LEFTLINE

Radical analysis from the Irish Socialist Network

www.irishsocialist.net hoping his listeners will take responsible, or we turn in on fright at the prospect of them ourselves and find someone LOOKING AFTER all descending upon us like else to blame. From the OUR OWN avian-flu-ridden turkeys. bosses’ point of view, racism The truth is a lot less is extremely handy as a ready-made scapegoat. When people stop believing dramatic, of course. Ireland in socialism, it often turns is finally catching up with What Rabbitte has achieved out that they don’t just the rest of the world, with is to tip the scales a bit believe in nothing: they’ll about 10% of our population further against a class believe in anything. Whether now coming from abroad. response and in favour Pat Rabbitte ever believed in Far from robbing the poor of a racist response. He socialism in any real sense old Irish of the fruits of has turned attention away is a question we can leave to the Celtic Tiger, the vast from the conflict of interest the boys down at forensics, majority of immigrant between classes, and towards but he’s certainly prepared workers are taking up jobs an imagined conflict of to pin his tail to any donkey that Irish people now find races. He has brought these days. too unpleasant or badly-paid. into respectable discourse And the few who have beaten the notion that a group of Having sold what was left Irish people to a job against workers are the problem that of the Labour Party’s soul the odds deserve it, and are needs controlling, rather to Enda Kenny — cheaply, doing no more than millions than the capitalist class and because damaged goods of Irish people have done in its behaviour. If that notion fetch little in any market — other countries. takes hold, it will choke his latest brainwave is to call When workers are confronted off any prospect of decent for restrictions on immigrant working-class politics, never workers. with social or economic problems, we can respond mind socialism. Raising his eyebrows basically in one of two It has to be said that many conspiratorially, he informs ways. Either we point the working-class people are us that there are forty million finger at the businessmen prepared to go along with Poles out there, you know, and politicians who are truly Rabbitte here. An opinion poll suggests that 80% of Polish building worker are meaningless unless backed people agree with restrictions all ‘our own’. But instead up by action from our on immigrant workers, we have a labour movement movement. As a matter about the same amount that that says there are too many of principle, Ireland’s voted for McDowell’s racist of them, while it proceeds borders should be open to referendum in 2004. This is to treat our enemies as anyone who wants to come one of those occasions when ‘partners’. Is it any wonder here: anything less goes at socialists need the courage to that the unions are failing to least part of the way with stand up against the tide of organise these workers? Rabbitte, and reduces us to a popular opinion. A workers’ movement that sick discussion on how many Not so long ago, it was really welcomed immigrant people should be turned commonplace for trade workers would be a very away because of their ethnic unions to oppose the entry of different movement indeed. or national origins. women into the workforce, Just as the women once The medieval system of or to allow it only on unequal excluded from unions work permits should not terms, on the basis that often turned out to be the be modified or improved, they would undermine the best trade unionists, Irish but scrapped entirely. position of male workers. workers could do with a Asylum seekers, currently It was eventually brought shot in the arm from those condemned to compulsory home to them that it was Rabbitte wants to keep out. unemployment, should be precisely that sexist prejudice The most militant part of the allowed to work, and the that undermined the position Irish working class last year threat of deportation lifted of all workers. Workers have was the Turkish part, the from them. to organise together on an workers who fought Gama’s A nation that oppresses equal basis to get anywhere, exploitation and SIPTU’s another, wrote Marx, forges and that includes fighting the indifference. chains for itself. Unless specific discrimination that Indeed, we should ask the workers’ movement in women workers face. ourselves if our movement Ireland welcomes and fights The same principle should is worthy of immigrant for immigrant workers, apply with immigrant workers. A May Day it’s going nowhere fast. workers. Some basic demonstration in Dublin We cannot rebuild a real principles of solidarity must be a pathetic sight to workers’ movement without and internationalism need someone from Nigeria, where 100% opposition to the restating. A worker, whatever one-day general strikes racism faced by a growing country he or she comes against the government are part of our class. from, is our brother or sister; a regular occurrence. Poles a capitalist, even if he only whose parents built a union movement in the teeth of Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh, comes from down the road, is writing here in a personal our enemy. repression from Stalinist generals must be singularly capacity, is a member It’s often said that ‘we should unimpressed by a movement of Residents Against look after our own’. Well, that can’t even close down a Racism (see www. immigrant workers are ‘our company that sacks you for residentsagainstracism.org own’: the Filipina nurse, wearing your union badge. for more details). the Nigerian bus driver, the Abstract welcomes are THE DUBLIN were innocent victims, the black man was better RIOTS seeking to remind us of their paid, they had better jobs, pain. better everything. He was treated better than anywhere Some of the initial frenzy Journalist Susan McKay has else in the world.” provoked by the Dublin been a lone voice reminding riots has passed, and we can people that its chief organiser As Jeffrey Donaldson start to judge the long-term Willie Frazer is an apologist of the DUP demanded impact. for terrorism who is sympathy from the people manipulating the suffering of the Republic, nobody The usual suspects in the of northern Protestants to was churlish enough to media made a determined further his anti-democratic remind him that Ian Paisley effort to blame Sinn Fein for agenda. Frazer’s comments and the Orange Order had the trouble, which was only about loyalist paramilitaries joined forces with loyalist to be expected. The fact that (“they should never have paramilitaries to orchestrate Sinn Fein had told people been locked up in the first several days of rioting in to ignore the loyalist demo, place”) haven’t been given Belfast last summer. Such and condemned the rioting, much of an airing in the uncomfortable facts interfere made this task quite difficult. southern media. with the agenda of those who The anti-Provo brigade seem want to blame republicans to have retreated from this People were right to be angry for every problem that arises fantasy for now, but don’t be when Robert McCartney in the north. surprised if we see it rear its was murdered by the head in the future. IRA. But the hypocrisy of It remains to be seen what many commentators who consequences the rioting After all, the same people shed crocodile tears for will have north of the have casually re-written McCartney and his family border. Some of the “Love history, now referring to the should be clear. They can’t Ulster” marchers went on “riots” of May Day 2002. muster any indignation when the rampage in Portadown The most clear-cut case of Frazer defends the loyalist on the night after their failed Garda brutality in recent death squads who murdered demonstration. There’s a years, captured live on video, hundreds of Catholic real danger that loyalists can be magically transformed civilians (some of them also will be looking for revenge into a riot by the power of from the Short Strand). when marching season wishful thinking. The hand of comes around this summer. the IRA Army Council may Nor did we hear about the The Drumcree protest has yet be found in this year’s views of his ally Jim Dixon, been running out of steam in disturbances. who told reporters: “It’s recent years, so the last thing wrong that blacks are coming we need is a revival. We were also reminded that to Northern Ireland … I large sections of the political couldn’t care less if people On balance, it would have class and the commentariat call me a racist. I couldn’t been better if the march had are determined to ignore care less what they think. been able to go ahead. Willie loyalist bigotry. Again and Apartheid meant the black Frazer came south looking again, we have been told man was better treated and for trouble, and he got what that the “Love Ulster” crowd respected. Under apartheid, he wanted. Allowing a loyalist march to go ahead foothold in Dublin. THE BIN TAX - THE in Dublin isn’t the same as BATTLE GOES ON allowing the Orange Order One good thing came out to march down the Garvaghy of the trouble, though: If one were to rely on the Road: loyalism will always indymedia.ie has gone a long mainstream media, one be an alien presence in the way towards establishing would think that the bin tax south, and its followers will itself as a credible source controversy is long dead. The never be able to stamp their of news and analysis. Its issue rarely gets an airing, authority on the people of coverage of the rioting despite the attention granted Dublin. was streets ahead of most to it by Eddie Hobbs in his mainstream media. The popular Rip-off Republic The rioting has been a Murdoch/O’Reilly hacks series. But despite this, across challenge for the Left. No were clearly irritated by the large swathes of Dublin city, socialist can join in with the challenge alternative media masses of people are still establishment commentators outlets pose to their right refusing to pay the charge. denouncing “scumbags” to lie. As radical activism and “skangers”, whose class grows, the potential new This is hugely significant: if prejudice is clear as day. media offers to challenge the the Dublin campaign holds out We can sympathise with corporate giants can develop and the Council fails to impose the anti-police sentiment further. non-collection in working- that was apparent (Fr Peter class areas of the City, the McVerry deserves credit for DF question will remain on the highlighting this motivation agenda for the foreseeable behind the violence). But future. What’s more, it will this doesn’t mean we should open up the question again support the rioting. nationally, reminding people in areas outside Dublin that The fact remains that the they are being forced to pay violence accomplished an unjust tax simply because nothing, and will probably they were not organised to be damaging in the long resist. run – not least by supplying the state with an excuse for Continued resistance will also hard-line policing. It’s partly impact in a general election, a failing of the Left that making this an issue in key disaffected working-class Dublin constituencies, where people express their anger parties such as Labour and in such a counter-productive Sinn Fein, and to a lesser way: if we were stronger and extent the Greens and Fine more effective, there might Gael, will be vying with be a more constructive outlet each other to be seen as the available. The rage that was ‘people’s friends’ by opposing in evidence on February unpopular policies such as the 25th could just as easily bin tax. be exploited by far-right elements if they establish a This is not to say that we can change here and now through privatised and charges are expect politicians of any hue direct participation in active increasing all the time. The to abolish or ‘reform’ the bin campaigning rather than way would be open for the tax. But in the run up to an passively waiting to vote privatisation of the service in election they will be more Labour, in the vain hope that the city, and without popular sensitive to pressure and this the Rabbittes and Howlins of backing and a demoralised may cause the Council’s harsh this world will deliver from workforce, the union tactics to be muted during that above. bureaucracy would inevitably period - giving a breathing cave in. space to the campaign. This is why most trade union leaders, far from assisting After the intense period of Another aspect of the bin tax the bin tax campaign, have struggle in autumn 2003, the issue that has been lost on the actually played a decisive role view was taken by some that mainstream media is that this in undermining the campaign, the campaign was actually has been the most systematic from the disgraceful attack defeated and there was no and enduring campaign of by David Beggs on Joe point in continuing to flog a organised working class Higgins and Clare Daly when dead horse since this would resistance that has occurred they were in prison, to the only sow illusions of victory in Ireland for years. This also sly leadership manoeuvring amongst working people. explains the lengths to which which resulted in a motion The ISN disagreed with those in power have gone to which supports the bin tax, this analysis for a number defeat it. The ruling class albeit a more ‘equitable’ of reasons. There was, and and their pet politicians, both version, being narrowly still is, mass non-payment in right-wing and reformist, have passed at the last SIPTU Dublin City so, in practice, learnt the lesson of the water conference. Both SIPTU and large numbers of workers tax struggle of the 1980s and IMPACT bureaucrats have were continuing to resist. 1990s: popular victories also played a key role in spur people on to more forcing the refuse workers to The second factor is that even struggle and undermine the implement non-collection. if widespread non-payment narrow boundaries of what is collapsed, there is no doubt deemed as legitimate popular This should not surprise us: that this is only one of many participation in politics. given the choice between a battles over service charges/ victory won from popular local taxation to come, so it From their point of view participatory struggle or a is essential to keep an active campaigns based primarily or defeat which could discourage campaign alive albeit at a even partially on direct action/ such activity, the reformists different level, using different civil disobedience must not be will invariable plump for tactics. In any case we also allowed to succeed because the latter. Such a defeat of have a responsibility to those it opens up an ‘awful vista’ the Dublin City campaign who have incurred large debts of struggle from below. This would open up the way for to defend them to the end. view is shared by reformist privatisation and for the politicians and their allies in imposition of new charges. In Ironically, as we enter another the union bureaucracy. They other local authorities where potential phase of fierce fear such a victory because the anti-bin tax campaign was struggle in Dublin over the it raises the idea that you defeated or never took off, bin tax, the campaign is better can bring about substantial the service has already been organised than it was during the height of the protests of whatever happens the struggle may rage but the war is far 2003, with regular central is likely to be protracted. from over. meetings, broad agreement of tactics and a strengthening One lesson we have learned Colm Breathneach of ties between the strongest from the last few years is that areas. The reasons for this diversity of tactics is essential are diverse, but perhaps there to throw back the occasional has been a deepening and offensives: maintaining a strengthening of the popular high level of non-payment, base in the well-organised organising public meetings, areas, such as Finglas, flash blockades, binning Crumlin, Ballyfermot etc. bags and clean ups, as well as continuing to pursue the It is also due, to a certain court cases. This is what has degree, to a lessening of happened in the last month or sectarian attitudes amongst two. the various left groups involved. A significant factor The City Manager’s in this process has been the announcement that he would emergence of the Campaign impose non-collection for an Independent Left, throughout the city proved to which has brought about closer be just bluster. What happened cooperation between two key in reality was a testing of the groups whose members are waters. Non-collection was heavily involved in the Dublin imposed in some middle-class City Campaign, the ISN and and unorganised working- the Community and Workers class areas initially, and Action Group. then a foray was made into Ringsend and one street in Although the campaign is by Cabra. The decisive response no means defeated, there is in those areas, where residents no magic formula for victory. have successfully defied the A whole range of factors Council’s bullying tactics can have a decisive impact, by organising collectively to including the conduct of the throw the bags into the bin political forces involved, the trucks has once again thrown will to maintain the struggle back the offensive and halted amongst a broad section of the the roll-out of non-collection working class, the success or in its tracks. failure of the court challenges and so on. With the issue languishing in the courts for months to come, There is no silver bullet that popular resistance taking on will force the local authorities the council across the city and to withdraw or the central an election in the offing, one government to overrule and thing is certain; the battles IRAQ - THREE left when the assault finally callous brutality has been YEARS OF US-UK came. repeated. Dr Jasem al-Aqrab, the chief organiser of the OCCUPATION 10,000 American troops Iraqi Islamic party in Basra, then bulldozed their way recently commented on the Three years after the invasion through the city for three video footage of British of Iraq, we can say that weeks. A Lebanese journalist troops beating young men to the warnings of the anti- described the horror a pulp in his city: “Ever since war movement have been endured by the remaining the fall of Saddam Hussein’s vindicated. The arrogance, inhabitants: “There were tyrannical regime, abuses brutality and cynicism of the American snipers on top and atrocities committed Bush administration should of the hospital shooting against Iraqi civilians have be clear to all those with eyes everyone. The dead were been a regular, at times daily, to see. Tens of thousands of buried in gardens because occurrence throughout the civilians have been killed, people couldn’t leave their country, including in Basra. and the Iraqi people have homes. There were so many These have been committed been treated with contempt people wounded, and with no by American, British and from the day the occupation medical supplies, people died Iraqi official forces. Hearing began. from their wounds. Everyone the British prime minister in the street was a target for describe this latest incident Some of the abuses the Americans.” as an isolated case fills me committed by occupation and fellow Iraqis with anger.” forces in Iraq are well An “embedded” US known. The images of torture journalist confirmed that If the dire predictions of from Abu Ghraib have Falluja was a free-fire zone: the anti-war movement circulated around the world. “When anyone does poke have been confirmed by But other atrocities have their head up, they’re almost experience, it must be been largely erased from universally considered to asked why the mobilisation public memory – at least so be a target.” According achieved on February 15th far as the media is concerned. to the Iraqi Red Crescent, 2003 has not been sustained. 6,000 people died during The movement against The brutal sack of Falluja in the assault, most of them the occupation of Iraq has 2004 symbolises the cruelty civilians. not been able to repeat the of the occupation: it was an unprecedented levels of act of medieval barbarism 36,000 houses were support reached shortly st executed with 21 century destroyed, along with before the war. technology. The city was thousands of schools, shops surrounded for eight weeks and mosques. One American One undoubted factor is the and heavily bombarded from soldier who took part in the feeling of powerlessness that the air. destruction remarked: “It’s was deliberately fostered kind of bad we destroyed by western leaders after the Water, food, and electricity everything, but at least we massive anti-war demo. supplies were cut off. gave them a chance for a new Over the last two decades, Although two thirds of the start.” the political and corporate population fled, there were elites in western society have still almost 100,000 people All over Iraq, this pattern of worked tirelessly to eliminate mass participation in politics. so lucky: forced to choose But the images of suicide between the architects of bombings have been a gift Traditional left-wing parties the invasion and pro-war to the pro-occupation camp have been transformed into opposition parties, they in the west, while the anti- conservative bulwarks, never had the chance to pass imperialist left has had while trade unions have been judgment on their rulers. trouble steering a middle battered into submission. The course between uncritical choice between Republican The contrast with the praise and sweeping and Democrat, New Labour Vietnam war is striking. Anti- condemnation of the and Tory, is about as war activism at that time was resistance militias. meaningful as the distinction combined with an upsurge between McDonalds and of domestic radicalism, as The criminal nature of some Burger King. shown by the civil rights “resistance” groups has movement in the US, the helped fuel the perception The F/15 mobilisation posed French general strike, and so that a US withdrawal would a huge challenge to this on. But the Iraq war came at be followed by civil war. campaign against democratic a time when political struggle There is no definite answer to citizenship. So pro-war, in the west was at a much this claim: we cannot know right-wing politicians were lower ebb. In order to bring for sure what will happen determined to ignore its the endless “war on terror” to after foreign troops withdraw message at all costs. Bertie a halt, the left-wing challenge until it actually happens. But Ahern was shameless will have to be rebuilt. we can say without any doubt enough to pretend that the that the US military presence marchers in Dublin were The situation in Iraq has also is the greatest single cause actually in favour of his presented a challenge for of violence and instability in government’s policy, while the anti-war movement. The Iraq. The longer they stay, Spain’s Jose Maria Aznar nature of the Iraqi resistance the worse things will get. sneeringly told the press: “I has been one major difficulty. govern a country, not a street Criminal acts have been It’s sickening to hear US demonstration.” carried out in the name of and British politicians boast “resistance” by gangsters of their efforts to hold Iraq We were told again and again like Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi. together, when their own that it would be a dereliction Appalling sectarian attacks policies have encouraged of duty for elected politicians have been seized on by pro- ethnic divisions. The to listen to the popular will. war commentators to justify pragmatic elements in the The Spanish people (90% the continued occupation. resistance have indicated anti-war) had the opportunity that they will call a ceasefire to vote against continuing In Iraq, people have been if a strict time-table for the occupation in the 2004 able to distinguish between withdrawal is announced. general election and they such atrocities and legitimate took it, leading to the attacks on foreign troops. That would leave a hard-core withdrawal of Spanish troops The Association of Muslim of religious fanatics who from Iraq. Scholars, the most influential would be crushed by the Shia Sunni group, is careful and Kurdish militias if they But the people of Britain and to separate “honourable tried to seize power. A US the United States weren’t resistance” and “terrorism”. withdrawal is actually the best hope for avoiding civil the predominant view among war. Shia Iraqis: a clear majority wants a time-table for The main weakness of the withdrawal. armed resistance has been its confinement to Sunni areas. Moqtada Al-Sadr is a So far the Shia and Kurdish reactionary, and the parties have not called for implementation of his withdrawal: this has been social programme would another crucial prop for the be a disaster for Iraq. But it occupation. Bush and Blair seems that the best we can have claimed that foreign hope for now is a speedy end troops are needed to support to the occupation, leaving Iraq’s elected government. the possibility that things will then start to get better. The Kurdish leadership Progressive forces will not be appears willing to follow in any position to challenge the US line to the bitter end. for power for some time They have entrusted the fate (although the western left of the Kurdish nation to the should still do everything it same people who stood by can to help them). and watched the gassing of civilians at Halabja. One clear lesson should stand out from the experience of The Shia position is more the last three years: anyone complex. The United Iraqi who argues that US military Alliance (UIA), the largest power can be a force for bloc in the Iraqi parliament, good in the world should be contains different currents. dismissed with the contempt So far, the dominant they deserve. tendency has been prepared to work with the occupiers: DF indeed, the occupation regime would have collapsed without their help.

But the radical Shia current led by Moqtada Al-Sadr has been gaining support by taking a tougher stand. Al-Sadr has called for the withdrawal of foreign troops, and his supporters are now the largest single group in the UIA. As opinion polls have shown, the Sadrists represent Title: Leftline, March 2006 Organisation: Irish Socialist Network Date: 2006

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