USA
line by the right wing coalition. But the failure of the so-called
official left of the Labour Party and Sinn Fein to lead any serious
opposition to either the acquiescing in the Iraq war or lead a serious
fight back against the creeping policy of privatisation shows how far
those organizations have drifted from their verbal commitment to
socialism. Nobody should be under any illusions that both parties if
they enter a coalition government they will implement the neo-liberal
economic agenda of privatisation
Furthermore, the prospect of a coalition government in the North
established under the discredited Good Friday Agreement and controlled
by the right wing DUP of Ian Paisley does not auger well for northern
workers. Neither direct rule nor coalition nor power sharing will ease
the growing burden on workers.
Already rate rises are cutting into the living standards of the most
vulnerable in society. North and South thousands do not benefit from
the wealth produced by the workers. Those on the margins are ignored
or else demonized by the gutter press. Economic deprivation feeds into
sectarianism and racism.
However, the fundamental contradiction in Ireland is the continuing
partition of the country and the control exercised by the British
government over the six counties. No tinkering with the Northern
statelet nor appeals to tolerance respect, cultural diversity and
multiculturalism can hide that basic contradiction. The interests of
all workers no matter what background they come from, whether British
or Irish, Catholic or Protestant, Unionist, Nationalist, or Migrant
Worker, are best served by the reunification of Ireland and the
establishment of a society based on socialist universalist principles.
Workers of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains.
*******
WHAT IS NATIONAL LIBERATION?
Failing to resist the burgeoning onslaught against it sovereignty, the
Irish people seem to be turning away from the concept of National
Liberation. The modern and increasingly generic "westernised culture"
is making it more and more difficult to distinguish between a working
class youth in an inner city Dublin estate with his counterpart in
Manchester and in doing so has not only marginalised the concept of
radical separatism but those who espouse it. Separatism is much more
difficult to sell than the more instantly accessible and glamorous
consumerist culture.
There are of course those on the left who balk at the very mention of
National Liberation, condemning it as a divisive concept that retards
the development of progressive class politics. Such short termism and
contradictory positions are elucidated in the writings of Connolly who
placed National Liberation in its proper context alongside Socialism.
Whilst our ability to apply our politics is to some extent victim of
the tide of economic and social circumstance, we must accept some
responsibility for our failure to fully adapt and emphasise the
importance of National Liberation.
Our own analysis is confrontational to the status quo yet this has
failed to manifest itself in confrontational political actions.
Moreover, our failure to move beyond the stance of confrontation and
condemnation has marginalised us further. Resting on the laurels of a
good analysis of the failings of the Belfast "Agreement" is not enough
for the growth of the Movement or socialist politics on the island of
Ireland. The Republican Socialist Movement is at the minute
repositioning itself as a movement primarily of ideas, which is a move
of some realism and integrity, yet it places a burden of
responsibility on the membership to show more imagination and ambition
in analysing our society's ills in a Republican Socialist basis and
suggesting ideas for its remedy. At all times placing those ideas
within a short-term context and the long-term context of National
Liberation.
Having said that, we must expand on what National Liberation means. We
believe that National Liberation is not just the changing of the
administration of one set of bourgeoisie to another but the Liberation
of its people and the land and resources for the collective benefit of
its people.
The dust kicked up by the billions of euros worth of military hardware
at the Easter Rising commemmoration is now settling on Irish citizens
protesting on a wide range of issues, one of which being better health
welfare. The space exists within that issue for us to further our
analysis and the necessity of National Liberation.
The current political makeup of the island of Ireland makes the design
and implementation of adequate health care policies impossible as the
framework of competence and legislation are imposed by the bourgeoisie
British and Irish administrations preventing their development. For
this reason the Irish people are finding themselves selves in a
situation where we have to defend systems that, although theoretically
based on equality, universality and fairness, are increasingly
submitted to the dictates of neo-liberal economic policy.
Other groups are campaigning for the right to farm on their land in
Mayo, the nationalisation of natural resources for the benefit of the
Irish people, the cessation of the use of Irish airspace and airports
for US imperialist exploits in the east. The RSM should be among these
people engaging with these people with its positions and ideas,
juxtaposing the failures of Irish society with the virtues of an all
Ireland Socialist Democratic Republic, i.e. National Liberation.
The de-industrialisation of the Irish and British economy and its
replacement with a virtual debt consumerism based economy has been
disastrous for the working classes here. The RSM should not only use
confrontational political propaganda against this but also travel
beyond that and suggest a Venezuelan model of community-based
economies built on collaborative planning, ownership, and management
in both industrial and agricultural sectors. At a national level, we
should call for the creation of a strong National Economic Ministry
that would explore the Venezuelan model of "cogestion" or
Worker/Government co-management as an intermediate measure towards
nationalisation in every sector of the Irish economy.
The RSM would be foolish to believe that it can achieve this on its
own. Confidence in our own politics is positive yes; blinkered
self-righteousness only restricts our own ability to influence. A
broad front policy needs to pursue at an accelerated rate. The
Movement for the fifth Republic has shown what a broad front can
achieve for its people. We must engage with all shades of
republicanism, progressive trade union groups and grass roots
organisations in a spirit of deference and with a parity of esteem so
that the radical position of the RSM is prevalent in an agreed
collective strategy for National Liberation.
As I mentioned above, our ability to apply our politics is subject to
an extent to the socio-economic tide, this is also true of other
progressive groups who are finding themselves in a similar position as
ourselves and are, I believe, more susceptible to the idea of
progressive National Liberation.
Whilst globalisation has marginalised the notion of National
Liberation in the consciousness of the Irish people, it has also
paradoxically made necessary for the future progression of the Irish
people. The burden is now with us to articulate this.
Tomas Gorman
1st May 2006
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LETTER TO THE VILLAGE
Village reporting - Liz McManus not so innocent
So the shrill Liz McManus gets irritated when she is called "Lady
Wicklow". That makes her as thin-skinned as her potential coalition
partner Michael McDowell, assuming he gets re-elected.
But that is all just political amusement here in Co Wicklow. What I
find more worrying is Village's lapse of editorial rigour. In your
article about Liz McManus (Village, 6 April), your reporter writes,
"she knew nothing about the 'special activities' ? murders, beatings,
armed robberies, counterfeiting and other criminality". That is quite
a bald assertion made by your reporter Emma Browne. And it certainly
does not withstand the kind of scrutiny Vincent Browne normally
applies in his journalistic endeavours.
In the Irish Times of 15 December 2004, Vincent Browne wrote, "Later
that year the Official IRA went on what it called a 'cease-fire', but
over the next decade and a half at least ? ie well into the late
1980s, during all of which time Pat Rabbitte was a member of its
political arm ? the Official IRA murdered scores of people, terrorised
areas in Belfast, shot people in the legs and beat them with crow bars."
Vincent Browne also said that "On 5 October 1977, the Official IRA was
responsible for the murder at North Strand Road, Dublin, of a leader
of a rival political and military organisation, S?amus Costello,
president of the newly-formed IRSP and leader of the paramilitary
organisation, the INLA." Liz McManus was first elected to Bray Urban
District Council (UDC) in 1979 as a member of Sinn F?in The Workers
Party. Costello was chairman of Bray UDC at the time of his murder by
the Official IRA, the military wing of Liz McManus's Workers Party.
How could she know nothing?
I do not accuse Lady Wicklow of any involvement in any of this
criminality. But surely she knew Costello was murdered by the
Officials! She also stayed on as a member of the Workers Party during
a particularly active Official IRA period. They got off lightly
because, as Vincent Browne wrote, "... RT? didn't probe into this area
then or, come to think of it, subsequently ? I wonder why." That is
why the current Labour Party run by Pat Rabbitte, Eamon Gilmore, Lady
Wicklow and other former Official sympathisers has made a cottage
industry out of Shinner bashing.
The current Labour leadership ? all former Official IRA politicos ?
"rely on the youth of much of the electorate" or "rely on the amnesia
of the rest of the electorate" to have a go at Sinn F?in, according to
the Irish Times' introduction to Vincent Browne's 2004 column. The
rest of us rely on the very few sources of informed journalism in
Ireland. Looking up those quotes above took no great length of time on
the internet. Please do not let Village become part of the lazy
journalistic pack.
Cllr John Brady, Bray, Co Wicklow
*
BASF: SIGN THE PETITION AGAINST CENSORSHIP
The German transnational corporation BASF - heir to IG Farben - is
world Number 1 in the chemical industry. In Antwerp (Belgium), this
giant has been disturbed in its tranquility by Comrade Joris Van Gorp,
who is in charge of the Workers' Party of Belgium in the area: BASF
has brought a suit against him for "harassment, calumny and attack to
the honour" of the BASF employers. The affair is to be brought before
the magistrate's court. According to the media, "it is the first time
in Belgium that distributing political leaflets is considered to be
harassment".
The VOKA, the Flemish Employers' organisation (Belgium) has explained
the reasons for the attack against Joris : "Due to the fact that
several organisations, like the WPB, pillory the employers and depict
them as one-armed bandits devouring money, the gulf between workers
and employers remains very wide."
The employers demand organic unity between themselves and workers,
like in the thirties at the time of corporatism.
Antwerp is the second-biggest chemical complex in the world and the
fourth-largest port.
In addition, the Vlaams Belang, the fascist party, is powerful there
and is financed by an impressive number of big employers.
Joris Van Gorp was a BASF worker between 1977 and 1987.
The undersigned demand:
-freedom to make political propaganda against the dominating profit
logic at the entrances to factories.
-that all recourse to judicial procedures concerning calumny and
harassment be forbidden in the framework of the struggle of political
and social idea.
-The dropping of all legal proceedings against Joris Van Gorp.
*******
WHAT'S ON
*
JAMES CONNOLLY EDUCATION TRUST:
c/o 7 Bloom Lane, Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
12-14 May
An internationalist celebration of the life and struggle of James Connolly
(1868-1916) on the ninetieth anniversary of his execution.
12-14 Bealtaine
Ceili?radh idirn?isi?nach de shaol agus streachailt James Connolly
(1868-1916) sa n?chad? bliain i ndiaidh a bh?saithe
Friday 12 May, 8 p.m.
James Connolly Memorial Lecture
The Life and Legacy of James Connolly
Speaker: Eugene McCartan (general secretary, CPI)
Ireland Institute (27 Pearse Street)
Organised by the James Connolly Education Trust
Aoine 12 Bealtaine, 8 i.n.
L?acht Chuimhneach?in James Connolly
The Life and Legacy of James Connolly
Cainteoir: Eugene McCartan (ardr?na?, CPI)
Institi?id na h?ireann (27 Sr?id an Phiarsaigh)
? eagr? ag Iontaobhas Oideachais James Connolly
Saturday 13 May,
from 10 a.m.
All-day conference and workshops on the ideas of James Connolly to
mark the ninetieth anniversary of his execution
Ireland Institute (27 Pearse Street)
10-11:30 a.m.
Socialism or barbarism?
Can the world afford capitalism any longer?
Paul O'Connell (Trinity College, Dublin)
Patricia McKenna (Green Party)
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Workshop 1:
Niall Cullinane (CPI, Galway)
Frank Keoghan (People's Movement)
Workshop 2:
Brian Keenan (Belfast)
Frank Cammock (CPI, Belfast)
2-4:30 p.m.
Socialism and national liberation
The working class in the struggle for national freedom
Guest speakers: David Granville (Britain), Noel Carrillo (Cuba), Avtar
Sadiq (India), Jer?nimo Carrera (Venezuela)
4:30 p.m.
Panel discussion
Satharn 13 Bealtaine, ? 10 r.n.
Comhdh?il lae agus ceardlanna ar smaointe James Connolly le sonr? a
chur sa n?chad? bliain i ndiaidh a bh?saithe
Institi?id na h?ireann (27 Sr?id an Phiarsaigh)
10-11:30 r.n.
Socialism or barbarism?
An acmhainn don domhan an capitleachas a thuilleadh?
Paul O'Connell (Col?iste na Tr?on?ide, Baile ?tha Cliath)
Patricia McKenna (Comhaontas Glas)
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ceardlann 1:
Niall Cullinane (CPI, Gaillimh)
Frank Keoghan (Gluaiseacht an Phobail)
Ceardlann 2:
Brian Keenan (B?al Feirste)
Frank Cammock (CPI, B?al Feirste)
2-4:30 p.m.
Socialism and national liberation
The working class in the struggle for national freedom
Aoichainteoir?: David Granville (an Bhreatain), Noel Carrillo (Cuba),
Avtar Sadiq (an India), Jer?nimo Carrera (Venezuela)
4:30 i.n.
Pl? phain?il
Sunday 14 May, 8 p.m.
Concert to celebrate the life and ideas of James Connolly on the
ninetieth anniversary of his execution
Liberty Hall (Eden Quay)
Adrian Dunbar and his band
Pzazz: "Connolly's Daughter"
Drama Group: extract from The Plough and the Stars
Jimmy Kelly and Friends
Plus traditional singers and musicians.
Sponsors: James Connolly Film Project and Communist Party of Ireland
Tickets: EUR10, available at Liberty Hall and at Connolly Books (7
Bloom Lane)
All proceeds go to the James Connolly Film Project and the
International Brigades Memorial Fund, Belfast.
Domhnach 14 Bealtaine, 8 i.n.
Ceolchoirm
le saol agus smaointe James Connolly a cheili?radh sa n?chad? bliain i
ndiaidh a bh?saithe
?Halla na Saoirse (C? Eden)
Adrian Dunbar agus a bhanna ceoil
Pzazz: "Connolly's Daughter"
Gr?pa Dr?ma?ochta: sliocht as The Plough and the Stars
Jimmy Kelly agus a Chairde
Urraithe: Tionscadal Scann?n James Connolly agus P?irt? Cumannach na
h?ireann
Tic?id: EUR10, le f?il ? Halla na Saoirse agus ? Connolly Books (7
L?na Bloom)
N? f?ltais ar fad ? dtabhairt do Thionscadal Scann?n James Connolly
agus Ciste Cuimhneach?n na mBriog?id? Idirn?isi?nta, B?al Feirste
Sunday 14 May, 3 p.m.
Annual James Connolly Commemoration
Arbour Hill Military Cemetery (behind Collins Barracks)
Wreaths will be laid on the grave of James Connolly by representatives
of the Communist Party of Ireland, Communist Party of Britain,
Communist Party of Cuba, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of
Venezuela, and Connolly Youth Movement, followed by a short oration.
Domhnach 14 Bealtaine, 3 i.n.
Com?radh Bliant?il James Connolly
Reilg Mh?leata Chnoc an Arbhair (taobh thiar de Dh?n U? Choile?in)
Leagfar bl?thfhleasca ar uaigh James Connolly ar son Ph?irt? Cumannach
na h?ireann, P?irt? Cumannach na Breataine, P?irt? Cumannach Chuba,
P?irt? Cumannach na hIndia, P?irt? Cumannach Venezuela, agus ?gra U?
Chonghaile, agus ina dhiaidh sin tabharfar ?r?id ghearr.
*******Back copies of The Plough can be accessed at:http://www.irsm.org/irsp/plough/.New web site to view about North Belfast go to: http://radicalnorthbelfast.piczo.com/.Please feel free to comment on the contents of The Plough. We welcomepolitical comments and criticisms.If you would prefer to receive The Plough as an attachment pleasee-mail with heading "add attachment".If you know of anybody who might wish to receive The Plough pleasesend his or her e-mail address to johnmartinps@eircom.net.If you wish to receive back copies of the The Plough please e-mailto johnmartinps@eircom.net stating which numbers you wish.To unsubscribe to The Plough please send e-mailentitled "unsubscribe" to johnmartinps@eircom.net.It is the policy of The Plough to acknowledge information andarticles from other sources.Subscribe to the bi-monthly"The Starry Plough/An Camchéachta"P.O. Box 1981, Derry, BT48 8GX, Ireland.THE VOICE OF REPUBLICAN SOCIALISM!Email: starry_plough@hotmail.comWebsite: http://www.irsm.org/irsp/starryplough/Fighting Fund/DonationsTo: The Starry PloughFirst Trust Bank, Derry, BT48 6BUAccount No. 14986015 Sort Code No. 93-86-10http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html (Pairtí Poblachtach Sóisialach nah-Éireann)http://www.wageslave.org/jcs/ (James Connolly Society)http://www.marxists.org/archive/connolly/ (James Connolly Archive)The Republican Socialist Forum from Derry IRSP http://rsmforum.proboards23.com/Republican Socialist Online Merchandise - A website that offers a central place to go on the Internet to find good quality items with a distinct Republican Socialist theme. Proceeds from sales from this effort go towards the IRSM and its various projects.http://www.angelfire.com/folk/irishshop/*Support the IRSPStanding Order FormTo the Manager First Trust Bank, Andersonstown.Please pay First Trust Bank Andersonstown Branch, Belfast, and credit to Irish Republican Socialist Party, A/C Number 70490021, Branch Code 93-84-75The sum of:Amount in words:Commencing date: and thereafter every month till further notice.And debiting A/C number: Name (Please print clearly):Date:Address:Signature: