File spoon-archives/marxism-thaxis.archive/marxism-thaxis_1998/marxism-thaxis.9801, message 191


Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 01:51:36 -0500
From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Subject: M-TH: Cockroach notice (Radiotime Ireland!)


This is the final draft on recent events in Northern Ireland done for for 
the Radio
Program Straighfacts. Taped on January 12, 1998.

In the Northern Ireland Crisis -- No Tears for "the Rat"!

 

Good Evening. This is Bob Malecki reporting for Straight Facts somewhere in 
northern Scandinavia quite near the Polar Circle!

The recent demise of the fascistic Protestant paramilitary leader known as 
"King Rat" in the Maze jail is being hotly discussed on the left, especially 
among various Irish-Left political groups and activists.

It seems that some of the more queasy stomachs have gotten upset -- not so 
much because a para-military loyalist got what he deserved -- but because 
this latest action might upset the so-called "peace process".

On the other hand, there are others who claim they represent people who are 
not taking part in the "peace process".

Thus, they see this action as a continuation of the communal bloodbath that 
has been rocking Northern Ireland for decades.

So actually there are two questions here to discuss -- the actual murder of 
this "Rat", and the so-called "peace process".

In the final analysis, bumping off "King Rat" has solved nothing for poor and
working-class people in Ireland or Britain.

Certainly, working people, communists, socialists, and others on the 
class-struggle left can have no tears for this fascist kingpin.

"King Rat" certainly deserved to die -- albeit it would have been much 
better if it had
been the Irish proletariat, after taking state power, which had put him on 
trial, and then up against the nearest wall for his crimes..

But actions like the "King Rat" assassination, carried out by little groups 
of armed Irish militants, who are nationalist in orientation, are always met 
by reprisals from the other side who are also nationalist, albeit with a 
pro-Britain stance.

These acts, despite all the heroics involved, are an obstacle to actually 
mobilizing the real social power in Ireland which actually can change things.

That power is the Irish proletariat. 

Neither side appears to be interested, at least from a distance, in actually 
arming the working class in Ireland both politically and militarily -- in 
order not only to take on the British occupiers, but the Irish ruling class 
and not in the least the churches of the opposing sides.

Thus we have the historical dead-end of "nationalism" which sees its 
particular group of peoples as an integral whole rather then seeing Irish 
society as a society which is divided by classes.

This nationalism and communalist way of thinking differs in no way from the 
conflict in the Middle East between Arabs and Jews.

And, in fact, the programs of the opposing nationalist forces both in 
Ireland and the
Middle East are fundamentally the same.

Both feed on the necessity of exterminating the other side. Both look for 
support from their "own" ruling classes and their "own" church!

And in both cases, the nationalists now are involved in some sort of "peace" 
process or oppose some sort of "peace" process ... and the rivers of blood 
just keep getting deeper and deeper.

Meanwhile, the hands of the imperialists are really pulling the strings, 
enabling them to divide and rule while the various nationalist components of 
all sides are trying to win favor in the eyes of their imperialist masters 
... or are trying to sabotage the "peace" process from the outside -- not so 
much in the interest of poor and working-class people, but because these 
various nationalist outfits, whether on the inside or the outside of the 
"peace" process, have no real program which can actually be based on the 
class divisions in these societies..

As for the supposed "peace process" ... anybody who claims to be a 
"socialist" and believes that this is actually a "peace process" should be 
roundly condemned.

This process is in reality the bowing and cowtowing of various cynical 
nationalist outfits before their imperialist masters in Britain under the 
watchful eyes of Bill Clinton and imperialist America.

The only ones who can win this game in the long run are hardly poor and 
working-class people in Ireland or Britain ... because none of these 
nationalist hustlers are interested in *real* peace, but just in making a 
deal with the imperialists.

And for the Irish proletariat all sides that have entered the "peace 
process" have
fundamentally accepted the continuation of British imperialist rule and are 
now only really discussing which part of the Irish ghetto and poor and 
working-class people they can lordit over.

The only real alternative to this imperialist-run game is to mobilize the 
working class in revolutionary class struggle ... a struggle that will lead 
to social revolution.

What's desperately needed is a party which is prepared to fight for a united 
Independent Ireland, against its "own" ruling class and church, connected to 
the fundamental goal of getting the British out of Ireland.

This also means that a British section of this party would have, as its 
fundamental task, taking on the British ruling class with the ultimate goal 
of a socialist federated republic under the dictatorship of the proletariat.

That can be the only real goal.
 
For Straight Facts, this is Bob Malecki, reporting from Sweden.

------------------------------------------------------- 

Check Out My HomePage where you can, 
Read or download the book! Ha Ha Ha
McNamara, Vietnam-My Bellybutton is my Crystalball!

And Now the International Communist League Page! 
Just push on the "Spartacist" Button.

Or Get The Latest Issue of,

COCKROACH, a zine for poor and working-class people.

 NOW! "RADIO TIME" In cooperation with Straitfacts, Bob Malecki will be giving
occasional reports to Straitfacts Radio audiences in the United States. Text 
for these reports now on line. 

http://www.algonet.se/~malecki

http://w1.934.telia.com/~u93402111/ 

------------------------------------------------------- 



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