crocodile tears against terrorism after the Brighton bombing, from a government which backs the RUC/army policy of "shoot to kill" and the murder of peaceful demonstrators with plastic bullets, carry little conviction. For many workers ing miners in pit villages subjected to effective martial law and brutality, and others who are suffering through Thatcher's racist laws, mass unemployment and spending cuts it was almost a real case of "Gotcha!"
Despite the anguish of the Tory press -which still hails the cold-blooded sinking of the Belgrano - the Grand Hotel bombing produced little backlash of sympathy for the government. Perhaps it was because it was so diffcult to distinguish whether the inmates at the Grand were a military of civilian target.
At the Labour Party Conference the week before, Labour Committee on Ireland members were very active, leafletting and lobbying many Trade Union and constituency delegates on the Human Rights issues in the six counties.
The LCI brought Republican people who have been injured and relatives of people killed by plastic bullets to Blackpool as speakers, along with women who have been strip searched in Armagh Jail, and a contingent of Trade Unionists from the South
Out and a United Ireland. human rights issues was narrowly carried, union block vote against the motion for withdrawal of heavily defeated. about 150 delegates and visitors, who heard blinded after being struck by a plastic bullet fired at point woman who degrading and humiliating details of strip searching, how it effects women and haunts them every day. Both spoke superbly.
Also on the platform were mond, who talked about links Spokesperson on Ireland, who generally espoused the right wing line on Unionist consent for a United Ireland. porter Clare Short MP. - strik- The women's fringe highlighted the oppression of women in the 6 Counties by strip searching and made connections between feminism and anti-imperialism. Moore and Diane Abbott. maintaining the dialogue, though they were not the huge success of the 1983 meeting, where Gerry Adams drew 800 people. there Ireland this year, organised by groups with
of lieland who wish to make links with British Trade Unions to work for Troops In the event, the conference resolution on but appears to have had no effect on the troops, which was again The LCI fringe meeting was attended by speakers from Northern Ireland. A woman blank range, and another terrible illustrated the Sean Red- General Secretary of the IMETU with the British Trade Unions; Tony Benn who spoke on his Bill for British withdrawal; and Labour Peter Archer, The meeting was chaired by LCI sup- also the meeting The speakers included Mandy Trades Councils. These meetings served a useful purpose in Union One result of this 1983 meeting was that were 6 or 7 fringe meetings on SOCIALIST VIEWPOINT
NOI S a wide range of positions on Ireland including Militant on their formation of a Labour Party in Ireland, and the LRC on the pro-imperialist extension of the British Labour Party to Northern Ireland.
After the Conference the LCI will continue the tasks of building its influence, by its many branches all over the country, by public meetings on Ireland and campaigns on Women and Ireland, the Human Rights issues, in addition to its primary work on
promotion of the need for British withdrawal from the Six Counties.
LCI speakers are available in all areas to attend ward meetings, women's groups, trade union branch meetings, GCs and
We urge readers to join the LCI. Send £5 (£l unwaged) for individuals, and get your CLP. Ward Branch, Trade
Branch, Trades Council and Women's Group to affiliate for £5 (£10 for over 200 members) to BM Box 5355, London WCIN 3XX.