The army patrol was on a routine check of a club in Cyprus Street, off the Falls Road in Belfast — a well-known meeting place for Omnicial sinn rem supporiers. halted students leaving the club. were stood against the wall and their van searched or merature. On finding a document on army torture, The Case of the Portadown Three', the students were subjected to a torrent of abuse from the officer in charge on their supposed level of intelligence.
But these were not Irish students. They were members of a National Union of Students fact-finding delegation. change of attitude from the Army was pronounced. Anyone here from Manchester University' enquired the officer, 'that's where I took my degree!' But it was too late. The continued harassment that is part of everyday life in Republican areas in the North was part of the delegaNoll tion's actual experience.
In their examination of possible solutions, many discussions were held with They *peace movement' activists. The Northern Ireland Congress of Trade Unions told They the delegation how they had agreed to affiliate to the peace movement.
But Loyalist organisations maintained that no NICTU banner could accompany peace marches through their areas, as they saw this sort of action as condoning a communist organisation. Madge Davidson of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association made the point that 'NICRA couldn't openly support the peace movement' as it would be like giving it the kiss of death'.
Despite these massive problems with the peace movement, and despite the fact that the delegation was one to investigate the facts, the NUS leadership sees the delegation as being the first step in a joint THOU SHALT NOT KILL!
YOU TX FiGH BACK ment. on tne WERECE darity with struggles in internment in 1971 and 1972.
agreed to take part.
Student Union, Canterbury. CORRECTION
12 ROWELLIT 1104
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Notes history of