IN MARCH a new n was launched in Dublin by the Irish Republican Writers Group. This group is made of former republican prisoners and includes such figures is Tommy MeKewney who was on the first hunger strike in 1981.
According to the magazine editortal they aim will publish articles of interest even if they are in profound disagreement with the contents of the articles.
This is already in evidence in the first issue "The purpose is to faciltate discussion and analysis of republican ideas Of primary interest are those ideas which deal with strategic matters and which address the question "what is to be done? Not surprisingly many of the ardcles deal with the thorny issue of the peace process and the At the public meeting in Dublin where the magazine was given i a second launch, Tommy Mickeamey accused the Sinn Fein leadership of having abandoned their programme and settied Ireland. Ukewise Anthony Mcintyre pointed ouc that what the current ship have he last thirty years. It was not what they had gone to jail for, it was not what the struggle had been about. The struggle was always about more than bums on parliamentary seats and The sharp cridcism levelled at the Sinn Fein leadership has caused some controversy: surrounding the interview carried out with Brendan Hughes Hughes is a former commander of the iRA in: Belfast and also the former o/c of the republican prisoners, a position he stepped down from to lead the 1980 hunger senike.
The interview caused a run on the magazine which had to go into a secood print run, much of those involved. Hughes B rected in republican decies and his criticisms have hurt the Sinn Fein leadership. prompting Danny Morrison to write a long review entited Too Fordwight Although much can be said of the positive Impact of a group of ex prisoners expressing opposition to the peace process through azine is to be found wanting on the sublect of socinim Not one mendon of it is made, alhough will be hopefully: overcome in future issues.
vas a need to enter into dialogue not just with protestants but also with the southern working class who have also been led up the garden path by an undemocrate bureaucracy which has stifled debate over its role in the administration of southern capicalHopefuly Fourthwrite will take up the chal lenge presented by addressing the needs of southern workers and raising the issue of socialism as a way forward for anti-imperalists north and south. Those who wish to contact Fourthwrite can: write to Fourthwrite. PO BOX 31, Belfast BT12 7EE or [email protected] site: http://homepage.circom.net/~repwrite something different. And I speak not just about about the loyalist comers from both and not some radical change. Q: Do you sense any radical potential prisoners?
A: Yes. Very much so. Not only are they much better than the old regime, they have experistruggle the brutality,