From: mattk-AT-indigo.ie
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 21:41:34 +0000
Subject: M-I: Sinn Fein & Defeatism (more)


Gary wrote:

>Do we adapt the purist, sectarian approach and say because Sinn Fein is not
>a workers' party it should not be supported even critically?

Karl replied:

>This entire question of critical support for the IRA is a well
>known trotskyist formulation. It is a case of wanting to have your
>cake and eat it. Either you support the IRA or you do not. There can
>be no in between position, no fudge.

I would contend that you have to separate military defence of an
organisation from political defence of its aims. Actions of the IRA are
carried out against British imperialism on behalf of a nationally oppressed
part of the Irish nation (the questions of the Unionist population, we'll
ignore for the moment). As such, when they carry out these actions, they
should be defended by  all working class parties. These actions are
obviousll different in nature from those carried out by Unionist military
organisations in furtherance of their aims (the subjection of the
Nationalist population).

'Critical support' to the IRA is not a Trotskyist formulation. The question
of critical electoral support to political parties dates back to long
before Trotsky was a Trotskyist, and applies to working class parties only.
This excludes Sinn Fein, for which no form of support, critical or
otherwise shouls be entertained by socialist organisations.

In short, Sinn Fein is a petit-bourgeois political organisation, the IRA is
a military organisation which struggles against British imperialism (and
occasionally, as part of its strategy, carries out random bombings, but
this is a whole other evenings arguments).

With communist greetings,

MATT KELLY.


--
E/irigh lasadh as an splanc seo
mattk-AT-indigo.ie




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