SocialistAction 1983–88

The paper of the Socialist League, formerly the International Marxist Group, 1983–88

Overcoming the sectarian divide

· Socialist Action No. 26, 23 September 1983 · pp. 9-10 of the scan · 497 words

The scan: 026-sep-23-1983-SA-UK.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive, opens at this page)

Uncorrected machine reading. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from a scan of a newspaper page, and the page was cut into articles by machine, at the headlines found by their type size. Nothing has been corrected: expect misread words, text from a neighbouring article, and titles that are the machine reading of the headline, some of them only fragments. Quote from the scan, not from this page.
How this article was cut and titled: headline found by type size in the OCR geometry (split_tabloid.py); 4-6 of 7; machine-segmented newspaper page; uncorrected Vision OCR.

page 9 of the scan

Then the editorial continues; 'But there are good reasons to think that this was not the case'!

The rest. of the article is an apologia of the ac. Lul. with reference to US spy planes in the area and the conclusion that Russia was only 'guarding itself from military encirclement and harassment of its borders'.

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(Tel: 01-359 8180) SOME ON the British left support the Irish 'armed struggle' in the belief that a victory for the republican forces in Nörthern Ireland would be a victory for progressive socialism The presence of the British Army and the repressive nature of legislation in the province aves some valey to toc republican claim that this presence 1s ot an imperialist nature and can only be resisted by axmed confrontation.

However, presence is not the only obstacle. The loyalist majority hold a veto in the province and would ever Suom le reunification. Indeed, if a united Ireland was forced upon them, they in turn would engage in their own armed struggle against the republican forces. Human misery in the North would therefore continue unabated.

The solution to Northern Ireland is the application of the main Soco Daroc ol working class solidarity. Sectarianism divides the working class, and perpetuates the myth that one section of the working class has different interests to that of the other.

The unionist politicians, undoubtedly reactionary, hold their own position of power, not because of their commitment to the Irish working class who vote for them, but because the sectarian divide dictates that the Protestant working class must vote 'for their side' Este is cast within tue amework of sectarianism. It is therefore an essential precondition to Irish Walv unal une wokg class of Northern Ireland realise their commor interests.

A united working disassociated from the British establishment and fighting for better housing, jobs and social welfare would make a united socialist Ireland possible and would threaten the cosy alliance between reactionary governments of Thatcher and FitzGerald. I therefore call on all socialists, not only to ensure that pressure is kept on Labour for a full commitment to British withdrawal, but also to support efforts to organise the working class of Northern Ireland. The Sonor v o werne people would not only overcome Northern Ireland's prejudice and bigotry but would also enable the working class to fight back against the ravages of capitalism.

Edinburgh

page 10 of the scan

Socialist Action 23 September 1983 • Back to the Sink?

Discussion of the effects of or bordes on women Thur 22 Sept, 7.30pm, The • Swansea YCND Festival 24 Sept, St Phillips Community Centre, 1-6pm. Stalls, videos, music, food • CND National Demonstration London, 22 Oct. Details: 01-272 8896. • No interference in urtlaud, Cella d Southern America Public meeting organised by

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