emphasised to them that any further depreda tions against the people would lead to sterner punishment. (According to the British press, this was proof of the brutality and lawlessness of-the IRA!). Other incidents have beez played up in a similar manner.
Important, also, is the language used in repor ting the conflicts. They talk of "internal feuds". of the "militant breakaway Provisionals", and of the "regular IRA". In fact, the Officials and the Provisionals are two quite separate organisations, which operate generally in different areas It seems fairly certain chat the Provisionals cam tuch out larger numbers in conflicts with the Army, than the Officials, and that they have hegemony in more areas, certainly of Belfast. So that talk of them being a "breakaway" can only be calculated to sting them into proving their military capucity, and talk of the Provi sionals being more "militant" must be desimned to prod the Officials into proving their own "virility" (to use a favourite term of the same press;:
ARBITRATION MACHINERY The British papers quite ignored the fact that in January the two organisations set up arbitration. machinery to regulate any conflicts between them It unfortunately seems evident that this machinery has broken down; however, the prost has also largely ignored the fact that, at the time of weiting they are operating another cruce. The pattern is clear: the press wishes to play up, and exacerbate, the conflicts, in the ope that the Officials and Provisionals will turn their guns on each other, rather than on their real eneny.
THE BRITISH ARMYS GAME The British Army has been playing a similar game. When I commented to Republicans in the Falls on the dramatic absence of a British military presence there, compared to last July, they explained that after the first mported shooting between themselvra and the Provisionals, the troops were immediately withdrawn! They could bely construe this at a move dictated by the hope that these would be an extension of the conflict. So much for the British Army keeping the peace!
With the British press and Army so keen on Republican fighting Republican, it would be an obvious tragedy were the conflict to continue. and it is to be hoped that the present negotia tions succeed. There is not enough evidence available, nor would it be helpful, in the present context to discuss the conflicts in detail; The Red Mole will try to get some material on this in future issues. However, It is necessary to state our attitude to bach Republican organisations.
ENCONDITIONAL SUPPORT 'e support borh against British Imperialiss id defend their right to take action against th British occupation forces. We have policical differences with both, but we support cheie struggle unconditionally, as is the duty of every British revolurio nary. We recognise both as che vanquard of the oppressed minority. We support them, and we support char minority, when chey attack British troops. We support them when they throw stones when they throw petrol bombs, and when they shoot ar British troops. Linconditionally.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE OFFICIALS Nevertheless, regular readers of The Red Mole will no doubt be aware that we have paid a great deal of artention ro the evolution bi the Official Republican Moverent; it is clear from what we have written chat we consider them to be the most important socialist orgaisation in Ireland today. We chink that in the long term they will play a much greater role in liberating Treland chan will the Provisionals, This is not solely because of the fact that che Officials have embraced a socialist perspective; much more importaer is theit capability of giving a politicei lead to the frish people, In a sitarion where the British Army is smashing up Ardoyne or Ballymurphy, the Provisinnals car gain widespread support for their military effecticeness. But were British imperialiem suddenly to change its tactics, and not offer the minority chis provocation, even if only for a period, the Provisionals would have no role to play within these communities. Whereas che Officials bave been working patiently to raise the polirical conacious THE PIR POST OP THE CAMPAIGN The purpose of the press campaign is prompted neither by a desire for truch nor by sympathy with the victims. Te is a ruthless attempt to set the scene for more repressive measures in the Norch. If che Stormont government does not incroduce internment over this issue, the hys seria evoked will help them if they use some other incident as an excuse. The atmosphere the press have tried to create will help in tougher