Post by Papa C. on Mar 26, 2008 22:49:22 GMT
Comrades, this is the second year that representatives of the movement have travelled to Dublin to address AF.
To give a detailed report of our activities it is necessary to go back and start in November of 1997.
The notion of an IRSP-B was something that was being kicked about by myself and KMcQ from 1995 when I secured speaking rights for the party at one of the major London book fairs. This platform included Francie Maloy of PSF and other speakers such as Kevin Toolis. It was also the first time that SF and the IRSP had shared a platform in over 10 years.
From this meeting the IRSP-B was born. For the first two years nothing of import happened. The party provided little more than a base from which to re launch press statements. Then with the murder an IRA Vol. (Dermot O Neil) in London by SO13 the IRSP-B came into its own.
Members of the movement in London noticed that there were a number of discrepancies between what the Metropolitan police were saying and the types of door and bloodstains involved. Posing as members of the press IRSP-B members canvassed the area and ascertained that Vol. O Neil had been shot through a door inside the building pulled from the house on his wounds and left to die in the street by London's finest. In conjunction with the movement in Belfast the movement in London broke the story causing an outcry in civil liberty groups and the media.
That was the first time the movement in Britain made headlines -- it was not the last.
By November 97 the movement was beginning to take shape and make friends. It was one of these friends who passed information that David Eirvine was due to speak at a meeting in North London. The IRSP-B organised a picket for that night. In organising the picket we were able to involve and utilise a number of groups that had no history of support for the RSM. Woman's groups, Indian groups RSF and Black groups and Civil Liberty groups all attended. We were locked out of the meeting and a protest was held in the main hall until the organisers of the meeting agreed to put questions to Eirvine. IRSP-B posters and leaflets made their first appearance in Britain that night.
In January of this year two IRSP-B banners were carried on the annual Bloody Sunday march through London over three hundred people marched behind these banners by choice. The London Provo's were so scared one of our comrades was deprived of a megaphone by the Co-ordinator's opposite number in the Provo's forcing an altercation between the two. We got our megaphone back.
The following night party members from London and Manchester leafleted a meeting being addressed by Gerry and Martin. The leaflets gave people questions to ask at the meeting that would force the Sinners to tell the truth about ongoing talks. The Co-ordinator also confronted the dynamic duo from the floor and forced Martin Mc to admit for the first time that a united Ireland was not on the table.
February seen another poster and leafleting campaign aimed at disrupting a meeting addressed by the UUP's Ken Maginnis. Once more the leaflets gave questions for the public to ask Ken and the posters called for protests outside. Both took place and IRSP-B members confronted Ken with arguments that he refused to answer prompting an IRSP-B lead walkout.
In March details were leaked to the movement in London of the date, time and venue of a meeting to be addressed by the Secretary of state for NI Mo. The information was shared with the party in Belfast and a publicity campaign was launched from there while the movement in London began to mobilise for a large-scale protest. Once more other left wing groups were involved, as was RSF. So successful was this that the IRSP-B at one point had over one third of the tickets issued and were arraigning tickets for all the other groups 180 total. It came therefore as no surprise that Dr Mo did not turn up and became the first British Minister of state to cancel a public meeting on a public order issue since the General Strike.
In April a delegation of a number of comrades and prospective comrades attended the Easter commemoration in Belfast. Following their return to London the party hosted a meeting involving the IRSP-B, RSF and the IBRG to give the joint position of so called dissidents in Britain. The first time such a meeting has been held.
May seen a great deal of activity in Britain with a number of new members being taken on. A formal request was made to the Brit Home office for the return of the Manchester martyrs to the Irish in Britain for proper burial.
June seen a document being leaked to the IRSP-B that proved that even after the GFG agreement nationalists still faced institutional and legal discrimination in the Brit Civil Service and were excluded by law from employment. This leak resulted in front page headlines for the party in Ireland and Britain and exposed the lies of the Provo negotiators.
July seen a visit from the Co-ordinator to the party in Belfast.
In August the IRSP-B stood by the historic decision of the INLA to call its cease-fire.
In September the movement once again mobilised for protest following the arrest and detention of the IRSP 5.
Over 20 MP's were lobbied as was the Irish ambassador and the Brit Home Secretary. It is hoped that this was of some help in the eventual release of the lads. We in the IRSP-B would like to take this opportunity to salute the cool and courage of Teabag Geeky and the other lads.
From then activities have been slow, not because we lack the will or members to be a more than potent force. We have that in spades. What we have been lacking is direction from the AC. In this delicate time we need firm and clear directions.
On other issues, the IRSP-B is active in a number of groups and campaigns most notably the Workers Republican Forum and the Movement Against The Monarchy. We have had over 200 press statements carried in the Brit and Irish press as anyone in the blocks can tell you as they get the papers.
Overall we have, in the last year expanded grown politically and physically we have the best reputation ever obtained by the movement in Britain and most of all we have a will and a thirst to fight. Give us the direction and we'll carry the struggle to the heart of the beast.
With the lies of the Provo's and Brits being exposed every day we have never been so needed as a movement. Now is Our Time. Let none of us be found wanting.
Terry O hEarcain.
To give a detailed report of our activities it is necessary to go back and start in November of 1997.
The notion of an IRSP-B was something that was being kicked about by myself and KMcQ from 1995 when I secured speaking rights for the party at one of the major London book fairs. This platform included Francie Maloy of PSF and other speakers such as Kevin Toolis. It was also the first time that SF and the IRSP had shared a platform in over 10 years.
From this meeting the IRSP-B was born. For the first two years nothing of import happened. The party provided little more than a base from which to re launch press statements. Then with the murder an IRA Vol. (Dermot O Neil) in London by SO13 the IRSP-B came into its own.
Members of the movement in London noticed that there were a number of discrepancies between what the Metropolitan police were saying and the types of door and bloodstains involved. Posing as members of the press IRSP-B members canvassed the area and ascertained that Vol. O Neil had been shot through a door inside the building pulled from the house on his wounds and left to die in the street by London's finest. In conjunction with the movement in Belfast the movement in London broke the story causing an outcry in civil liberty groups and the media.
That was the first time the movement in Britain made headlines -- it was not the last.
By November 97 the movement was beginning to take shape and make friends. It was one of these friends who passed information that David Eirvine was due to speak at a meeting in North London. The IRSP-B organised a picket for that night. In organising the picket we were able to involve and utilise a number of groups that had no history of support for the RSM. Woman's groups, Indian groups RSF and Black groups and Civil Liberty groups all attended. We were locked out of the meeting and a protest was held in the main hall until the organisers of the meeting agreed to put questions to Eirvine. IRSP-B posters and leaflets made their first appearance in Britain that night.
In January of this year two IRSP-B banners were carried on the annual Bloody Sunday march through London over three hundred people marched behind these banners by choice. The London Provo's were so scared one of our comrades was deprived of a megaphone by the Co-ordinator's opposite number in the Provo's forcing an altercation between the two. We got our megaphone back.
The following night party members from London and Manchester leafleted a meeting being addressed by Gerry and Martin. The leaflets gave people questions to ask at the meeting that would force the Sinners to tell the truth about ongoing talks. The Co-ordinator also confronted the dynamic duo from the floor and forced Martin Mc to admit for the first time that a united Ireland was not on the table.
February seen another poster and leafleting campaign aimed at disrupting a meeting addressed by the UUP's Ken Maginnis. Once more the leaflets gave questions for the public to ask Ken and the posters called for protests outside. Both took place and IRSP-B members confronted Ken with arguments that he refused to answer prompting an IRSP-B lead walkout.
In March details were leaked to the movement in London of the date, time and venue of a meeting to be addressed by the Secretary of state for NI Mo. The information was shared with the party in Belfast and a publicity campaign was launched from there while the movement in London began to mobilise for a large-scale protest. Once more other left wing groups were involved, as was RSF. So successful was this that the IRSP-B at one point had over one third of the tickets issued and were arraigning tickets for all the other groups 180 total. It came therefore as no surprise that Dr Mo did not turn up and became the first British Minister of state to cancel a public meeting on a public order issue since the General Strike.
In April a delegation of a number of comrades and prospective comrades attended the Easter commemoration in Belfast. Following their return to London the party hosted a meeting involving the IRSP-B, RSF and the IBRG to give the joint position of so called dissidents in Britain. The first time such a meeting has been held.
May seen a great deal of activity in Britain with a number of new members being taken on. A formal request was made to the Brit Home office for the return of the Manchester martyrs to the Irish in Britain for proper burial.
June seen a document being leaked to the IRSP-B that proved that even after the GFG agreement nationalists still faced institutional and legal discrimination in the Brit Civil Service and were excluded by law from employment. This leak resulted in front page headlines for the party in Ireland and Britain and exposed the lies of the Provo negotiators.
July seen a visit from the Co-ordinator to the party in Belfast.
In August the IRSP-B stood by the historic decision of the INLA to call its cease-fire.
In September the movement once again mobilised for protest following the arrest and detention of the IRSP 5.
Over 20 MP's were lobbied as was the Irish ambassador and the Brit Home Secretary. It is hoped that this was of some help in the eventual release of the lads. We in the IRSP-B would like to take this opportunity to salute the cool and courage of Teabag Geeky and the other lads.
From then activities have been slow, not because we lack the will or members to be a more than potent force. We have that in spades. What we have been lacking is direction from the AC. In this delicate time we need firm and clear directions.
On other issues, the IRSP-B is active in a number of groups and campaigns most notably the Workers Republican Forum and the Movement Against The Monarchy. We have had over 200 press statements carried in the Brit and Irish press as anyone in the blocks can tell you as they get the papers.
Overall we have, in the last year expanded grown politically and physically we have the best reputation ever obtained by the movement in Britain and most of all we have a will and a thirst to fight. Give us the direction and we'll carry the struggle to the heart of the beast.
With the lies of the Provo's and Brits being exposed every day we have never been so needed as a movement. Now is Our Time. Let none of us be found wanting.
Terry O hEarcain.
