in the context of a general implementation of the additions agreed last May.
The real reason for the ongoins Reflecting the military stalemate between the British and the sopuocns, i promiscs ooc toine to loyalists and another to republicans, that it will somehow reform will it unless something gives.
are expected from the KISCS Republicans. t is for this reason that "de.com missioning" is the key test and it may not be far off. A chorus from and demands that the Republicans "put their WCAPUIS beyond use" polite way of asking them to hand Trimble's antics makes it harder for them to do so; it smacks too much of surrender. Handing over laration, not alone that armed struggle has failed, but also that the struggle itself was pointless and that Republicans have in practice State. This is what the Unionists believe the Republicans signed up Socialist Outlook has long welcomed the ceasefire but opposed to republicans making peace with British imperialism. Agreement is but the latest attempt by Blair and his Tory predecessors to refashion the British state.
We support the ceasefire because the armed struggle is not likely to drive out the British state and also because armed campaigns are necinvolvement.
That is not to say that socialists HOU SUCHUC 0-8003- 00 that would put defence of nationalist areas in the hands of the RUC and the British army. Neither docs it mean we draw a line between armed actions carried out before or ical and rights were accorded to prisoners before April 1998, should still be accorded to those convicted after. test of Republican attitudes towards partition and the 6 County state: it the Republicans on the island as a whole.
For some Republicans it comes down to "waiting for the demographics"; the belief that a higher Calonc birta raic .will 07i0g 8 majority in of the Unionist bigotry and discrimination characteristic of the This dangerously apolitical and uterly sectarian nonsense should 0C080C 0V 2 S02HSS ah0 republicans.
More important is the question of participation Executive. Every member of the Assembly must declare themselves Unionist or Nationalist. Correspondingly, Sinn Fein and the SDL.P the nationalists while the WiliP and the DUP represent the unionists.
Sectarian divisions are Sone cac c acOnC founders of the state.
Alongside this is the growth of a whole new wbicn depends on British/EU "reconciliation" funds, some administered by the churches, and which has vested interest in continuing divisions.
Nationalists who understood that the CHOTE their material conditions, loyalist workers are prey to the sectarians of friends in the British security apparatus, both of whose politics and represent more closely the true of the British side than the platitudes of Blair and co.
In the South, while Sinn Fein was an important component of the recent Anti Nice Treaty vote, this is no more an obstacle to participating in a torure coantion rovernment than the traditional Fianna Fail opposition to military alliances involving Sralain Describing themselves as the only all-Ireland party, Sinn Fein hope enough seats in the next elections or the Dáil cither to hold the balance of power or to be invited to join Fianna Fail in a coalition gorernment. Here too decommissioning is a pre-condition for participation in After Fianna Fail itself repudiated armed 1926 and this meant de-facto acceptance of the settlement imposed by the British in 1921 under the threat of overwhelming force. It is worth remembering that the new Fianna Fail government launched a very harsh repression of republicans and soctansts wno rerusca to give up tac struggle. Many on the left in Britain fondly believe that the "peace" agreement allows normal class politics to operate. But the class struggle is not somehow hidden under the battle between unionists and nationalists;
On the one side is the British ruling class organised by the state; on the other is the nationalist working the class struggle.
Some suffer the delusion that the Britain is neutral or even benign and call on Blair to pressure the Unionists to do a deal. This is essentially the line of Adams and Sinn Fein as well as some New Such naiveté regarding the British state could have disastrous consequences for socialists because it disarms them against it. It is OSC on ac os oc at c state is neutral and can be transformed from the inside.
Whatever the outcome of the latest crisis talks, one thing is certain: there will be further crises. And have to confront the question: do they join Tony Blair in his attempts restructure the British state. That meaning "decommissioning": very little to do with arms, all to do with politics. The omens are not good.