IRA, the weekend before last?
the Movement for a Socialist Republic.
The prominent figures of the anti-imperialist movemen. attending the conference duced one session on 'cultural were evidence impertansm of the widespread IRICECSU caused by the fusion.
For more than twelve months the two constituents of the new organisation, People's Democracy, have been sagaging in joint hammering out agreement on the fundamental points of a common political programme.
Consequentiv the tramework shared by all members of the new organisation includes * an understanding centralLy of the national question, * an emphasis on the leading Socialist Challenge 7 December 1978 page 12 WHERE WERE James Daly, a leading member of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, and Sean Mac Stiofain, the former chief of staff of the Provisional Nowhere else than observing and bringing greetings to the fusion conference of People's Democracy and role the Irish working class must play in resolving it; * an appreciation importance of the autonomous women's movement; above all, a commitment to building a mass party based on a Marxist strategy. internationalist.
This was demonstrated when called use conterence mously the withdrawal of Irish troops from the UN's 'policing' Lebanon, and passed another motion pledging solidarity with the Iranian masses.
The new organisation is not at this stage part of the MSR was. Discussion whether to affiliate to the Fl is something members of the new forward to. in the meantime.
Democracy has been invited to -DaruCIDaLt national's forthcoming world CULLI CAS Compared with the larger far left groups in Britain, PD is a small But it is probably the largest Marxist group in Ireland, with brances already estaonsnca m ol me SIMCTICK PRACTICAL With members strongly based in the resistance movement in the North of Ireland, in the emerging women's movement in the South, and in trade unions immediate both sides of the border, PD is well placed to elaborate a 32 force in county programme pleting the Irish revolution. in That task was DeLu when joint work was agreed it October 1977. The 700-strong Fourth Coalisland this vear PD/MSR built in collaboration with the Independent Socialist Farty, Wols have to look demonstration the Interwas Denis Murphy from Loyalist attack organisation.
the fusion internal Dublin, Cork and COHTCICHCC ronary SHUELIC COll Murphy Connolly conference for which practical
explained to us why such a paper is necessary.
What policy does Y Faner Goch weslane torine creanion ora Welsh Socialist Republic as the only way to end the cultural and economic exploitation of our country.
We see the struggle for a free Wales and a socialist Walesto be one and the same. From this standpoint, our ultimate objective must be the creation of a free socialist Wales within the wider context of a socialist Europe.
The columns of the paper are open to anyone who themselves to be a socialist in Wales. We have contributors and supporlers trom all lent groupings and many who have never been active in any political organisation.
At the moment the Editorial Board is an informal group of comrades mainly Cymru. did together to launch Y Faner Goch?
There were two main reasons. •irst weter inere was an ureen need for the left of Plaid Cymru to be heard.
This is the only way to build up support in the industrial areas of Wales and to reactivate the great socialist traditions of those areas where Welshness A NEW Welsh socialist paper, 'Y Faner Goch', has sold out of its 3,000 print run within days of publication. TONI REES, a member of its editorial board, and socialism are inextricably combined Secondly, we hope this paper will bring togetner une socialist and nationalist currents within Wales.
What role do you see the paper playing?
It Is not intended tnat is roic Should simply reporting. It is also going to be an neuve campan taking up issues of all sorts.
For example, in this first issue we have started an CamPaIL CLU support Nantgarw Coking feels workers in the fight against the closure of the ovens.
The referendum on the Wales Assembly will closely influence Wales. What is your position on Ins.
The Assembly is not in any Plaid sense a matter of principle. It is get weak and nothing to do with any For our principles. tactically, of immense imporFirst, of course, it does in some strange wav recognise the existence of Wales; but more important, it will undoubtedly lead toa demand for more.
Its very weakness, its right to talk and not to ask, makes it potentially the most important development that has come our way nat type or to campaign should revoluuonanc Marxists carry out?
to allow ourselves to become DaSSINC After all, they only being as a result of nationalist pressure, and as an attempt to defuse this and to destroy the active movement for self-determinathe tion.
Thesis oposals are the ey self-determination. fore have to fight for a Yes vote but also to make the point that this is not going to be enough.
Can you briefly outline Plaid's economic policies?
Plaid Cymru has already, at previous conferences, outlined IS DOS OnaSORCOISLODOrETO free collective bargaining. This vear one of the motions passed committed the party to fight for the creation CLOROHIC Wales.
Socialist Challenge and Sociaright of the Welsh and Scottish people to self-determination, •TOF a Yes blies with real powers. and issues we should discuss formulate a policy on?
came into outside.
right We there- locking problem an requiring only a lanEudEc and inextricably linked and seen for what it is.
All socialists socialist present economic framework for in the light of these.
justice.
health vote in conditions referendum, and for AssemThat it Building on this, what do you think are the most important and MICHA LI The most important point is to look at Wales as a unit from GEOFFREY inside, as it were. We are not a 'problem' to be solved by people Only when you do this will you come to see Wales in its Health totally as a compiex or mick cultural, went on For example, the language is vindicated.
isolated problem Dal answer outlining support for minority" fighting a cultures; it other problems. None of them can be considered in isolation One of the working Wales must look in detail at its history and development, at its and social SITICEIN structure, and decide on tactics concerned.
This is no battle for abstract ideals but for real economic and cultural freedom and social treated of the report. power TERENCE LAWLOR, tyrannical consultant psychiahas at last been fired.
But the SW Thames regional authority, which for ignored the appalling at the mental handicap hospital, has declared Many disciplinary action against two of its officers sharply criticised in the inquiry report.
WARD, member of the health authority and a former Labour councillor Wandsworth, SHERIDAN SPOKE about the RHA's response. 6 that the action of the A lot of people feel I Confederation Service Employees members at Normansfield, who strike demand Lawlor's suspension, is totally My impression is that the consultants and doctors are ruthless rearguard action to defend their privileges.
Lawlor had locked up three women in a room and ted them on a diet of gruel. He called this a research programme.
inquiry's recommendations is that research or psychiatric patients should be controlled and only authorised if it's likely to be of some benelit to the patients they A leading consultant in the RHA declared that this outside the terms of reference of the inquiry and should only be an expression of While relatively junior nursing staff are recommended for the sack by the report, the control over doctors is very different from that. In my view, should have a tighter contract of employment and be subject to firmer disciplinary procedure I'm in favour of breaking down the hierarchy in the health Managing hospitals
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Another visitor was AILEAN O'CALLAGHAN from the International Marxist Group. He reports.
The Welsh Socialist Newspaper 12c/p rhif/no.1 Tachwedd-Rhagfyr 1978 November-December