against the minority in the north of Ireland reached new levels last week when the Starry Plough. and MeVeighs Bar, both frequented by republicans, were bombed without warning, leaving one dead and 25 seriously injured.
The bombings follow a period that has seen a steady increase in the number of random shootings, the great bulk of the victims being Catholic workers. This period more or less coincides with the Provo ceasefire.
Why is this so, and who is responsible?
CATHOLIC MORALE The sectarian violence that has flared Intermittently since the fall of the Summingdale agreement is a key factor in breaking the morale and determination of the anti-Unionpopulation, This is very necessary to force the latter into passive acceptance of the renewed Loyalist ascendancy likely to come from the Constitutional Convention.
Increased army harassment, beefing up the RUC, and continuing sectanan barassment by para-military thugs therefore go hand-in-hand.
There are obviously still plenty of usetul results to be achieved in the interests of British imperialism, even within the framework of the ceasefine.
There is much evidence to show that amongst the thuggery of the para-military Protestants, the British Black of the UFF also claimed responsibility for last week's bomhings LOYALIST TENSIONS camp, particulatly between the para-military groups like the UVF, UDA, and Red Hand Commandos, and the "Tur coat brigade' of politicians like Paisley. West and Craig.
The demands of the para-military forces were dramatically highlighted last week when 15 of their leaders forcibly invaded a meeting of the United Ulster Unionist Council ind called for much greater involvement of their groups in the working out of loyalist policies. To give the deto set up a provisional government themselves, and also to assassinate anyone at the meeting who opposed "terrorists" raised the question Then why do you want to end internment? The decision to adopt a position of phased withdrawal, rather than 'troops out now", concedes that the troops have some right to be there, The Exceutive's stated readiness to adopt either protestant or catholic internees muddies the issue of why internment was intro duced.
Because the IMG and militants at the Open Forum see the importance of students taking up the Irish issue and the demand for "troops out now we are in favour of a picket on Friday. This will take place outside the Irish Tourist and Government offices in Herkeley Street between 12 and 1.30.
The militants in the Upen Forum discussed and selected a platform and slate for the next NUS confetence executive elections. (The platform will be printed in these columns next week.) All agreed that it was necessary to capitalise on the leadership the revolutionary left has won in the colleges and translate that at a stational Jevel. That is why a major uspect of the revolutionary slate at the conference will be for unity of independent socialists and the for left in action around various them The danger that these currents might get totally out of hand-thus opening the way to a civil war which could bring the strictures of imperialist domination in Ireland crashing down-is what hes behind a new emphasis in the British press on loyalist 'gangsterism, It is not that the loyalists have suddenly got nastier-merely that while it was once convenient to turn a blind eye to their activities, they are now threatening to become a real thorn in the side of imperialism's present plans.
For the moment, however, the loyalist factions have come to an agreement that the anti-Unionists can only regard as ominous. A sectet committee involving the para-military thugs and representatives of the UUUC has been set up, and two candidates from the former fraction have heen agreed for whe coming clections.
For the Northern Ireland Secretary, Merlyn Rees, the coming period must be a very delicate balancing act. Hoping the confusion within on the squabbling within the Protestants to provide a chance for the growth of a moderate wing, he hopes the Coovention will produce, al last, a stabiliation of the situation The div Bions within the loyalists may only increase, but on one point there is complete agreement-that the Convention must bring about a tirm loyalist ascendancy their dedication to this ideal that the UUUC even rejected Rees' offer to visit the Netherlands to see power-sharing in action.
It is this determination that will ultimately destroy Rees' dreams of a 'moderate bloc", and expose once again the complete impossibility of solving the divisions of the Catholic mand greater weight, they threatened and Protestant working class within the framework of British imperia list rule.
regrettable that the IS refuse such united work, especially since a single revolutionary slate in the NUS elections could really begin to challenge the domination of the Broad Left reformist leadership.
The activity that has been organised from the Forum is a step forward. We hope that the representatives of the IS who attended the Forum will go back and reconsider their position. The beginnings of stirrings on the student riglit and the demoralisation in NUS cam pugns does not weaken just the Broad Left, but the whole of the Since the start of term students at Surrey University have been on rent strike. The Vice Chancellor has now decided that enough is enough and is threatening 400 students pitle summonses.
The student union is resisting this unprecedented attack, knowing that the authorities can obtain the summonses if they wish, by mounting a political campaign of defence and calling for national support.
Many messapes of support have been received, and the NUS has agrood to pay the legal cusia. But whar is vital is clie