On Saturday, 13 January, Coventry Anti-Internment League held a conference of organisations and individuals interested in the problems of building an Irish solidarity movement in the area. The conference was attended by over 50 people, including delegates from the Trades Council, UCATT, TASS branches and other trade unions; representatives from the International Marxist Group, International Socialists, Workers Fight, Labour Party Young Socialists and the Northern Relief Committee; comrades active on the Irish question in Leicester, Nottingham, Birmingham; and students from Warwick University, Lanchester Polytechnic and Canley College of Education. (Coventry AlL and IS). He outlined the events leading up to direct rule, and showed that these reflected the desire of British imperialism to change its relation with the two parts of Ireland. Secondly, he traced the organisation at present called the UDA back to its origins in the UVF, as far back as 1913. It was alleglance to the Protestant ascendancy which provided support for both organisations. He thus made it clear that the UDA was not a result of the Provisional bombing campaign, but a result of the sectarianism built into the Six County state.
The discussion covered the developing situation in the 26 counties, and the possibilities of unity between the Protestant and Catholic working class. One delegate took the rather short-sighted view that the present possibilities of sectarian civil war were the result of the bombing campaign, and that the main priority at the present time was to concentrate on issues working class. Most delegates disagreed with this assessment; and argued that the way forward involved developing the political struggle in the South, and continuing the national struggle in the North, against the British army, and extreme Protestant organisations which threaten the nationalist areas. TASKS AND ACTIVITIES The second session on tasks and activities in this country was introduced by Bob Purdie (IMG and Organiser of the AIL). He outlined the work done over the past few years in building a solidarity movement from the Irish Civil Rights Solidarity Campaign to the present AIL. The main lesson he drew from this experience was that at certain times (e.g. after internment) it was possible and absolutely necessary to try to build a movement involving the largest possible number of people around simple demands (e.g. "End Internment). Nevertheless, it was also necessary at times, to tight within that movement for more support for the military struggle of the IRA). Unless this was done, experience has shown that the movement will crumble with a change in the situation in Ireland (as the introduction of direct rule showed). The central basis of such demands must be the right of the Irish to self-determination.
He also pointed out the possibilities in the near future for building a movement on the basis of "Troops Out of Ireland", and said that the AIL must be ready to take all opportunities for constructing such a movement. Among the points covered in discussion were the need to achieve a greater impact for the AlL's politics within the trade unions, Great importance was laid on the present educational discussion meetings organised by Coventry AlL as a means of building a solid organisation which would not be dis-oriented by changing events. Overall the conference marked a step forward for Coventry AlL in widening its influence and in drawing in new members.