The Provisional ceasefire held over last weekend, By Monday morning however, 10 people were dead and 80 had been wounded This was almost exclusively the work of tie Merlyn Rees, Labour secretary for Northern Ireland, went to Ire land last weekend with a handful of further false promises to the mino rity to keep the ceasefice going. The Provisionals had threatened to end il because of the continuing harass ment of the minority and the killing of two Republicans by the army The Loyalist, however, think the army is too soft by half. Tne Ulster Special Constabulary Association, an organisation of the ex-B Special policemen wbo were disbanded in 1969 for their extreme sectarianise. demanded that Rees stop the army's namby pansby attacks on the mino rity and 'go directly for the total surrender of the IRA. If be didn't, PUB BOMBINGS This is what the Loyalist murder gangs are up to. In full view of the British nemy, they are blowing up. shooting and maiming Catholic wor kers in order to demoralise them in so submission. On Saturday they threw a bomb into a Catholic pub, killing two and injuring 15.
In an attempt to equal things out a bombing of a Protestant pub three hours later was blamed on the IRA. But the latter was clearly part of the feud between the two Protestani paramilitary gangs the UDA and the UVE. The car ased in this bombing had been hijacked in a Protestant aren something which no Catholic could possibly have got What the events of last weekend show is that violence is inerichie whilst the artificial Six County state exists. Any "solution" based on the Six Counties can only succeed if the minority is totally crusbed under the heels of the extreme Loyalists. The sectarianism is swilf into the very existence of the Six Counties.
SELF EFENCE
It is now clea or all to see that it is not the actions of the Provision ais which are at thie root of the vio lence. The actions of the Provisionals. like those of all the organisations of the minority, are absolutely neces sary to defend that minority.
It is these defences which the army is in Ireland to break down. It is the army which guarantees the artificial Six County state. British workers have to he won to under standing this. This is the task of the TOM Trade Union Conference on Ireland called for 24 May. Every militant must fight for their trade union branch to send delegates to this conference.
So far 15 MP's ure supporting this Conference. It is also being sponsored by Harrow, Luton, Hackney. Oxford. Barnet and Yeovil Trades Councils Muny cende union branches are already comanitted to sending delegates. Credentirls from Troops Out Movement, 103 Hammenmith Road, London W.14.
Brian Groger **** THE ORGANISATIONAL PLAT FORM DF THE LIBERTARIAN - COMMUNISTS - An Anarchist Workers Association Fly: Piotr Arshing; Nestor Makkno § Ida Mett: Valevsky; Linsky.
13 Coltman St: Hull Yorks25e postanc 5**************