Protest: “Armed Forces Day”

Connolly Youth Movement
Ireland’s Young Communists
Michael O’Riordan branch, Belfast district

Press release: “Armed Forces Day”

Date: 27/5/09

Following the end of the Troubles and the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement progressive people in Northern Ireland and across the island had hoped that the space would be opened up for the development of a popular consciousness, that we might be able to use the end of violence and the re-establishment of devolved government to advance the interests of the working class and other progressive forces.

The prospect of this happening has consistently been hampered by elements within Unionism who seek a return to the days of the Orange state as shown by behavior of the DUP councilors in response to nationalist concerns regarding the Ministry of Defense proposal for the British army flag to be flown over Belfast City Hall on June 27 as part of the recently established “Armed Forces day”.

Commenting on this CYM spokesperson Nicholas O’Hagan said “The actions of the DUP regarding the proposed erection of a British army Flag at Belfast City Hall have shown that partitioned Ireland remains a carnival of reaction.

“The legacy of the British army in Ireland has been far from honourable and this proposal from the MOD will bring further division. The legacy of British army, particularly units such as FRU symbolises pain and hurt for the families of the victims of collusion and all other state violence. Collusion remains an unclosed chapter in Irish history and a full disclosure of Britain’s crimes in Ireland is necessary if we are to make progress.

“The introduction of Armed Forces Day should be viewed in the context of the mass recruitment drives to compensate for what was falling new recruites and the courageous actions by British trade unions who have voted to oppose British army recruitment in schools.”

In conclusion Mr. O’ Hagan said “The actions of the DUP are inflammatory and designed to continue to push Unionist dominance at all levels, we need to turn protest into genuine opposition.”

To this end, the Connolly Youth Movement has called a demonstration outside Belfast City Hall beginning at 10am on Saturday, June 27 in advance of the flag raising ceremony at 10.30am. Other organisations are welcome. However, it should be stressed that this protest must be peaceful and dignified.

- Statement ends -

See also CYM statement on British army recruiting in schools (26/3/2009) – http://www.cym.ie/documents/recruiting.pdf

Armed Struggle

From Unity, weekly newspaper of the Communist Party of Ireland.

In taking a communist view on armed struggle the importance of considering objectives and context was stressed by the opening  speaker at last Saturday’s well organised Connolly Youth Movement (CYM) open discussion.

This picked up a key theme from one of the recommended readings for participants – William Pomeroy’s “On the time for armed struggle”. A life long member of the Communist Party in America, Pomeroy was also an honorary  member of the CP in the Philippines  where he played an active role in the Party, including involvement in their use and then move away from armed struggle.

James Connolly’s “Physical Force in Irish Politics” was a second piece of recommended reading. The CYM speaker traced the historical tradition of physical force within the struggle for Irish freedom showing the importance of understanding why it was used, the different forms it had taken and both its positive and negative features.

Bringing the issue right up to date to counter the arguments of dissident republicans, both the speaker, and those who contributed to the lively discussion, drew attention to the continued relevance of the open letter sent by the Communist Party of Ireland (CPI) to the Provisional IRA calling for a ceasefire in 1987. The third piece of recommend reading was the CPI pamphlet  ‘Armed Struggle’ containing that letter plus the correspondence between various republicans and communists that followed it.  For all those on the left in Ireland today as then “the essential revolutionary task (is that) of working constantly to unite working people, to build a mass anti imperialist movement led by a united working class”.

All the readings are available from the CYM.

Don’t get angry – Get Organised!

People are angry. People have been cheated. People have been lied too.

Working people are being made pay for the short sighted profiteering of the few elites in business and politics that have run this country into the ground.

Young workers in particular who have grown up on and been sold the dream of luxury living via credit are being made victims of this crisis.

The policies that drove the unsustainable growth – profiteering at workers expense – we witnessed over the last 15 years, in particular in the financial services, are now utterly discredited. Yet, the same experts are advising, the same indicators being used and the same mantra prevails.

As General Secretary of the CYM, Gareth Murphy, described:

“Working people were the basis upon which super profits were amassed by already wealthy individuals and companies. Yet, during the boom years workers wages decreased in relation to the profits accumulated. We saw this all round us in the record levels of inequality on this island.

And now, with the economy driven into the ground by the Government and friends, who is made pay? Working people.

We are seeing anger like we haven’t seen in years in this country. But anger is not good enough. Anger must be channeled at the Government and the wealthy elites. It is their fault so they must pay. Not everyone shares the blame for this crisis and so not everyone must pay for it.

So we, in the Connolly Youth Movement, say don’t just get angry, get organized!”

The CYM believe an economy should be there to serve peoples needs. It is not an abstract set of figures but a means by which wealth produced should be fairly and equitably distributed. We are not concerned about restoring market confidence, we are concerned about citizen confidence and right now, correctly, there is none!

End Statement

Hadi 1 Mayis! Hooray May 1!

Taksim Square, May 1, 2007.

May 1, 2008. The headquarters of Turkish Confederation of Unions of Revolutionary Workers (DİSK), an umbrella organisation of Turkish trade unions was besieged at 6:30 am and tear gassed. All roads leading to Taksim Square in İstanbul had also been blocked.

The year previous, the main Turkish trade unions and the Communist Party had made their way to Taksim Square under extreme security measures, over 1000 were taken into custody, teargas was used and roads blocked off, nevertheless, over 5000 workers managed to make it to Taksim to commemorate the 30^th Anniversary of the 1977 massacre.

On May 1, 1977, half a million workers gathered in Istanbul to celebrate the international working peoples’ holiday. The demonstration came at a time of severe economic and political crisis for Turkey. Thousands had been gathering from the early hours of the morning to march. The celebration was lead by DİSK.

As proceedings were coming to a close at 7pm, thousands were still making their way towards Taksim. The square was filled to capacity. A group of then unknown gunmen opened fire on the crowd from rooftops murdering 36 communists and trade unionists. State forces then poured into Taksim with batons raining down on the protestors.

Taksim Square, May 1, 1977.

Recent court proceedings surrounding an alleged underground group called Ergenekon consisting of figures which are said to have intended to overthrow Turkey’s present moderate Islamist government have revealed the claim that the massacre was perpetrated by elements of the Turkish establishment to provoke a left-wing reaction to give justification for a coup. The coup, the third in the history of the Turkish Republic, came three years later in 1980. May Day was banned and thousands of Communists were murdered directly by the state or by proxy through the “counter-guerilla” organisations.

It is no coincidence that Ergenekon is said to be a remnant of Operation Gladio, the NATO “clean up” operation in Europe after WWII. The existence of the “counter-guerilla” was admitted by the then Turkish Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit in 1973. Despite this admission, the Grey Wolves, the largest far-right Turkish paramilitary organisation remains legal. It is the Grey Wolves who have been blamed for the 1977 murders acting on behalf of the “deep state”.

This year, on 24 April, the Governor of İstanbul issued a statement stating Taksim was not suitable for public meetings. Two days later the Communist Party of Turkey declared that May Day would be celebrated in Taksim this year noting that the event must be political in nature and not a case of historical recreancy.

May 1, the Communist Party, DİSK and other unions gathered at 9.30am to begin the march to Taksim. Immediately, they came under attack from teargas and water cannon. However, the workers broke through and 5000 workers poured into Taksim to celebrate – 29 years after the coup in which May Day ceased to be a holiday in Turkey.

[SMG]

IRA satement on CYM

Willie Corduff badly beaten in Mayo

Ábhar: Ar aghaidh: Willie Corduff buailte go dona i Maigh Eo/Will Corduff badly beaten in Mayo

Seo scéal ó Shell chun Sáile:  Tá Willie Corduff san Ospidéal tar éis bheith buailte go dona aréir.  Bhuail fir ainaithnid, gléasta i mbalaclava agus éadaí dorcha, Willie Corduff, duine de 5 Ros Dumhach agus buaiteoir an Duais Goldman aréir (22/4/09) ar 4 a.m.

Bhí Willie ina luí faoi lorraí mór Shell mar chuid de agóid ag iarraidh cosc a chur ar obair ar Thrá Ghleann Gad inné.  Bhí triúr faoin lorraí mór ach tarraingeodh an bheirt eile amach.  Bhí Willie dearfa go bhfadfadh sé faoin lorraí mór thar oíche, cé go raibh an-droch aimsear ann.  D’fhan bacla beag daoine áitiúla leis, ansin tháinig na fir gléasta in éadaí dorcha le balaclavas orthu.

Bhuail siad Willie go done.  Tá sé in Ospidéal Mhaigh Eo anois agus x-gathú á dhéanamh air.

Go bhfóire Dia ar an tír agus muintir na Gaeltachta ag iarraidh an fós a sheasamh in aghaidh gadaíochta agus coiriúlachta.  Cuidigh leo ar aon bhealach agus scaip an scéal.
——-

Willie Corduff remains in hospital after being badly beaten last night

Willie Corduff, one of the Rossport 5 and Goldman prize winner, was badly beaten by men in balaclavas and dark clothes at approximatly 4 o clock in the monrning last night.

Willie was under a Shell Truck as part of a protest which was blocading Shell from trying to resume its work in Glengad yesterday. Willie had orginally been joined by two other locals, both of whom were removed.

Willie had vowed to stay under the truck, and remained there throughout the night. Locals kept a vigil beside him. At approximately four inthe morning, when the vigil was at its lowest, men came dressed in dark clothes and wearing balaclavas.

They beat Willie badly. He is currently being kept in Mayo General Hospital after having a number of x-rays done

Happy Birthday Lenin! Time for a return to your philosophical premise; let’s seize the Real!

Today is the 138th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. To celebrate I have reposted a book review by Slavoj Zizek, originally published in the London Review of Books in 2002, while not agreeing with all the contents, it very importantly outlines one essential philosophical premise of Leninism (one which I would argue was seemingly present in 1916 in Ireland); that of realising and seizing the moment to change history. Leninism was the very thing that made Marxism a political force again after the cul-dec sac of revisionism and social democracy in the Second International had castrated it politically and intellectually.  It is a moment we have clearly returned to again, and the very reason why we must revisit Lenin, and celebrate his birthday.

This document formed an introductory text in CYM Belfast’s present education programme.

Long Live Lenin! Long Live Marxism-Leninism!

There is an alternative economic plan for Ireland

This plan requires the political will to rescue Ireland from this crisis, respect and support for Irish sovereignty and democracy and an all-island approach that maximizes potential north and south of the border.

This plan requires people to mobilise and demand a change of government and demand action from the union movement.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have no answers and possess no solutions.

In this year of the 90th anniversary of the Democratic Programme the Connolly Youth Movement demand a Democratic Economy for Ireland.

What is it?

1. A regulated market and a democratic economy

Deregulation and the ‘free market’ are now utterly discredited. We need a democratically controlled economy that above all else serves and benefits all the people of this island. Power needs to be held at national level and where necessary repatriated from the European Union. Decisions must be made with community participation and debate involving citizens, elected representatives and trade unions. The debate must no longer be about how to restore investor confidence, but how the economy can best serve and deliver for our needs.

2. The creation of a state development bank

Rather than the short term bail out of present banks at the expense of tax payers (through the state guarantee, recapitalization and now the proposed National Asset Management Agency), the CYM support the creation of an independent state bank that could provide a secure provision of loans and mortgages for individuals, families, small businesses and farmers and the protection of savings and pensions.

3. A national employment plan

The CYM calls on the State to develop an employment plan concentrated on industry that promotes self-reliance and sustainability. A particular emphasis needing to be placed upon indigenous businesses that can be bedded into local communities and provide secure employment for the future and also long term employment agreements with any transnational companies seeking to avail of benefits of situating here.

4. Control and use of our natural resources

Connolly Youth demands that the State brings Ireland’s natural resources under its control so that an autonomous and sustainable energy plan can be developed. We must develop and support the emergence of new energy supplies, such as solar, wind and wave power, moving away from dependence on fossil fuel. Ireland is uniquely situated to build profitable business and research in this area and also to assist other developing countries in this regard.

5. Commitment to public services

Public services must be kept public and where privatized brought back into public control. These key services and national infrastructure must be geared to providing equal access to all members of society regardless of personal wealth. Private service provision leads to an apartheid provision that favours the wealthy. Where managed effectively they can also be a source of wealth for the State.

6. The confiscation of derelict houses

The CYM confirm that all people have the right to adequate housing and further state that no individual has the right to hold onto more than one house while others remain homeless. The thousands of houses currently lying unused should be confiscated by the State and put in the hands of the development Bank to assist in the provision of housing.

7. That tax on the wealthy is increased and that tax exiles loose their citizenship

Connolly Youth believe that those who created this crisis and those that benefited most from the crisis in creation should pay the highest cost. The burden of increased taxes should fall squarely on the shoulder of the wealthy and big business. And furthermore if any Irish citizen is avoiding paying tax in Ireland they should automatically lose their Irish citizenship and passport.

8. A cap be put on all CEOs’, Executives’ and Board Members’ Salaries and Bonuses

It is clear that the differential between highest and lowest earners, through the policies of this and previous Governments and the European Union, has got way out of control. The CYM believes that no one job is worth 400 or 500 times another job. A cap on salaries needs to be placed on all jobs in this country so that no one individual can earn more than a given amount. The CYM supports a nationwide discussion via our local councils on what level the cap should be put at.

Rightminded decent MP pontificates with no sense of irony

The Rt. Honourable William McCrea greets true son of Ulster, Billy Wright (now in heaven)

“There is nothing honourable about a cowardly murderer.” – Willie McCrea (Source)

 On 11 August 1984, at the funeral of sectarian murderer Benjamin Redfern, Mid-Ulster DUP MP Willie McCrea said he had never condoned murder and condemned it from whatever source it came.

Twelve years prior to this statement on March 3, the UVF issued a statement warning that ten men, including one Catholic priest, would be shot in retaliation or every member of the RUC or British army killed by Republicans. On March 11, McCrea called for the “ban” on the UVF to be lifted so they could openly aid the state.

In July of that year, McCrea appeared at a press conference in Sandyrow, Belfast. He was flanked by several masked men, one of whom wore a UDR uniform. At the press conference, McCrea concluded by stating “If the British Army [sic] remain unwilling to destroy the IRA then every able bodied Ulsterman must not and will not fail to do the job”.

Shortly after McCrea’s statement, a news-sheet called ‘Ulster Militants’ appeared. It was written by a group of men who had joined the UDA but were more interested in “offense rather than defense”. The group claimed they were in the process of forging a “more effective weapon” than UDA strategy of the time.

This would be action againist the “IRA Provos [sic] and their passive sympathizers”. By “passive sympathizers” they meant the entire Catholic population and any Protestants who associated with them.

Another two months after this, Benjamin Redfern, a friend of McCrea murdered two Catholics, William Chivers and Joseph McAuley. Cowardly murder indeed.

CP debates Irish Economy on TV3

Eugene McCartan

Eugene McCartan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, makes an analysis of the Irish Economy on TV3 with Vincent Browne.

Part one

Part two