Irish Republican Prisoners Solidarity webite

[boiler]

http://www.irishrepublicanprisoners.com/index.html

[WilliamGreen]

Hey boiler, I noticed that this seems to be an unaffiliated prisoner support network as it lists the ones associated with the 32 csm, rsf, RNU, IRSP, etc.

Good on you for posting. One thing that would be nice to see is these groups get back to addressing community issues and socialism as was the back bone of the movement in 1916 and throughout the 60's to 80's. I think connelly said it best when addressing the national issue if the structures of imperialism stay the same ;)

[boiler]

Hey boiler, I noticed that this seems to be an unaffiliated prisoner support network as it lists the ones associated with the 32 csm, rsf, RNU, IRSP, etc.

Good on you for posting. One thing that would be nice to see is these groups get back to addressing community issues and socialism as was the back bone of the movement in 1916 and throughout the 60's to 80's. I think connelly said it best when addressing the national issue if the structures of imperialism stay the same ;)

I have no idea if the site is affiliated to any group but I hope the site helps spread unity amongst Republicans.

I think within overall Republicanism some of the groups are moving back to community issues and socialism. But there are also some groups and individuals moving towards reformist politics. But I think in the next 1 or 2 years the majority of Republicans will turn left to socialism. There is a group called the 1916 Societies trying to start a reformist "One Ireland One Vote" campaign. They plan to get everyone in Ireland to vote for a united Ireland. The Free State and British government's don't and wont recognize it. But I think and I hope they will change their strategy to a more socialist strategy.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

If you don't mind me asking, what separates the Worker's party of Ireland and the Irish Republican Socialist Party other than a separate history in the armed struggle? I know the divides of history are hard to mend but there has to be additional reasons for these two groups to not unite. And as a side note I admittedly say this without having a perfect grasp of the theory and practice of both groups.

[boiler]

If you don't mind me asking, what separates the Worker's party of Ireland and the Irish Republican Socialist Party other than a separate history in the armed struggle? I know the divides of history are hard to mend but there has to be additional reasons for these two groups to not unite. And as a side note I admittedly say this without having a perfect grasp of the theory and practice of both groups.

The Workers Party and the IRSP were one group at first. But in 1974 they split. The Workers Party or Official Sinn Fein as it was called back then believed in reformist strategy to reach socialism and they didn't believe in armed struggle or even armed defence of the people from Brits death squads. The faction that broke away from Official Sinn Fein that went on to create the IRSP and INLA believed the only way to achieve national liberation and socialism was through armed struggle.

There was a massive feud that lasted years, lots of bad happened and lots of people on both sides were assassinated. It was very messy. Because of the feud I don't think there could ever be any unity between the two groups and they are bought ideologically different to. The Workers Party is more of a liberal type party were as the IRSP are more like a Marxist-Leninist Party.

The Workers Party were totally reactionary, they didn't support the blanked men, hunger strikers, didn't support armed groups protecting area's, gave information to Loyalists and Brits about Republicans and the Workers Party were pretty much gangsters profiting from crime.

[WilliamGreen]

I kinda wish the INLA had stayed on as a armed wing of the people.

They could have done a lot of good as a workers enforcement organization that militantly backed protests and unions, etc.

I understand it though, there was a lot of good men and woman in prison that had a chance under the GFA to get out and the organization was being viewed differently now that the sectarian element was slowly coming to an end.

It's a complicated history that's for sure.

[boiler]

I wish the INLA had stayed on myself and Iv heard lots of people say the same thing.

Your right it is a very complicated history.

As far as I know the Republican Socialist Movement still believe the only way for Ireland to achieve national liberation and socialism is by armed revolt. But they believe in this era they need to organize the workers and raise their class consciousness because there is no support for armed struggle at this time. The IRSP are involved heavily in some communities around Ireland trying to help community and social issues and they are becoming more involved in trade unions to. The RSM doesn't support the GFA they just seen they had to change strategy with the circumstances of the time.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

As far as I know the Republican Socialist Movement still believe the only way for Ireland to achieve national liberation and socialism is by armed revolt.
At an Ard Fheis 12-14 years ago (can't remember offhand if it was 2000 or 2002), mass struggle by the working class is what the IRSP proposed as the way forward.

[boiler]

At an Ard Fheis 12-14 years ago (can't remember offhand if it was 2000 or 2002), mass struggle by the working class is what the IRSP proposed as the way forward.

Sorry my bad, I wasn't 100% sure. Thanks for the clarification.

[WilliamGreen]

At an Ard Fheis 12-14 years ago (can't remember offhand if it was 2000 or 2002), mass struggle by the working class is what the IRSP proposed as the way forward.

DND, I have heard your name mentioned in quite a few corners of the irish socialist scene.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on everything :)

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Sorry my bad, I wasn't 100% sure. Thanks for the clarification.
No problem.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

DND, I have heard your name mentioned in quite a few corners of the irish socialist scene.
Only good things, I hope. :grin:


I'd love to hear your thoughts on everything :)
Feel free to ask questions. I was a dual member of the IRSP and its North American branch the IRSCNA for 14 years.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

Only good things, I hope. :grin:


Feel free to ask questions. I was a dual member of the IRSP and its North American branch the IRSCNA for 14 years.
If you don't mind me asking, what does the IRSCNA do on the ground level?

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

If you don't mind me asking, what does the IRSCNA do on the ground level?
Fundraising for the party and prisoners, public relations on behalf of the party (building support for the party in North America and internationally), and participating in the class struggle in members' local communities (quite a few statements released by the IRSCNA revolved around the class struggle in North America).

During most of the years I was a member, I was the public relations officer.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

Thank you, if you do not mind me asking why are you a member no longer?

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Thank you, if you do not mind me asking why are you a member no longer?
It was because of some unresolvable conflicts with other senior members of the IRSCNA, one of whom is an outright reactionary on some issues.

[WilliamGreen]

Danielle big loss for the organization with your leaving.

And to answer your questions all good things.

I remember your name being talked about quite a bit with some mates from Ireland that use to visit the old na fianna eireann forum when it was in full swing and who may have later got involved with rsf etc.

Do you think there are any organizations in Ireland doing good work like when you where involved with the IRSP?

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

I remember your name being talked about quite a bit with some mates from Ireland that use to visit the old na fianna eireann forum when it was in full swing and who may have later got involved with rsf etc.
Oh, yes, I spent a lot of time on that board back in the day. Met some good people there.


Do you think there are any organizations in Ireland doing good work like when you where involved with the IRSP?
I think the IRSP is still the best Left Republican organization on the ground, but I know good activists in RSF, RNU, and the 32CSM, too.

[WilliamGreen]

What about eirigi, they seem to have quite a strong upcoming presence.

Are they as professional on the streets as their sites ;)

[boiler]

If you want my opinion, Eirigi are very active and very organized mainly in Dublin and Belfast. They are getting a nice bit of support in them places, very active in community and social issues.

I'd say out of all the left Republican groups RNU are most active.

[WilliamGreen]

The thing I like about RNU is they have an active military wing and growing.

But I don't see them as aticulate as Eirigi or as grounds level socialist as IRSP. That's my worry. They're is to much praise of the IRA splinter groups when most are reactionary and not at all socialist/focused on the working class projects.

The national issue means nothing if the poor irish still lives in flats like divis.

[boiler]

RNUs armed wing has done some good acts. It fire bombed a shop that was hiring unemployed workers as a part of the governments back to work program, in which unemployed workers on social welfare have to work for no wage.

RNU may not be as articulate as Eirigi but on a ground level they are as socialist as the rest of of them. RNU does a lot of great work in working class areas. IRSP and Eirigi do a lot of great work to.

Your right there is to much praise of the IRA splinter groups and there is a lot of reactionary elements within over all Republicanism but there is diffenetly a growing support for left wing and socialist politics.

[WilliamGreen]

boiler the more posts i see from you the more i respect what you have to say.

your articulate and can see another side but are always reasonable.

couldn't agree more with what you posted.

let's hope rnu and onh continue the good work

maybe the new reals will see how to really do it and put their muscle behind projects the community wants.

like that offensive you just described of onh ;)

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

What about eirigi, they seem to have quite a strong upcoming presence.
I don't really know any eirigi activists. I've been critical of eirigi for the wishy-washy stance they took on abortion.

[Dr Doom]

I've been critical of eirigi for the wishy-washy stance they took on abortion.

Just like Sinn Fein's, and RSF's and the 32csm's etc etc.

Considering the usual line from the 'left' that republicanism has a more progressive nature than their unionist counterparts, I think its interesting to note that the only large political group in Northern Ireland that is openly pro-choice is the PUP, a unionist group.

Unlike the rest of the people in this thread, I have 'a plague on both your houses' approach to republicanism and unionism mainly because I think its obvious, to anyone who actually lives here, that they have always been the worst curse on the working class in Ireland and a constant barrier to the development of anti-sectarian, pro-working class politics.

[WilliamGreen]

Dr. Boom

I don't want to go to much into my own details but had close family leave belfast and portadown during the troubles.

I think your right in what your saying but also kinda wrong.

There are elements within republicanism that have a powerful revolutionary presence.

Unionism not so much.

However your right, when you look at the modern situation and even that of the troubles it was mostly a reactionary sectarian death squad on both side force. That's just the sad truth.

Hell on both sides everyone even murdered their own comrades. It's definitely not a romantic struggle apart from the few heroes and visionaries.

Danielle included of course haha ;)

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Just like Sinn Fein's, and RSF's and the 32csm's etc etc.
Like Sinn Fein's, for sure. RSF has always been anti-choice, and I don't know that the 32CSM ever formally took up the issue (but it's been years since I looked into it). The IRSP has been pro-choice since its first Ard Fheis in 1975 (even though some prominent members, like Seamus Costello, were opposed to it at the time).


I think its obvious, to anyone who actually lives here
Well, except to all the unionists and republicans on the ground there, and sympathizers on the ground there. So "obvious to anyone" is a bit of an overstatement.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Hell on both sides everyone even murdered their own comrades. It's definitely not a romantic struggle apart from the few heroes and visionaries.

Danielle included of course haha ;)
:grin:

[WilliamGreen]

Haha I had to mention the best of the best ;)

I am seriously sad that you are no longer part of the IRSP.

Very sad news for the irish socialists ;)

[boiler]

Just like Sinn Fein's, and RSF's and the 32csm's etc etc.

Considering the usual line from the 'left' that republicanism has a more progressive nature than their unionist counterparts, I think its interesting to note that the only large political group in Northern Ireland that is openly pro-choice is the PUP, a unionist group.

Unlike the rest of the people in this thread, I have 'a plague on both your houses' approach to republicanism and unionism mainly because I think its obvious, to anyone who actually lives here, that they have always been the worst curse on the working class in Ireland and a constant barrier to the development of anti-sectarian, pro-working class politics.

I see where your coming from, I live in Ireland also. I have to disagree with you tho. Just because the PUP were pro-choice doesn't mean they are more progressive. The PUP the political wing of the UVF. At the time when ex UVF prisoner David Ervine was the PUPs leader and at the time of elections the UVF done the louglinisland massacre. There was sectarian killings on all sides but no Republican leadership ever gave orders for sectarian killings. The Loyalists on the other hand were different.

I know your not saying the PUP are better than Republicans you don't like any of them which is fair enough. There was a lot of sectarian killings on both sides. I think there was and is reactionary elements within over all Republicanism. But I don't think Republicanism is a constant barrier to the development of anti-sectarian, pro-working class politics.

If it wasn't for Republicans there would have been a lot more massacres against the Catholic community by Loyalists and Brits. And in now a days, Republicans are trying to become more pro-working class politically.

I believe the worst curse on the working class in Ireland is imperialism, sectarianism stems from it.

[tachosomoza]

You lot have too many organizations with acronyms. No offense.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

You lot have too many organizations with acronyms. No offense.

Says the Trotskyist

[tachosomoza]

:(

[Dr Doom]

There are elements within republicanism that have a powerful revolutionary presence.

examples ?

the only republican group with any sort of real presence in northern Ireland is SF, who are busy implementing brutal austerity measures against the working population, nothing revolutionary there.

The IRSP's Derry and Belfast branches are relatively healthy in terms of size (compared to other 'socialist' orgs of course), but are virtually non-existent anywhere else.

And then there is the assorted 'dissident' nutters, the worst of a bad lot, who can be best described as fuel and cigarette smugglers and armed robbers with nationalist politics. they have more in common with tony montana than james connolly.


Unionism not so much.
or not at all.

[WilliamGreen]

Dr. Boom I meant certain figures, etc.

I couldn't agree more with what you said. It's a disgrace.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

The IRSP's Derry and Belfast branches are relatively healthy in terms of size (compared to other 'socialist' orgs of course), but are virtually non-existent anywhere else.
Also, they have a good presence in Strabane.

[Os Cangaceiros]

they have more in common with tony montana than james connolly.

Haha, this made me laugh :lol:

[WilliamGreen]

Danielle I or one of the other posts may have already asked you but I've had a few haha

Are you with any other organization now :)

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Are you with any other organization now :)
No, I'm not.

[WilliamGreen]

Ahh okay.