their backing. Many workers in this country see no harm in lending this support especially when it is pro moted by many, such as the Communist Party, who are normally associated with the 'left' of the labour movement.
Despite this, it is a mistake for socialists to give any support to the marches of the peace movement.
1. What is Its Role?
That the leaders or the peace movement are oll to America to stop runds going to either side says a lot. The pose as 'neutrals', saying violence from all sides should stop. But this is only a pose The biggest armed force in the North of Ireland is the 15,000 strong British Army. The peace leaders have said that they have 'no position' on that armed force, but when they seek at the same time to cut off funds to other "armed bodies', then they are taking a position. They are saying that those troops are not a source of violence, that they are peace keepers in a sectaran connel But the peace movement denies this, and its view of events is that of the Daily Mirror, Merlyn Rees and the Orange Order. In white-washing the role of Britain and its troops, the peace people are playing Britain's tune.
2. Is it not 'non-partisan"?
At least. so it is argued, the peace movement is non-partisan, non-sectarian, recentiv soent inree days in ireland whit tepoll both sides. And it is true that they have protested and acted against both the UDA and the IRA have said, they do not blow their whistles when the troops raid homes, as they do when others hijack buses.
But to speak of them being "non-partisan Is a wrong way of looking at things, because socialists in this country should not be non-partisan. Whatever mistakes une rrovisionar kepubncan movement have made (and they have made many what they are fighting for - the right of the Irish people, as a whole, to rule themseyes ists should support.
And in their war against British im- whatever its tactical tragedpertaust ies - no socialist should be neutral, because it is a war of liberation against an imperialist occupying force. The fight of the Republicans cannot be compared with that of the Lovalists. Even in terms of death counts this is the case. The indiscriminate murder of civilians is something in the order of three to one in favour of dead Catholics.
From An Phoblacht posed of 'madmen' force fighting a liberation struggle. 3. Could It be Changed?
Republican way in which - although. as we by participating in the marches.