Ardoyne Situation

So it has been a while since I posted anything here. Truth is, I've become rather fed up with everything. I want to discuss my opinions on the current trouble in Ardoyne. Firstly, I will discuss my opinion on the whole Orange Order, 11th/12th Nights and Orangefest.

The Bonfires of the 11th night, are completely unacceptable in a 21st Century society. I have blogged about this before so you can read that if you wish to know my opinions on the Bonfires.

Loyalist Bonfires: http://whatsachris.blogspot.com/2009/06/you-cant-decommision-attitudes-harsh.html

Republican Bonfires: http://whatsachris.blogspot.com/2009/08/republican-bonfire.html

On the Orange Orders own website it states that they "strenuously oppose the fatal errors and doctrines of the Church of Rome", and that they should "resist the ascendancy of that Church". This is blatant admission that the Orange Order are sectarian, in that they are antiCatholic. So, in this day and age where we are "Moving away from Sectarian divisions" in our City, the Belfast City council agrees to this farcical that is "Orangefest", trying to disguise this Sectarian bigotry as family fun. Then we have politicians claiming that it is a community event. Well, it clearly is not a community event. I would not be welcome at the "Festival" if I carried my tricolour, only if I carried a Union flag. So Orangefest is both antiCatholic and Loyalist only; It is not a family or community event.

So this leads me on to my opinions on the GARC's sit down protest.

I belief that the residents of the Ardoyne area are entitled to stage their protest, against this bigoted march through their area. The resident's of the area have staged their peaceful protest for the past few years, but what has it achieved? They still have not got dialogue with the Orange Order and the march still goes through their area. So this year I think it was right for the Residents to stage their sit down protest. Civil disobedience is a legal way of Protest and revolution. It was the soul solution to the downfall of Apartheid in South Africa. So at this I agree with the Protest. I think it was wrong for the police to remove the protesters by force, and completely unacceptable that they fired baton rounds.

However I can not give support to the constant riots. Many of these rioters are bored youths, without a political concept in their head. Not all of them, but many. I am sorry to say that I do not agree with the RSF opinion, that these people are defending their neighborhoods against British Police. These British Police would not have been there last night if not for the riots. Maybe on the 12th night you could use this argument, but not on the 13th Night. The 13th should be used to commemorate Martin Hurson who died after 46 days on the Hungerstrike.

I furthermore think that it is wrong for non residents to bus into the area to take advantage of the situation. If the people of the area called for Republicans to travel to their community in support then I myself would have gone, but they did not. This means, whether it was intentional or not, those that did travel Hijacked the protest, and marred the peaceful civil disobedience with violence.

At the end of the day do I condone the Loyalist, bigoted parades? No I do not. I believe there is no place in this society for this kind of contentious parading outside of their own areas. Do I condem the Residents sit down protest? No, I fully support their decision. Do I condem the youths rioting? No I do not. Society has failed these youths and they can not be completely condemned, though they must face responsibility. Do I condem the actions of those that are using these riots to their advantage? No, I do not agree with them but I have no right to condem them. My opinion is that all this trouble has done us great disadvantage.

The numbers of the Orange Order had reportedly fallen to 9000 across the occupied territory. That is a considerably lack of people in comparison to the years gone by. The lack of serious trouble over the past years has saw people lose interest and their numbers fall. This year will see a dramatic rise.

Beidh ár lá linn.

Ross Kemp Middle East: ISRAEL

This is a continuation obviously of the previous blog post and the show it refers too. This show starts with a tour of the places in which suicide bombs have taken place. It is an awful thing to hear. So many Young lives lost; It's not right, not in a supposed civilised world.

Let me make my position clear on this; I do not support bombing Supermarkets and Bus Stops. I do not support killing innocent people. However, when people are opressed history has shown time and time again that they nearly always turn to the gun and bomb, as they see little else that they can do. As a result I will not condem people who are responsible for this. I can not condem. I have no right to condem.

Anyway the show continues, and Ross Kemp goes to a training session for the IDF. The man he talks with makes it clear that they have a shoot to kill policy when it comes to those they designate as terrorists.

This show highlights that 24 people have been killed as a result of Bombs/Rockets from Gaza and in retaliation the Israeli forces have slaughtered 4000 Palestinians. The lives of the 24 is regretable. Whether it is 1 life, 24 lives or 4000 lives it is unacceptable. As a Pro Palestinian I do not support the deaths of these people, I do not believe it can be justified.. However this is the arguement used against Israel. The Israeli forces have used indiscriminate, unproportional, heavy handed response slaughtering thousands of innocent people. They have evicted the people, leaving them homeless. They have destroyed their livelyhoods by destroying such things as their Olive Grove's. They have broken the international laws by cliaming land over the green line.

This show highlights that while protesters throw stones, the Israeli forces fire bullets and tear gas and use Watercannons firing "Something very nasty, not just water". It is once again the arguement against the Israeli forces. Heavy handed oppression. Where is the justification for this action?

At this stage the show turns to the settler question. The settler that he chooses to talk to states clearly that she does not believe that the Arabs have rights to live in the area and using biblical language to prove this.

Now at this stage I would like to highlight, that despite what this woman states, the Old Testament, the scriptures that Jews study, states that the land belongs only to God. He gives the Israelites permission to live there, but the land belongs to God. However lets assume that they do have historical and religious rights to the land surely this accounts only for Religious Jews. How does this apply to non Religious Jews? The Israeli state allows settlements of secular Jews and takes land from the Palestinian Arabs to house these people?

I'm gonna cut this here, as opposed to commenting the whole show. But before I end I would like to clarify my position on the Palestinian cause.

I support Palestinian rights to live free from opression. Free from checkpoints and siege. I believe that the siege of Gaza must end. I believe that the checkpoints that stop the Palestinian people from travel in their own land must end. I believe that violence must come to an end. I believe that the construction of the segregation wall must come to an end and the current fortifications torn down. I believe that the state of Palestine needs to exist as a united state. Not a nation divided into the West Bank and the Gaza refugee camp. I believe that the continuation of settlements and land grabbing must halt now.

God Bless
Peace

Evidence that You Can't Trust the State

Okay so I'm sure everyone has heard about the "shots fired on police in Fermanagh" at this stage. What I can gather however is that only one shot was fired, yet Police replyed with two shots.

Anyway as I am in Uni this is just a wee short one to highlight that the British state can not be trusted. In recent weeks we have seen a letter to the DUP about policing and justice, with out involvement of SF.

However in relation to the aformentioned incident, it has emerged that members of the British Army were involved in the inncident and that soldiers from the "Special Reconnaissance Regiment" had been involved and had been monitoring movements. We as Irish Republicans are expected to "move on" and trust the state and Stormont despite being told that the Army were not on our streets, nor would they be on our streets, whilst in the background are carrying out Reconnaissance missions on our streets, in our country.

Now I have issues with members of the police force being targeted. Its a personal inner conflict that I would have with my Christian faith. Targeting a member of the police force, just because he is a Catholic members, to enforce a point, is a ideal I can not find myself supporting.

But I think this whole thing raises a bigger issue. It highlights a growing sector of unhappy Republicans, who are constantly brushed off by the executive as being Dissidents, or terrorists. However this highlights that a growing sector of the electorate are unhappy. "Dissidents" are equal members of society and as such have a right to voice an opinion and be listened too. Éirígí, 32CSM and the RNU to name three parties of unhappy Republicans, all without a armed wing, are all ignored as "dissident" Republicans. It is unfair to paint all of these people with the same brush that is used to paint the CIRA and the RIRA.

While the executive continues to ignore the voices of these people, brushing them off as mere dissidents and while the PSNI continue to stop 110 people a day under the terrorism laws, the ranks of the armed wings of Republicanism will swell. This "peace" will begin to show up the cracks that it is painted over. Where we at this stage do not have "violent conflict" on our streets, we still have conflict and where people continue to ignore it, it will boil over.

It is my belief that this "Peaceful Society" that these politicians talk about, is at a very real threat of collapsing in on itself. The British state and the DUP have not learnt from their past. The same tatics they used against SF are the same tatics they now use againts "dissidents". SF are now the biggest Republican party in the occupied state. These same tatics will cause the ranks of the very "dissidents" they are trying to ignore, to grow.

Now this was supposed to be a short one and as a result I don't really have time to build a conclusion. These are just more thoughts going on in my head. I will write in more detail later.

God Bless
Peace

INLA Statement

Full Statement

The INLA and IRSP were formed in 1974 in order to create a 32 County Socialist Republic. In those 35 years military volunteers and political activists have fought with courage and honour and have struck at the heart of the British military and political machine in Ireland and in Britain. The INLA is a key constituency within the Republican Socialist Movement (RSM). The INLA recognised that its struggle was based upon two distinct phases:

(1) Armed Resistance (2) Political Organisation

In 1994 the INLA put in place a no first strike policy and in 1998 called a complete cease-fire. Both of these decisions were based on its political analysis and monitoring of the changing military and political environment. The recent progress on loyalist decommissioning can be traced back to the INLA’s “no first strike policy” of 1994 and the INLA acknowledges this progressive step by loyalism.

The RSM has been informed by the INLA that following a process of serious debate, consultation and analysis, it has concluded that the armed struggle is over and the objective of a 32 County Socialist Republic will be best achieved through exclusively peaceful political struggle.

The RSM agree with this analysis and are fully supportive of the move to build a left wing party that has a clear objective of a 32 County Socialist Republic based on the principles of equality, justice, inclusion, human rights and dignity.

It is within the above objective that the RSM opposed the Good Friday Agreement and continues to do so. We as a movement believe that the Six County State is not a viable political entity, which cannot be reformed and fitted into a flawed two State solution.

The RSM has always aspired to the principle of the primacy of politics as espoused by Ta Power.

The future struggles are political. We urge all comrades, members, volunteers and supporters to join the political struggle ahead with the same vigour, commitment and courage that was evident in our armed struggle against the British State.

To para-phrase James Connolly ‘let us arise’, build a left political alternative in Ireland and support the struggle against global capitalism.

Ultimately our allegiance is to the working class, onwards to victory.

"The Armed Struggle is Over"

"The Armed Struggle is Over" - INLA

The Irish National Liberation Army were formed in 1975, believed to be formed as a break away from the the Official IRA who had three years previous called a Ceasefire. The INLA have had a reputation for ruthlessness and were involved in many high profile killings of the troubles. They were responsible for the death of Billy Wright and Airey Neave and the 1982 bomb attack on the "Droppin' Well Pub" in Derry.

Patsy O'Hara(61 Days), Kevin Lynch(71 Days) and Michael Devine(60 Days) all died on hunger strike whilst protesting for political status and prisioner rights in Long Kesh in 1981. Liam McCloskey was also on the strike for 55 days before the strike ended. All were members of the INLA.

The INLA are dedicated to Irish Freedom and the establishment of a 32 County Socialist Republic.

Following the GFA, to which they opposed, the INLA called a ceasefire, which they have maintained for eleven years. This is a reflection of their dedication to the people and their cause. However, in their wake they had left a legacy of 113 deaths including 46 British Security forces, 2 Irish Security Forces, 16 Republican paramilitaries, 7 loyalist paramilitaries and regretably a further 42 civilians.

The Political wing of the INLA, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, issued the statement at an event in Bray in County Wicklow.

"The RSM [Republican Socialist Movement] has been informed by the INLA that following a process of serious debate, consultation and analysis, it has concluded that the armed struggle is over and the objective of a 32 County Socialist Republic will be best achieved through exclusively peaceful political struggle "

Their was no mention of decommisioning during the statement, however it is believed that the process has already begun, although it is only at the discussion stage.

In recent years the INLA, like all "dissidents", have been accused of criminal activity, namely drugs, however the INLA have in the past used beatings and kneecappings to punish dealers. It is a hard pill for me to swallow, that these community based men and women would now allow such activities to turn their streets into the "republican ghettos" we hear so much about. I personally question this as being a hard "fact".

Reactions from all mainstream parties have been as expected.

"Given the history of the INLA there will undoubtedly be some scepticism about today's statement... However, if it is followed by the actions that are necessary, this is a welcome development" - Gerry Adams

Despite this reaction being the same as that of unionists to the PIRA decmmision I guess this reaction was to be expected. However the reaction of non mainstream Republicans is likely to be different, as it seems that another Republican organisation dedicated to the establishment of a 32 County Socialist Republic surrendered, as this is an aim that many Irish believe is unachievable if we give up our weapons.

The action of giving up our weapons to the occupier is hardly likely to achieve freedom from that occupier, considering they have refused to allow our freedom since 1167. However the INLA, who opposed the GFA and the idea of moving into the politcal spectrum have now decided that is the only way forward. We see this following moves by the loyalist paramilitaries, a move I believe was necessary before more Republican weapons are decommissioned.

As I stated in previous blogs I do not currently see the space for armed struggle at this stage in the Republican struggle for freedom. The Irish people, and the Republican movement, has always insisted that armed struggle should be the last option. At this moment the support for armed struggle, where it is not as low as the British state would have us believe, it is not what it use to be in previous years, though it is on the rise. I believe in the Republican stance of opposing the Britsh Army and opposing the current Police Force, however at this stage I do not see the need for armed force. I agreed with the INLA stance of a ceasefire, but not surrender.

I do not agree with the complete disarmament of the Republican groups, until the loyalist people have also begun to decommission every weapon, a move we are starting to see. Furthermore disarmament of the Irish people requires the 5000 remaining soldiers to be brought home, and their British army bases put out of use. The PSNI needs to be reformed. I believe that whilst we remain under the rule of Britain, we need a new police service, and not the police force that is the RUC, reshuffled to the PSNI. At this stage ideally it would be necessary that the British and Irish governments begin to discuss complete British withdrawal and the unification of our Island.

I must admit it is good to see that this organisation have decided to advance peacefully, but what does this spell out for the likes of ONH, CIRA and RIRA? I believe they shall now, like they have with PSF, deem them traitors to the Irish cause and it is likely that the IRSP will lose the little support they have. However, the fact remains, whilst British rule is administered in Ireland there will be those that will fight against it, furthermore, there will be those who will fight with the sword [or armalite].

John Brady died in Police custody, and with Britain's history in this Country it does seem suspicious to me and many other Republicans. It is another hard pill to swallow for Republicans to trust the British system or the PSNI and the case of Brady is unlikely to aid that mistrust. If the British refuse to give the Irish freedom, why would they do so to a people that no longer pose a threat? I believe that with the INLA disarmed and effectively no more, that their support will obviously move to the likes of the CIRA/RIRA, meaning that we will certainly see a rise in the support of one if not both of these organisations.

However one would believe this an interesting point to question rumours that have been circulating on-line [fenian32 / Politics.ie], insinuating that the CIRA army council no longer see the use of violence as justifiable. Are we truly seeing the CIRA, the army that holds roots in the original army of the first Dáil Éireann making a move towards peace? The army who condemned the PIRA for all these years? This would almost certainly see the growth, and a considerable growth at that, of the RIRA, who are reputably more ruthless than the CIRA.

As I have stated before I do not condemn these groups, but I currently see the space for a ceasefire that could lead to negotiations with the British state and a reflection of where we really are in our struggle. Can Bombs and guns really bring us any further? If so, Do armed groups have the support currently to be effective? Do they really have the ability to stage an economic war?? If not, is it time to disarm? Do we remain on permanent ceasefire? I have no answers, just some food for thought, for mainstream Republicans and otherwise.

God Bless

Peace