Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on Apr 29, 2008 23:48:19 GMT
ARRIVING AT THE END OF THE ROAD TO NOWHERE
Sinn Fein and the 'Peace Process'
Since the ending of the 'Cold War', many national liberation struggles throughout the world have been 'settled'. In places as far apart as South Africa, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Palestine these national liberation struggles were led by groupings which were often seen as having left leanings. However in all of these cases the 'settlement' was far from socialist. The current 'Irish peace process' is following exactly the same lines and has nothing to offer the Irish working class North or South
The announcement of the Provisional IRA cease-fire on August 31st 1994 was almost universally welcomed. In a statement 7/9/1994, the Workers Solidarity Movement (WSM) stated:
We welcome the IRA cease-fire. Over the last 25 years over 3,000 people have been killed and 40,000 injured. Thousands have been through or are still in prison. The primary blame for these deaths and all the associated suffering belongs with the British state... (1)
Our welcome for the cease-fire was based on our recognition of the fact that the armed struggle was a flawed tactic, one
...incapable of achieving a solution as it is incapable of delivering a military victory and defeating the British army... and one which ...relies on the actions of a few with the masses left in either a totally passive role, or one limited to providing intelligence and shelter to the few... (2)
However, while welcoming the cease-fire, we drew a very clear distinction between this and the peace process - a process which we saw as being inherently flawed
The 'peace process' as it is called, will not deliver a united socialist Ireland, or significant improvements apart from those associated with 'de-militarisation'. In addition it represents a hardening of traditional nationalism, and the goal of getting an alliance of all the nationalists - Fianna Fail, SDLP, Sinn Fein and the Catholic Church. (3)
Further:
www.geocities.com/Athens/2724/ceasrbr2.html
Sinn Fein and the 'Peace Process'
Since the ending of the 'Cold War', many national liberation struggles throughout the world have been 'settled'. In places as far apart as South Africa, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Palestine these national liberation struggles were led by groupings which were often seen as having left leanings. However in all of these cases the 'settlement' was far from socialist. The current 'Irish peace process' is following exactly the same lines and has nothing to offer the Irish working class North or South
The announcement of the Provisional IRA cease-fire on August 31st 1994 was almost universally welcomed. In a statement 7/9/1994, the Workers Solidarity Movement (WSM) stated:
We welcome the IRA cease-fire. Over the last 25 years over 3,000 people have been killed and 40,000 injured. Thousands have been through or are still in prison. The primary blame for these deaths and all the associated suffering belongs with the British state... (1)
Our welcome for the cease-fire was based on our recognition of the fact that the armed struggle was a flawed tactic, one
...incapable of achieving a solution as it is incapable of delivering a military victory and defeating the British army... and one which ...relies on the actions of a few with the masses left in either a totally passive role, or one limited to providing intelligence and shelter to the few... (2)
However, while welcoming the cease-fire, we drew a very clear distinction between this and the peace process - a process which we saw as being inherently flawed
The 'peace process' as it is called, will not deliver a united socialist Ireland, or significant improvements apart from those associated with 'de-militarisation'. In addition it represents a hardening of traditional nationalism, and the goal of getting an alliance of all the nationalists - Fianna Fail, SDLP, Sinn Fein and the Catholic Church. (3)
Further:
www.geocities.com/Athens/2724/ceasrbr2.html