NEWCASTLE Trades Council recently sent a delegation to the North of Ireland.
Two of the delegates, GEOFF RYAN and PETESHORT, write here: about their experiences:
IMAGINE T! Walking into the city centre late on a Thursday afternoon. A bite to eat, and then a drink.
But through a turnstile, WBDO4OB 0I coat, armas stretched sideways, a quick pat. The British Army has satisfied iself that you are not about to blow half of central Belfast to kingdom The English accent helps, course. A familiar voice amongst all the hostslity.
Wesaw and were sold what is being done to the North of Ireland by the British povernment:
*The steward from Harland and Wolff'sshipyard whodoesnotwantto dwell overmuch on what will happen to 8,000 jobs when the present orders run out in 18 months time • Three voung lads in carly morning Derry theowing bottles and stones at an semy landrover.
*On the Creggan overlooking the Republican Creggan estate a targe army barracks occupies the land marked on the Derry town plan being Tor development.
*People with no hope of a job what is left of it afier the Payments for Debt Acr has allowed the gas and electricity boards to recoup their outstanding bills.
Status Nearly everyone we speak to agrees on one thing: nothing will be resolved Northern Ireland's tutional status' is resolved. Whether it a SOCIESE tepublic. a utited Treland, independence, a return to the old Stormont, or integration with Britain the national question is at the heart of most people's thoughts, back wards to aroid taking any position on the national question. To G0 S0. they would split the movernente Yet unions are affiliated to the TUC, others to the Irish Congress of Trades Unions.
Derry was tbe last walled city to be Socialist Challenge 31 May 1979 page 12 Heights PRISONERS" relatives on their way to Long Kesh built in Europe. It has a further, more dubious distinction. Ir is the last place in Europe where the walls are still ased for their original purpose.
Off Bishop Street is yer another аглу pst. This one nestles in the comer of the city walls overlooking the Bogside.
TCOOSH- A large notice prohibits the taking of photographs in the army, of coursel Which is why our delegation was photographed. and one extra reason why the army at the border post obviously knew who we were and why we were there.
Over Five days is not a long time to find out about a place. But it takes only live nunulei lo know you are in ar occupied country.
Only the colour of the uniform distinguishes the army from the police. And the few police you do see ace in armoured Jandrovers. their fingers on the trigger of a self-loading that the weapons arercal.
prison a police patrol stops und flags down a passing car for a spot check. Herween the North and West Belfast the army sirs out not it you are socure in its barracks, watching what passos for normal life go by.
Black Taxis the Falls Road, so the Black Taxis' of the Falls Taxi Association step in. Mysteriously; wait for the destination is, Iv it imagination, Cityhus Teally send Is vebicles throurh the gbettes!
Somchow you cannet believe of a terrace As we walk past the Chunlin Road been knocked down.
of the H-blocks of Long Kesh.
Buses are few and fur between up people know where to a bat their nationalist Saracen.