Socialist Outlook's DAVID COEN spoke to JOHN MEEHAN who attended the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis which took place in Dublin on March 23 after the collapse of the 18-month IRA ceasefire. "THE PERIOD before the Canary Wharf bombing was marked by growing crisis of the "peace process' strategy of the SF leaders. The republicans' frustration led to collapse of the ceasefire on February 9.
SF leaders have constantly called for all-party talks involving the British and Irish governments and all the main political parties on the island. SF argues that the British government should become "persuaders' of the Unionists. Unfortunately this plea fell on deaf ears - just as experienced anti-imperialists predicted it would.
Most of the Ard heis debates were lifeless. Only one delegate, Dub. lin's Aengus O Snodaigh, openly crit¡cised the SF leaders' "peace process' strategy.
He explain to the Ard Fheis how they "don't mention our demands. We want Brits Out. We want a United Ireland. Why are we hiding away tiese demands in the cupboard? Why does it look like we are compromising our ocmanas octore we got so the negotiating table?"
The main decision concerned internal elections in the six counties on May 30. While most delegates preferred a boycott, the incoming leadership was given a free hand.
The boycott depends on what the SDLP do. The elections would be reduced to a farce if both SF and the SDLP boycott them, akin to Willie Whitelaw's border poll', contemptuously rejected by the entire nationalist community in the 1970s.
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Makecheques & POs payable to Outlook International. Name Address Post Code Telephone Block copitals please Martin McGuinness an active boycott of John Major's Stormont poll. SDLP MPs feel the need to denounce this sop to the bigoted Unionists: for example. the Newry and Armagh MP Samus Mal. lon calico the ciciora system d "Monster Raving Looney' plan.
However the SF leaders have little Somen or coco as Phone Mark Solmen pessimism about the 'peace process' SF's newspaper An Phoblach/Repub. lican News stresses the comments of Martin McGuinness, a central SF leader, that "Republicans would prefer non-participation but will ensure the Sinn Fein mandate is defended".
Only once did the Ard Fheis spring to life - debating women's right to choose abortion. Women political prisoners at Maghaberry proposed a pro-choice resolution. seconded by men prisoners in the HBlocks and supported mainly by delegates from Derry and Dublin.
Derry delegate Daisy Mules said that it was hypocritical to support selfocterminaton for peopic oppressco by imperialism, but to deny it to Several male delegates from rural