Free Citizen: Vol. 2 no. 3, 16 October 1970

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GITIZ

REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER AT THE POSTOFFICE

NEWSPAPER OF THE

PEOPLES DEMOCRACY

3

PRICE

WEEKLY FRI.

16Oct. 1970

SCAB VERDICTS

UPHELD!

NEWTOWNARDS, WEDNESDAY.

HEARING BEGAN TODAY, AT DOWN COUN-

TY COURT, OF APPEALS BY SEVEN P.D.

MEMBERS WHO RECEIVED SAVAGE JAIL

SENTENCES FROM RESIDENT MAGISTRATE

WALMSLEY AT DOWNPATRICK MAGIS-

TRATES COURT LAST JULY. ALREADY

THREE OF WALMSLEY'S VERDICTS - ONE

AGAINST MICHAEL McC'ULLOUGH AND TWO

AGAINST BRIAN VALLELY - HAVE BEEN

UPHELD. DERMOT KELLY HAS BEEN SUC-

CESSFUL WITH ONE OF HIS APPEALS, AND

A. DECISION ON HIS TWO FURTHER

APPEALS WILL NOT BE MADE UNTIL TO-

MORROW.

Altogether seven people are appealing against the verdicts and sentences handed out at Down= patrick Magistrates Court in July.

Between them, Walmsley gave the seven members prison sentences totalling 53 months for taking part in a meeting in Ardglass to protest against the importing of cement by scabs during the cement workers' strike in the 26 Counties earlier P.D. intends to hold meetings this this year. The meeting was one of | weekend in Dundalk and Drogheda several held by P.D. at the harbour] about the cement cases. The meetin Ardglass, and during it a lorry ings will be on Saturday 17th at driven by scabs crashed its way 12.00 noon (Dundalk) and 4.00pm through the crowd of spectators. (Drogheda).

This seemed to be the signal for Successful protests have already the R.U.C. Special Patrol Group been held on the eve of the appeal (the Riot Squad) who just happened cases in Armagh, Newry and Dublin.

to be in Ardglass to swoop on the In Newry an audience of about 200 meeting and arrest 16 people. supported a demand that all trade There has been no charge of danger] unionists bring up the P.D. cases at out driving against the scab lorry- ] their union branch meetings and exdriver, although even police wit- press their solidarity with the P.D.

nesses have admitted that there was] members who have suffered in the plenty of room on the quay for the bosses' courts.

lorry to have completely avoided the meeting.

MEETINGS

The way in which the police reacted, the numerous arrests, multiple charges and heavy sentences all point to the way in which the state and its police are quick to attack any attempt at workers' sol- Eugene Cassin (Armagh) 4 months.

Dennis Cassin (Armagh) 7 months.

Oliver Cosgrove (Fermanagh) 7mths.

James Ruddy (Newry) 7 months.

The cases are still at hearing, and no decision has yet been made about the sentences. Even where the appeal court upholds the verdict, it can change the sentence. Whatever the outcome of the cases, ——_——_—

THE FIGHT FOR LOWER FARES

The PD campaign has continued to gather momentum since we forced the corporation to re-consider its decision to increase fares and cut services. We tried to present a petition with 38,000 names at the last Council meeting but were prevented by red tape from doing so. We have idarity. since collected another 5000, and are The sentences handed out by Walm still going strong. We even ran out of sley were: petitions and had to re-print them.

If any of our readers would like to collect names, just senda S.A.E.

to 88 Ladybrool Park Belfast.

Michael McCullough (Newry) 4 mths Brian Vallely (Armagh) 9 months.

Dermot Kelly (Armagh) 15 months.

RM at work

BY OUR COURTROOM

ARTIST

CONFERENCE

The P.D.-sponsored conference on repression was held in Armagh last Sunday and was well attended by members of P.D., Mid Ulster Independ ent Socialist Group, the Republican Movement and the League for a Workers Republic.

There was wide-ranging discussion about future tactics in the face of re pressive legislation such as the Criminal Justice Act, and proposed legislation to curb the activities of trade unions. The conference agreed that coordinated protest activities were essential at this time, especially be~ cause of the collapse of C.R.A. as a body for organising demonstrations. It was decided that the first co-ordinated activity would take place on Saturday October 24th when simultaneous pickets would be held against the Criminal Justice Act and proposed anti-union laws in at least eight centres. The Ulster Independent Socialists and P.D. have agreed to take part in the demonstration and other organisations are expected to announce their support shortly.

The scandals spewed up by the capitalist system would fill volumes But there's no need to search through obscure financial journals to find them. Just flick through the newspapers published on any average day Take last Sunday, 11th October, for example. Financial and business scandals enough to sicken even lukewarm socialists fill column after column of all the usual Sunday papers on that day. One paper tells how slick Rolls Razor genius John Bloom cleverly lost £13 millions of his share holders', salesmen's and employees' money before he was thirtythree years old. Now Bloom is cash -ing in on his incompetent welshing by selling the story of his swindles to the ''People'’ newspaper and by writing a book. It is characteristic of capitalists to make their crimes pay even in failure. And mugs will buy his book to find out how it's done. Sunday's papers also reveal that the American Gramco Company has diddled its 23,000 investors out of 50 million dollars. All the sharp manipulators involved, like the late pseudo-Irish President Kennedy's press secretary Pierre Salinger, can bluff it out and will doubtless emerge unscathed. But the small investor lured by capitalism's promises of easy wealth gets his finger burned. This is the getditched-quick society. The ''Sunday Times" exposes the immoral methods by which cigarette companies are swindling smokers.

Cigarette prices rise while tobacco content falls. Filters lengthen while fags shorten. The main swind: lers are Gallahers of Belfast and Ballymena. They have reduced the tobacco content of their ''Cadets" brand by 73% since 1969. But they haven't reduced the price. If you Members of the G.A.A., as we all know, are a fine body of men motivated by splendidly patriotic ideals. Not afraid to stand up for their belief. Never afraid to speak out boldly. Well, nearly always never. But there's an odd lapse or two now and then. Take, for example, the assembled Executive Officers and Club delegates of the Armagh County Board G.A.A.

meeting in Armagh City on Wednesday 7th October. Now that's as staunch a bunch of gaels as you would see any Sunday lathering sliotars in Crook Park. Or at least some of them are. This meeting was almost over when up jumps the club delegate from Collegeland O'Rahillys.

"Boys", sez he, "I propose that this fine meeting of all us grand G.A.A. men pass a motion calling for the release of all political prisoners in British and Irish jails."

The proposal was promptly seconded.

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

“good capitalist they swindled the Who Fears To Speak ?

FREE CITIZEN

smoke their "Park Drive Plain" you're getting 34% less weed for the same 4/9d. ''Senior Service Extra'' are far from being extra.

In fact, they now contain 63% less tobacco than a year ago. Smart boys our local fag fiddlers! And like any Inland Revenue (that is you and me and all the other taxpayers) out of one million pounds duty during 1969 alone simply by cheating on the weight of tobacco they put into their cigarettes. We Irish capitalists can show those English smart Alecs a whiff or two. Another Sunday tale is that of dear old Reggie Maudling, No.2 in the Tory party who still holds shares in the suspect ''Real Estate Fund of America" run by an evasive smoothie called Jerome D. Hoffman.

Or you can read of the fiddling of Bernie Cornfeld whose "Investors Overseas Services" bleeds to death, as they so charmingly say in financial circles. It bleeds to death the mugs who invested in it as well.

Sunday's papers all tell how financierEllis Seillon, Chairman of Stanley Weston Chemists, Mesco Consolidated Industries etc. was arrested on Saturday and charged with fraud involving £4 millions.

The peculiar financial juggling with Harland and Wolff's shares gets some space but it's so complicated and painful for the Ulsterman to read that it's just greek to him. Morasses for Anassis. And all this smelly mess of cupidity, stupidity, and perfidy comes from the newspapers of one single average Sunday. Do you still think capitalism works? Still fancy the "liberal" Alliance mob pledged to keep the system going? Jobs for the boys but shares for the mugs! ‘Hold on," sez the assembled Executive, respectable midille-class schoolmaster types almost to a man, "We can't pass that. That's a political proposal and we G.A.A. committees are non political."

"Very well", replies your man from Collegeland, ''then some of the rest of ye can propose that we don't call for their release."

Dead silence. Embarrassment all round. Not aman dare suggest that. That would be letting down the lads inside, wouldn't it? And it would batter the ould image a bit.

So nobody spoke up and the nonpolitical G.A.A. Board passed its political motion by default. Cowards in conference ! "Because this motion is political”, declared league secretary and bourgeois schooln McStravick, ister Brendan it will be noted in the minutes but nobody outside this room will ever hear of it."

Want to bet ? I would like to become a member of the People's Democracy. I enclose a fee of 10 shillings. All letters, gifts, correspondence etG, To remit sums of money you can use our giro number: 68 101 2005 16th OCTOBER 1970 ‘Seize The Time Bobby Seale (Arrow 9/-d.)

Bobby Seale is the Chairman of the Black Panther Party in AmeriKKA. He was the defendant in the Chicargo conspiracy trial/farce who was gagged and bound in his chair for continually protesting that he had a constitutional right to defend himself. He was then sentenced to 4 years in jail 'contempt of court'. (Come back Walmsley, all is forgiven). At present he is facing a trumped up murder charge which is part and parcel of the forces of 'law and order' in AmeriKKKa to wipe out the Black Panthers - over 40 murdered by police in the last 18 months. In this book he tells of the formation of the Black Panthers by Huey Newton, its development, its political programme, its analysis of the racism in the U.S. today, its attitude to defence (armed), the repression against it, its present organisation and methods. Although many people in Britain reading "Seize the time'' may be put off by the repetitive language - 'pig', 'motherfucker', 'right on’, 'off!

(meaning kill) etc. , we should realize that this is the current idiom of the day in the States and that the book is written for the black in the ghetto, not the middleclass theorist in his comfortable house. We may also disagree sharply with some of the tendencies in the Pan- -ther movement, such as the hero worship given to such reactionaries as Kimm Il Sung of North Korea, and Nkrumah, now in exile, but it is desirable that socialists should read this book, for there is much which we can learn from it. The Panthers are one of the most important developments in the left in AmeriKKKa today and their courage and determination are an inspiration to oppressed people all around the world. This is the first book specifically about them, written by one of their theorists that is available in paperback here, and with 475 pages it represents good value for money - another advantage is that it has been published so quickly, since it was only finished in March of this year and so has not had time to date. Seize a copy!

MEMBERSHIP

to:- 88, Ladybrook Park, Belfast.

FREE CITIZEN 16th OCTOBER 1970

RIFLES OF THE RUC

Last Saturday a meeting was held ; at the City Hall, Belfast. It was to protest against the seizure of six thousand copies of the ‘United Irishman" the previous week by the local branch of 'Dad's Army' on their week-end manoeuvres. Organised by the Republicans, the protest meeting was also addressed by P.D. speakers. Though we may have political differences with the Republicans, nevertheless we can, and will, unite on the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and freedom of political association.

Prominent among the audience (by reason of their large, flat feet and blank faces) were ten Special Branch men, who failed to carry out their usual agent provocateur tactics successfully. Following the meeting, several hundred people who had bought the "United Irishman" (which was open- outside the pig-sty (on the pavement) Perhaps this is just a Freudian ly on sale) marched round to Queen was a blue Hillman Imp, regis- slip. On the other hand it looks as Street pig-sty to give themselves up _ tration number 8547SZ. On the though some of the police, deprived for having broken the Special Powers back window shelf was a bolt-action of their .38 revolvers and Sterling Act. Unfortunately the top pig was . 303 rifle which is only used for sub-machine guns, have decided to very embarrassed at this and shooting at targets - or people (a carry their private arsenal around trotted out the lame excuse "I have photograph of it is reproduced on with them.

no authority to arrest you" this page). Beneath the rifle is a To be forewarned is forearmed!

As well as the Special Branch newspaper with the headline "'Pomorons, another interesting exhibit lice Sniper".

Fermanagh Fermanagh PD to hold pickets — H Fermanagh P.D. will picket pubiil | lic buildings in five centres on Saturday 17th October in protest against the imprisonment of the Fermanagh County Council protest- A ers. The pickets will be held in \\ A * Enniskillen, Kinawley, Rosslea, fo Beleek and Belcoo. ’) Fermanagh Peoples Democracy held a successful demonstration in Kinawley last Tuesday night also on the subject of the impris- Comes onment of the Fermanagh County @,000 = - LOCAL Comnci. ELECTIONS FeQnanacu Council protesters.

DNTTEORISH Mmm SERED “~ OFF UNTIL 1994 — i Pasrestee wie |

O2 LATER

THE rca

GREAT EEL

ROBBERY

by

MICHAEL FARRELL

a — SHILINGTON HEAD OF QU.C. —— TASORDERWN BEnenide CHRRGEO Poeunst @o LovaLisTS

PEOPLES DEMOCRACY

PAMPHLET

COPIES OF THE LATEST P.D.

PAMPHLET CAN BE HAD BY

= POST FROM: 88 LADYBROOK PK.

SueeLy Now, THOT THE GOVERNMENT BACK Td BELFAST. SEND 2/4d. (IN 4d

STAMPS, CHEQUES, POSTAL

BRING WN. IRELAND GIRO 68 101 2005.)

PRICES FOR LARGER

QUANTITIES ON REQUEST.

PD -CRA Where to now? It is now some eight months since P.D. cut itself loose from N.I. - C.R.A. and a suitable time to examine what way the original relationship developed and what the N.1I.C.R.A. has been doing since.

At the Annual General Meeting of N.1I.C.R.A. in February last P.D.

members did not go forward for election to the Executive Committee, instead members pressed for radical proposals. to be adopted from the floor. In the previous year the P.D. had two members on the executive as well as others on local civil rights committees. This withdrawal from C.R.A. was based on two main grounds. 1. The need, all the more urgent after the events of August '69, to put our engeries into the first priority of building a socialist movement.

2. Disagreement with the proposed future direction of N.I.C.R.A.

1. Building a socialist movement.

Puting all efforts into the creation of a revolutionary socialist organisation, fighting for a Workers Republic in Ireland, was a logical extension for P.D. from working within the civil rights framework. In the mainstream campaign from October 1968, P.D. had three broad ideals, which became clearer to it as it got more involved. First to ensure the campaign was militant.

There is a silly equation made by some between being militant and being sectarian. No group concerned itself more with being non-sectarian than P.D. Indeed the drive to smash sectarianism explains the two other ideals P.D. represented in the C.R. movement. First to ensure that the movement for civil rights was a movement of the people, and didn't lead solely toa shuffling of the pack of opposition M.P.'s at Stormont. In the event it failed in part because people did grab power, solely out of their unrepresentative positions in civil right organisations, and became M.P.'s. They now see themselves as a group apart; they had the arrogance even to create a 'party' that consisted of'themselves alone.'

Since they have entered Parliament, not one single radical idea, thought, or action has come from the lot of them. A parliament is not almost entirely unimportant, but the potential opportunities it had were almost entirely lost to the civil rights movement by the character of the representatives who were elected. radical issues The third and most important ideal of the Peoples Democracy was to widen the sense of grievance felt by the Catholic working class over discrimination into awareness that 'equal shares' , while necessary, was not enough.

That only through agitation for more work, houses and prosperity would a final solution be found.

That while discrimination was suffered by Catholics, shortage was endured by all working class people Protestant and Catholic. The demands 'One Man One Job', 'One Family One House’ were examples of the issues raised by P.D. which helped radicalise the civil rights programme. Such demands predictably raised the hackles of the conservative Green Tory element in N.I.C.R.A.

Their cries against 'splitting the movement! and ‘introducing politics came less from a genuine concern for the campaign than from a fear thet the C.R. movement might move away from a simple recitating of Catholic grievances as presented by the Nationalists over the years to developing an analysis of how things came to be as they were, and how they might be changed, in action by the people themsleves. They were afraid simply of being left behind by the growth of a class consciousness they had helped to stiffle for years. By this process which has continued more freely outside C.R.A.

P.D. has radicalised the political pressure on Unionism and opened the way for the possibility of socialism in the North... But what of CRA?

2. The 'New C.R,A.' The attack from the Catholic right wing may have anyway made it impossible for P.D. to work inside the C.R.A. But the decision to leave in the first place was a decision on priorities. We certainly were not. opposed to the C.R.A., since we helped build it - but we wanted to direct our energies to the next stage. However there was great dissatisfaction in P.D. with the direction that C.R.A. had been taking. inaction This has become more evident since the A.G.M. when the new executive dominated by 'official’ | Republicans took office. The executive has seen its chief function since to hold back the C:R. movement. The result of inactivity has been that its branch structure has largely collapsed and mass support has died away. The C.R.A. could have had a future along a radical path, instead it has been stiffled by 'respectable' politics that fool no-one. The demand for a 'Bill of Rights! illustrates aptly the mistakes that have been made. To underwrite the reforms by way of a law pass at Westminster is a fair enough demand, which P.D. would support. But the obsession with a "Bill of Rights’ displayed by C.R.

kevin boyle in the last few months has made a total farce out of both the demand and the C.R.A. It has been acclaim ed and proposed as the solution to everything from the smallest riot in Ballymurphy to votes of no confidence in Unionist M.P.'s. A 'Bill of Rights' campaign demanded by paper thin organisations from Liverpool to Skegness has confused people in England about what is going on in Ireland. The demand has been thus trivialised and is a sham because it displays an excessive faith in laws; law is a ruling class instrument, whether it be Unionist or British variety. The fate of ‘Bills of Rights' elsewhere, from South Africa to South America, should show that such total faith in | the law is naieve But the people be- | hind the demand are not inthe least | naieve, the cold control of the Dublin ideologues is calculated, and it seems they have secured what they j ,wanted: the C.R.A. as a mechanical agent of propaganda, lifeless , disturbing no-one, least of all the Unionists in that 'most Irish of institutions' Stormont. The burden of any campaig.. to protect demands already won firc)n the backsliding Unionists will h: to \be borne by P.D. and other active lorganisations. Sales Talk Over the past two months sales of Free Citizen in Belfast have increased by about 50%. This is pareticularly true of the centre of the City, though a greater number of smaller area sales are carried on a regular basis than before the summer. Sales in Armagh are consistently high and housing estates are covered on a regular basis. Newry, Enniskillen, Beleek, Portglenone, and Carrickmore are covered by the local P.D.'s. In addition to these towns, others which are served less regularly include Lurgan, Dungannon, Coalisland and Omagh. Free Citizen is available ina number of bookshops in Belfast and Derry, and is sold by P.D. agents in places as widely spaced as Dublin, Glasgow, Ipswich, Sixmilecross, London, Randalstown, New York, Maghera, Colchester and Bundoran. The number of subscribers continue to grow, and include The Home Office and Frank Roach in Brixton prison! Other copies are sent to the U.S.A.

Canada, Spain, The Netherlands, Italy, Germany and France as well as all parts of Ireland and Britain.