luisli Oemociuc July/August 1998 Connolly Association: campaigning for a united and independent Ireland 60p Sixty years of The link between The Papacy's role campaigning for socialism in the conquest Irish freedom and nationalism of Ireland Page 5 Connolly Column: Page 6 Anonn IsAnall: Page 12 Kevin McCorry assesses the significance of the Good Friday Agreement and argues the need for a new type of politics which addresses the needs of Irish nationalists and the most oppressed sections of the community t is important for northern nation- a mass basis around such a pro- progressive opinion within Britain, Ireland co-operation in the interests of document. The continuing growth of alists to realise that if there is a gramme; an ideological battle against the United States and international both communities; and policies to fos- parties such as the PUP, the Women's more positive political situation in the most intransigent strands of opinion generally. ter mutual understanding and closer Coalition and other groupings shows the six counties, it is not the result unionism, highlighting the increas- The key elements of a programme community co-operation. Loyalists in that the fragmentation of unionism is of the so-called Good Friday ingly divergence of interests between to bring about democracy and social working class areas of the North are now an irreversible process. In this sit- Agreement but it is rather a conse- the Union and the interests of the pop- progress in7 the North must include: perfecdy correct in stressing that the uation nationalism should have the quencI e of affairs brought about by the ulation of the North (this batde can be measures to fully implement the equality agenda must also include confidence to consider a politics Hume/Adams initiative and the Irish fought around political, social, cultur- equality agenda to gurantee equality of measures for the social and economic which can achieve a nationalist hege- peace process generally. al and economic issues); maximising treatment and parity of esteem; the regeneration of their areas. mony over this potential constituency. There was not an agreement allies in bringing pressure for such a operation of the North/South ministe- Nearly 700,000 people voted 'Yes' In this way the unification of Ireland between nationalism and unionism in programme - the Dublin government, rial council to extend and deepen all- in the referendum on the Good Friday can be quickly brought onto the agenda. Belfast on Good Friday and the docu- ment contains elements which nation- alists will find questionable, and some of which they will find downright objectionable. Nevertheless it is clear that Good Friday marks another stage on the road to the re-unification of Ireland. The dynamic which can drive that process forward continues to be broad political unity between the major strands of constitutional and advanced nationalism around a poli- tics of progressive transformation in the six counties. Northern nationalists should not become too fixated with the politics and institutions of Good Friday. Certainly there must be no backslid- ing on such crucial issues as prisoner release, decommissioning, policing, Sinn Fein representation at all levels of the assembly and the executive authority, the equality agenda and the north/south ministerial council. But the political battle on all these matters must be fought on a broader front than in the new assembly. To that extent, there must be no return to Stormont over nationalist grievances. It was not until the start of the civil rights move- ment that a real struggle commenced to bring about a redress of these griev- ances. The logical development of the Irish peace process must be the build- ing of a politics which can continue and develop the civil rights tradition in the North. The key elements of such a politics are: a programme which addresses the grievances of nationalists and the most oppressed elements of the Northern Ireland population within a framework of 60 years on: still marching for peace and justice in Ireland democracy and social progress; the The Sheffield and S.Yorkshire branch of the Connolly Association took its place alongside labour movement and international solidarity organisations for the annual political mobilisation of these Chesterfield May Day march. Activists witnessed a rise in interest around the CA's bookstall this year due to widespread interest in the Good Friday Agreement. oppressed sections with their allies on Members gave out information about the Belfast Agreement and collected signatures in support of Charter for Change, (see page five for CA 60th anniversary story) Irish Democrat July/August 1998 Irish Democrat July/August 1998 Page 3 News Imsh Oemociuc Ahern responds NEWS IN BRIEF NEWS IN BRIEF Edinburgh Connolly March Patten to Founded 1939 Volume 53, No. 4 Asylum rights call Blair must keep parades promise to heraldic claim Around a thousand people, complete A major Irish trade union has added with DISBAND THE RUC placards, its backing to calls for a Charter on SECTARIAN MARCHES chair policing SOVEREIGNTY CLAIM attended the annual James Connolly Asylum Rights in Ireland. Democrat reporter commemoration in Edinburgh on Democrat reporter Delegates attending the annual commission MAJORITY SIGN UP FOR CHANGE May 30th. conference of the Irish public sector The call for the British authorities to aoiseach Bertie Ahern has final- Following a march, which passed union IMPACT gave their over- put a stop to all contested sectarian RUC REVIEW In the debate amongst nationalists and republicans over the Good ly replied to Conor Keller of Ar Connolly's birthplace in the city's whelming support to motions calling marches in the six counties was reiter- Democrat reporter Friday Agreement, there has been a tendency to focus too much on Maoin who has asked for a state- Cowgate, there was a short rally in the for a charter and demanding that ated at a meeting in the House of The announcement that the former details, weighing up good points against bad. The potential for ment of the Irish government's Meadows, where Connolly himself "genuine asylum-seekers" be "treated Commons in London in late June. Governor of Hong Kong, Chris attitude to the use of the Irish addressed many political meetings. with compassion". A rights charter political progress does not lie in the minutiae of the text, but in the Speaking at the meeting, which was Patten, had been selected by the state heraldic symbol quartered Jim Slaven of the James Connolly must guarantee freedom of expression organised by the Labour Committee Government to chair the commission way that the agreement has forced a dramatic realignment in Irish Iin the British Royal Coat of Arms. Society welcomed the large crowd, and of movement for asylum-seekers on Ireland, Breandan Mac Cionnaith charged with reforming the Royal politics. The details of the compromise were not as important as As explained by the Irish Democrat, which included people from and rule out the use of detention, of the Garvaghy Road residents associ- Ulster Constabulary caused the ex the overriding fact that a compromise was actually achieved. in heraldic terms these are the 'Arms Luxembourg, the Basque Country as delegates agreed. ation and John Gormley of Lower Tory minister to recall his previous of Dominion' by which the head of the North it would not be prudent to well as Ireland, England and all over The debate at IMPACT'S annual Ormeau Concerned Community experience as a Northern Ireland There will always be those within unionism who regard any state of the United Kingdom contin- raise the issue of the use of the Irish Scotland. conference comes at a time when the warned against forcing provocative junior minister with responsibility for compromise - however reasonable - as a betrayal of unionism. In ues to claim sovereignty over all heraldic harp on the British Royal Speaking at the rally, Derry Sinn number of unprovoked attacks on sectarian marches through nationalist town planning. this they are correct. Traditional unionism is all about walking 32 Irish counties. (Irish Democrat Coat of Arms. However, it is likely Fein Councillor Peter Anderson said immigrants m Dublin continues to areas against the wishes of local On one occasion, a Dungannon that the vote for the Good Friday over the rights of nationalists. The concept of compromise and October/ November, 1996, February/ that in any agreement following the cause concern. residents. 1 unionist councillor had asked him for March, 1998, and April/ current talks process, Agreement was a declaration that the The appeal comes at a time when p an extra car park. Pointing out that dialogue entails the concept of equality - and it is this which tra- May, 1998). Ar Maoin reference will be made status quo had failed and that funda- Nuclear pollution danger the Orange marching season is once < there were already two car parks, the ditional unionists cannot contemplate. This is the reason, on a is campaigning for the Ar Maoin to the use and display of mental political and constitutional Environmental campaigners Green- again moving towards its frightful unionist councillors told him that one Above: community leaders John smaller scale, why Orangemen refuse to talk to resident groups - Irish state heraldic Our x rcasurc various symbols.' change was required. peace have again warned of the danger climax. RUC chief Ronnie Flanagan was 'green' and that true Protestants As Maoin feared, He appealed to David Trimble, who Gormley and Breanddn Mac Cionnaith. wouldn't use it. symbol to be withdrawn /si Ar posed by Sellafield's nuclear waste has also recendy indicated that he is as it would undermine their own perceived position of superiority. Left: RUC Chief Ronnie Flanagan from the British Royal f the Irish government was addressing an Orange march less dump in the Irish Sea.