which was behind barricades in Angust 169, the Lower Falls, is che area where the officials are strongest; the experience of that struggle must have raised the general level of political conSCIOUSNESS THE SHOOTING OF THE THREE SOLVERS Now the question of the shooting of the three soldiers in Belfast. To survey the British press is to feel a strong physical tevulsion Seldom have shay been more hypocritical, or blatantly prejudiced, It is a tenet of bourgeol law that a man is innocent until proved guilty. Without any lesiration the British press has screamed the reaponsibility of an entire movement. In the atmosphere of hysteria they have whipped up.
to get a fair trial on any charge, let alone the change of killing these soldiers.
WHAT THEY HAVE NOT CONDEMNED They have not condemned the brutality of Bei tish imperialism which compelled the irish people to develop an armed movement to fight For their freedom in the first place. They have not conderned the unemployment which forced immediate demonstrations for interanens oF wax hysterical over any of che 17-18 civilians wha have been killed in the North in the last few months They did not mourn when Charles • Neill was run down by an armoured car in July 70 when trying to signal it to stop; they were not shocked whon the troops told one of his neighbours, "Move on, you Irish hastardthere are not enough of you dead." They did not devote headlines to the death of Patrick Climan, aber down wasn tamg brairh-of fresh air during General Freeland's illegal curfew: nor did they acream when British soldiers aubsequently broke down the door of his house, and having helped themselves to a cup of his tea, dossed down in the upstairs room while their victim was gasping out his life in hospical (i took him a week to die)."
WHAT IS THE PROOF What is the proof that the IRA shot these soldiers? There is none. Some papers have mentioned, in passing, that both IRA's have issued denia! They have not mentioned the fact that it has been a rigid practice of the IRA. before and after the split, to announce its it will be imposible for any member of the IRA responsibility for actions which it has taken, and that there is no known case where they have denied responsibility for something, and it has Later been proved chat they were culpable.
OTHER THEORIES There are other theories that are at least as plausible on the basis of the evidence. For example, that the UVE were the culprita che young Scotsmen to join the Army. They did not IRA leaders world be the kind of respoase rhey would hope to gain; The British press has not mported that the soldiers were last seen in the company of other soldiers, they have not com mented on the straagruess of these soldiers being tempced away to a lonely place by people they could not have known, in a city where they would expect co hare many enemies. 6 measures, and will be used to cover up for any ourrazes of the troops against the minority. For example, the San, reparcing reactions from the dead men's placoon, quotes a lance-corporal as saying that it chey had not been wichdrawn Trom duty, "There could have been same Irish blood abour the place."?
THE EXECUTION OF SOLDIERS Of course it is possible thar chey were killed for some specific reason by Republicans. And it could be that as the scruggle sharpens in the conting period, soldiers will be executed as a punishment foracts of beitality, as reprials, ur as a means of demoralising the British Army. Such methods are forced on guerrilla armies fighting an enemy wich vascly superioe ficepower. They have been used on British soldiers before and were particularly eifective in lorcing them out of South Yemen. Bet Ireland being Beicain't backdoor, they will have a much more profound effect on "public opinion" if used there.
Revolutionaries should not bend to the pressure which will brow up. We must say clearly that we delend the forces fighting British imperialism in Ireland, and we will not seek to tell them how to wage their struggle. We must point the finger at the real culprits of the viol ence -those who are crying to maintain politica and economic domination over Ireland. If the British government is really worried about the fate of British soldiers, its course of action is simple withdraw theat. They Dever had any right to be in Ireland in the tirst place.
But let us reiterate, there is no evidence that the IRA, Official or Provisional, has taken pa policy of terror against the troops, or tha hey will. and we do not accept that there is ang evidence to support the accusations that they killed these particular soldiers.
THE IRISH PROBLEM AND THE BRITISH LEFT The latest crisis is evidence of the continuing Insolubility of the Irish problem for British imperialism. The permanent crisis is no nearer solitios. Unforcunately, it has cast a woefil light on the British lelt. As the strugales have escalated, our solidarity action has de-escalated.
Part of the reason for this has been the cremendous upsurge in the workers' movernent in Britain; chis has obscured che importance of otber issues. (le means, for inscance, thar we are quite unprepared for a fight over the lounigra rion Bill). We must be clear; we bear a historical responsibility to support the Irish people's scraggie.
Ie is not enough to talk about the struggle againse the Industrial Relations Bill aiding be Trish by engaging the enemy on anosher front. We need to mount a sperial campaigo to explain the real facta to the British workers, other wise chey will be stampeded inte supporting the fisture repression.
Ir is vital that the Irish Solidarity Campaign be seen as the focus of our efforts, and that sections of the left who have dropped out turn once more to building a serious united front. A start can be made by helping to build the Easter actions which 1SC plans. On Easter Sunday they will be supporcing the Casser demonstration in Birmingham of Clann na h Eircase ithe Official Republican Movement in Britain:. And on Easter Monday they will be holding a public meering and filmshow in Lorden.
Wirhdraw British Troops Now!
Support the Armed Action of che Trish People! Self Decermination for Ireland:
Bob Pundie NOTES 1. Irra: Tomer Monday March Tat, 1971.
See interview with Cathal Goulding in Wine Left Review Na. 64. 3. The Official Republican Movement has now dropped the abstentionist policy; see the report on the 1971 Sinn Fein Ard- Fhe is in Red Mole, 1ur 15th Feb. ISTE