February/March 1998 Connolly Association: campaigning for a united and independent Ireland The buildiig of Irish national United democracy Irishmen Page 6 4-page supplement, pages 7-10 As sectarian loyalist murder gangs step up their campaign of terror, the Irish Democrat's Northern correspondent Bobbie Heatley warns the Blair government of the dangers of reverting to the failed policies of the past he latest joint document from the British and Irish govern- ments has saved - for the time- being at least - the talks process, although Trimble's Ulster Unionists still refuse to engage with Sinn F6in, who along with the IIRA have formally rejected it as a basis for a negotiated settlement. The UUP can talk to loyalist, sec- tarian killers in The Maze, but not to the third largest political party in the North which has signed up to the Mitchell principles of non-violence, or to the IRA, who unlike the Loyalist Volunteer Force and its various associ- ates, is adhering to its ceasefire. Just a week before Trimble's party was going to have to address the nitty- gritty issues at the core of the dispute, after having avoided them (with Tory At last! Government announces new inquiry into Bloody Sunday help) for several years, unionism in British Prime Minister Tony Blair has confirmed that there will be a new judicial inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday, 1972. The announcement, which general whipped up a 'crises' by is the culmination of growing pressure in recent years from the relatives of the victims, campaigners and the Irish government, followed a series of events threatening to abort the peace talks. throughout Britain and Ireland marking the 26th anniversary of the massacre. Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn and Sinn Ftin's Dodie McGuinness (pictured The INLA's killing of Billy Wright, above) were among those who joined around 2,000 in a march through London days before details of the new inquiry were announced, (see also pages 3&4) public leader of the loyalist killing machine, the LVF, suspiciously, inside elements inside the UUP itself who commentators as wearing an Orange something contrary to what they real- state. In a militarised civic society, The Maze Prison, came as a god-send are incapable of contemplating any- Sash. It is said that the document, with ly want while being too troublesome they still bear the main brunt of to unionists. thing beyond a return to the former, its pro-unionist flavour, was necessary to constrain. oppression. With the Progressive Unionist pre-direct rule, Orange/unionist to cajole Trimble and his party to stay In the 1997 UK general election, The explanation for this perpetual Party (PUP), the political arm of the sums quo, were putting pressure on in the talks - the cusjomary way in out of around 788,000 votes cast, the partiality on the part of successive UVF, discontented about not being Trimble to withdraw from the talks as which British governments have unionist vote , excluding the Alliance British governments has little to do informed/consulted enough, and the well. Like those unionists who are responded to the threats of Northern Party, was just 388,707. The combined with unionist violence. It is about de- Ulster Unionists whinging on about already boycotting them, these ele- Ireland unionism. New Labour, fol- nationalist/republican vote was colonisation or, the ceding of self-gov- unspecified, and largely mythical, con- ments are of the opinion that the talks lowing in that oft«used lory tradition, 336,240, and growing. However, in the ernment (democracy) to the North - cessions to republicanism, Wright's will not deliver the undiluted which has pitifully failed to resolve the 120 years from the Act of Union up something that can be realised, only in assassination was the leavening supremacy that they covet problem, caaneteven be induced to until partition over 100 Coercion Acts an all-Ireland context. It is for the pur- required for a 'crises'. The PUP threat- Given this 1998 mini-version of the try political and economic persuasion. were legislated at Westminster to dra- pose gf obscuring this fact that succes- ened to withdraw from the talks Unionist revolt of 1912, the two gov- $wccsstaL British governments; goon the vast majority of the Irish peo- sive British governments have insert- because of its own grudge, while the ernments, Dublin and London, preferred to obscure the issue at ple Since partition the nationalist and ed 'itfo 'documents drawn up jointly LVF stepped up its on-going assassi- said to have 'blinked*. They cam* i; heart of the contiia, to the detri* republican section of the community wi(htht Irish government stipula- nation campaign against nationalists with the current 'Propositions on ment of the interests of their British in the North, most of whom are estab- tions, parameters and phraseology that and Catholics in general. Heads of Agreement' document - stig- electorates, pretending that the lishment outsider*, have suffered the leave most people bewildered. Given this heightening of tensions, matised in Ireland by many objective Northern Ireland unionists are doing coercion of a discriminatory police »#> Irish Democrat February/March 1998 Page 3 Irish Democrat February/March 1998 Stormont papers Iwsh OemociucPrisone r transfers welcomed Loyalist killings strain Founded 1939 Volume 53, No.2 reflect impact PRISONERS of CA's civil rights Democrat reporter peace process rate with the LVF in its ongoing cam- analysis ore than two years after LOYALIST VIOLENCE Z* Bat - transfer legislation coming paign of sectarian violence. THIRTY YEAR PAPERS FINESSING THE 'ORANGE CARD' Democrat reporter Confirmation of the UFF's ' COMPANY into force, progress has Democrat reporter The recent upsurge in the activities of the loyalist death squads, been made on the transfer The withdrawal from the talks of the involvement in the murders of Eddie Ulster Democratic Party, the political Treanor, Larry Brennan and Ben The 1967 Stormont Cabinet papers, following the killing of the imprisoned Loyalist Volunteer Force of republican prisoners back to Ireland. Three representatives of the UDA/UFF, fol- Hughes, which the organisation released recently to the public under leader Billy Wright in The Maze Prison by the INLA, has caused republicaMn prisoners were transferred lowing the admission by the loyalist described as "a measured military the 30 years rule, recall the Connolly dismay and distress throughout the North. While none doubted before Christmas and recently a paramilitary group of its involvement response" to "republican aggression" Association's campaign to expose the that the rabidly sectarian LVF was capable of entirely random further seven have returned to Ireland. in the recent muders of three came as the UFF announced a reintro- misdeeds of unionism in British There are currently 11 sentenced Catholics, casts a further shadow over duction of its ceasefire. Despite the labour circles in the 1960s. attacks of astounding brutality against Catholics, the confirmation republican prisoners in English jails. the already fragile talks process. announcement, sectarian attacks by It was the CA which first thought by RUC chief Ronnie Flanagan of the involvement of the There are also three men on trial in The move, which was announced loyalists have continued. Within up the civil rights strategy to discredit UFF/UDA in several of the killings, and continuing loyalist relation to the bombing of Canary by the UDP leaders to avoid the hours of the UFF statement Liam and bring down unionism by calling Conway was murdered whilst working violence, further strains the peace process. Wharf, which signalled the ending of humiliation of being expelled from the for equality and civil rights for the first IRA ceasefire two years ago. talks for a flagrant breach of the in a loyalist area of Belfast. Catholics in the North and setting out Despite the apparent efforts of at least some of the leadership of Suspiciously, no group has claimed Progress has been a long time com- Mitchell Principles, was inevitable to win allies for that policy in the responsibility, casting further doubt the Ulster Democratic Party, the political wing of the UFF/UDA, ing on this crucial issue. The Mitchell after it became clear that UDA/UFF ranks of British labour. on the UFF ceasefire statement. the latest round of sectarian blood-feasting has proved beyond any Report advised that "continued action elements were continuing to collabo- The newly released Stormont doubt that significant sections of loyalism are intent on intensify- by the Governments on prisoners papers show unionist Premier Captain would bolster trust". This advice was murdered in July 1997 at the Co. Terence O'Neill coming under ing their reign of terror in an attempt to halt progress towards a Recent victims of Antrim home of her Protestant pressure from Prime Minister Harold not initially taken up by the British The issue «f poOtical prisoners remains central to the successor the peace balanced settlement, interim or otherwise. boyfriend. Wilson and Home Secretary Roy government. At the same time, trans- as thto new mural in the New Lodge area of Belfast cleaiiy shows loyalist violence While progressives and democrats in Britain and Ireland will fers have been subject to incredible 10. James Morgan (16) abducted by Jenkins, who in turn were under pressure from growing numbers of shed no tears for the demise of the sectarian murderer Billy delays. to remove all republican prisoners Maze hopefully demonstrates a long- 1. Michael McGoWrick, Catholic taxi loyalists. His mutilated body was Progress, however has been made from the notorious Special Secure term commitment on the part of the driver, murdered July 1996. dumped in lime pit, July 1997. backbenchers. Wright, the circumstances of his death and that of UDA man Jim and the recent transfer follows a num- Units (SSUs), condemned by Amnesty British Government to a more realistic 2.