THIS WEEK sees the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the latest round of the Irish 'troubles'. On 5 October 1968 five hundred civil rights marchers in Derry were batoned to the ground by thugs of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Much has happened and much has changed since then.
The violence of cracked heads peaceful marchers which shocked the world appears like a pin prick compared to the daily round of death and repression which is commonplace in the six northern counties of Ireland today. The simple demands of the civil rights marchers -onc man, one vote; one man, one nouse - have been replaced by a national liberation struggle, the like of which Western Europe has not seen since the Second World War. selves to Ireland in an attempt to gain a first hand impression of what the Irish war is all about.
dog no doubt.
Dublin, socials to which the delegates went. was boycotted of British imperialism that Ballymurphy, shortly after it had been raised by troops. As the delegates picked up plastic bullets and shells of real bullets talked to take home as souvenirs, local residents told how the troops had smashed their way into the club and tried to break it up. Fortunately the only casualty was a dog, killed by a plastic bullet - a terrorist Accurate THE MYTH of the Provisional Republican movement as universally hated gangsters was demolished by the evident popular support the Provos still enjoy, as illustrated by the large number of their supporters who attended the various THE MYTH of the women of Andersonstown marching to the last womar behind the peace' movement was shown to be an invention of the British media as woman after woman got up to speak at a meeting in Andersonstown. They spoke not only of their contempt for the women who led the peace movement, but of the acuvc roic many women tenseves nave played in the war against Britain - with over 200 political prisoners being in Armagh women's prison as a result.
THE MYTH of the possibility of a meaningful dialogue with Loyalist groups press and the Official Republican move ment - was denounced even by Seamus Mallon, a member of the collaborationist Social Democratic and Labour Party, who said: As far as Lovalism goes. in search for an agreed solution, there is nothing more to be done; we have reached THE MYTH of winning 'reforms" in the northern state was demolished bv a Socialist - Women's group, who explained that even the limited reforms won in Britain on such issues as divorce and abortion did not apply in the Six Counties • bellast pries Father Wilson also explained how he many middle class and professional people who agree there are many innocent people in prison, but they refuse to accept that this is necessary' So the delegates returned with, at the very least, a more accurate description of what is taking place in Ireland than they had when they went. Unfortunately some of the many problems of the Irish liberation struggle were barely mentioned the lack or a strategy of mass orientation by the Provisionals, and the ambiguity of the Provos themselves on the issue of the immediate withdrawal of troops, the real problems the "peace" movement does pose. Similarly, in relating the experiences of the delegation to workers in this country, the delegates were given no firm lead It remains to be seen whether the delegation can have a significant impact in Britain. But if nothing else is achieved, fifty odd members of the British labour movemn nave scch somelnine or un reality of British occupation of Ireland -a reality which suggests that in the eigh years since since 5 October 1968, the only way in which the attitudes of the guard ians of "law and order' have changed is that the troops have replaced the RUC a plastic bullets have replaced the police batons. But Ireland remains unfree, and accoraliziy not at ocace.
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