DAN that a majority had the right to see its wishes incorporated into the Constitution, warning of the savery of panely lite sanctity were not upheld. Policiticans were immediatev in quandry about they make some gesture lo lne loyalist ethos' without criticising the church.
Things got worse as Catholic priests deepened their Dreak ecumenicism by throwing concepts like 'Bloody Sunday, 'Diplock Courts', 'Internment' 'Informers' into the discusAnd still, little proSONA gress was being made on that final report.
Off went a delegation from the Forum to London to find out what kind of a 'new' Ireland might be acceptable TO the British government.
Stories of bitter rows between the Coalition and Fianna Fail, a scandal in volving the bugging of SDLP deputy Seamus Mallon's house, and Prior putting his foot in it al point to the proximity of the final report high stakes involved for all concerned The rift between the two middle class Southern arties s eases o exoa Both defended to militarily the border imprison Republicans. Both want to bolster the fading image of the SDLP and marginalise the influence of Sinn Fein But Fianna Fail must as bells the 'more Republican' of A Forum report with a range of options for future discussion tew measures which can be agreed on now would be ideal for them.
Similar differences and considerations divide the SDLP. The Forum was John Hume's idea He needs an agreed report if he is to emerge as the new 'great thinker' who broke logjam Irish politics. He has put forward a list of three options Federation of six and 23 unitary state counties, joint sovercignly.
Others in the SDLP like Seamus Mallon look to the EEC elections and : a swing to inn Feir not want to back a sell-out and support the 'unitary state' option As Paisley thunders out the message that Britain is planning a betrayal, his supporters (who have really little fear) continue to chant 'no surrender' an mind.
MP Michael Mates interviewed in the Sunday Independent asked: we possibly share sovereignty with a country that is not a member of our delence pact?' This prompted reposte from that for the privilege of seeing the Tricolour fly Jack, northern nationalists were being asked to uphold the sectarian framework the Six County state and renounce Irish unity. The South was being asked to join NATO and receive cruise missiles Peter Archer has saic that he will be demanding a full debate in Parliament when the report is publish. ed. There is only one op tion that is in line with par ty policy of moving toward reunification of Inat 1S the call for 'unitary state'. Any other option will in practice be no more than a cosmetic for continued partition, continued sectarianism and continued repression.
new issue OUT NOW! 40p Write in for subs or BULK ORDERS 'Labour and Ireland' c/o LCI BM Box 5355 London WCIN 3XX Socialist Action 13 April 1984
Socialist Action 13 April 1984
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1 Fein. Thes