SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY
Statement on Omagh
The members of Socialist Democracy would like to express their sympathy and sorrow to the victims and relatives of the Omagh explosion. There are some harsh realities that must be faced if we are to prevent further tragedies.
The atrocity at Omagh shows the bankruptcy of a republican platform based on militarism. This kind of slaughter is what fatally weakened the movement and led to the political collapse that fuelled the peace process. The `Real IRA_ will never have at its disposal the kind to force that would defeat Britain. These sort of tragedies can only make the political process they oppose much stronger.
Militarism has nothing to offer Irish workers. At its best it is simply ineffective while demobilising the self-activity of working people that can bring real change. At its worst it discredits and demoralises the entire opposition.
But these is more to be said about the events at Omagh that sympathy for the victims or criticism of those who carried out the bombing. What it shows is that the peace process will not be enough. Because it does not actually offer a democratic solution it will time and again, as so often before in Irish history, produce desperate acts from those marginalised and left without hope.
Adams
Gerry Adams will be called on to do more. His movement will be asked to retreat further and settle for even less than the minor changes on offer. The British and Free state forces will now move to further restrict democratic rights and use all the forces of the state to silence dissent. Those supporting the current settlement will be asked to meet their responsibilities by supporting further police powers.
We call on all socialists and democrats to oppose this. Britain could make a giant step towards peace tomorrow by leaving Ireland. Giving her and her allies more power is not the road to peace and is not in the interests of working people.
Socialist Democracy is the Irish section of the Fourth International