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Printed & Published by the Communist Party of Ireland
For Peace, Independence and Socialism
2.2.2019 Vol. 31 No 4 (Print Day Wednesday) Web page
Back stop-back burner
AFTER the vote in the Com- By Lynda Walker another and noted that the Re-
mons Theresa May will attempt public was not dealing with the
to re-negotiate the Brexit deal. ence that “a hardening of the border social and economic issues of
The Irish Government and EU in Ireland will be met with a de- homelessness , poverty and
leaders say there will be no nego- mand for a unity referendum”. workers rights.
tiation, yet again an uncertain However SDLP leader Colm East- She also asked that if organis-
situation. The SNP’s Ian Black- wood said that the time is not right ers were serious about engaging
ford accused the Conservatives of for a border poll, a view shared by with the Unionist community,
“ripping up” the Good Friday others. Journalist Paul Gosling, for why only one passport was
Agreement (GFA). It is interest- example said that such a poll to- shown on the cover of the pro-
ing that Nigel Dodds who repre- morrow will not change anything, gramme for the conference. You
sents a party that was opposed to that there needs to be a strategy to could call her naive on this point
the GFA said this comment was build broad support for a border but her motive for this could be
poll. anti-sectarian and related to the
“outrageous” In the meantime
The need for a poll at this time re- fact that she works with people
working class people are divided,
quires critical analysis regarding from unionist backgrounds, some
the fight against government anti- of whom would have voted re-
worker austerity policies that ex- Irish sovereignty. Sinn Fein’s de-
main. We can only welcome the
isted before Brexit is more diffi- mand is based on the possibility of
fact that she said that her agenda
cult. there being a no deal and a hard
was internationalism not nation-
Making sense of the political border. The opposition to and ques-
alism.
situation at the present time re- tioning of the nature and role of the Clare raised the anomaly of
quires more than a measure of European Union can either develop women in Northern Ireland, hav-
patience. Daily scares include in a progressive way, one that wins ing the “choice” of spending
Irish citizens born in the North to back and enhances national politi- nearly £450 to go to the Republic
be treated as second class citi- cal and economic sovereignty, led for an abortion or pay the travel
zens, troops on the border, and a by the working class and progres- costs to Britain where a free ser-
news announcement by major su- sive forces of the member-states, or vice is available on the national
permarket companies warning of be captured by chauvinist and fas- health.
food shortages. cist forces In spite of the claims at the last
Last weekend’s Beyond Brexit Frank Cammock Communist Sinn Fein conference that ‘the
conference in Belfast saw 1,500 Party of Ireland, said the confer- North is Next’, Mary Lou and
‘civic nationalists’ gathered to ence was dominated by politicians, Co were relatively silent in this
talk about some of the issues. businessmen and middle class peo- issue.
The need for a ‘unity referen- ple with little mention of workers’ As for a Regional Government,
rights. where is the desire to get it up
dum’ or a border poll was one of
He observed that Clare Bailey and running again? A devolved
the matters under discussion.
MLA leader of the Green Party government is needed regarding
Sinn Fein has been pushing for a legislation and policy relating to
border poll for the past three brought some reality to the situation
domestic violence, education and
years. Sinn Fein’s president Mary when she said she did not want to
other issues, but these are on the
Lou McDonald told the confer- change one reactionary, system for
backburner.
Page 2 Unity 2. 2.2019
Editorial
Unity is published each week
by the Communist Party of
Ireland.
PO Box 85, Belfast BT1 1SR.
Venezuela: our duty
PROGRESSIVE people throughout the world will be deeply
concerned at US imperialism once again intervening in South
America's politics which it still considers its own backyard.
It has garnered support for its meddling from the usual suspects
including the European Union.
Maybe some of those attending the ”Beyond Brexit” conference
last Saturday in Belfast could explain as to why they and Irish
nationalism are so eager to get into bed with the EU in what is now
an imperialist structure. As Sinn Fein sent a delegation to attend
the inauguration of President Maduro maybe they could tell us
where they stand on the role of the EU.
The “recognition” of opposition leader Juan Guaido as the
“legitimate” president because the United States says so would be
laughable if it wasn't for the consequences .
President Maduro commented as to what Trump would think if
he recognised Hilary Clinton as the legitimate president of the
United States owing to the fact that she got more votes than him.
We may well ask who is the legitimate president of France
seeing as Macron’s popularity is so low that it could become
difficult to measure. What would the attitude be if Marine Le Pen
claimed she was “acting president ?”
However what is disturbing is the role of other South American
countries in support of the US, such as Chile which suffered
decades of dictatorship under Pinochet in a coup backed by the US.
Similarly Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, along with Colombia, Peru
and Guatemala. Saturday 9 March
The election of progressive governments in recent times brought
hope to millions but unfortunately the “pink tide” is now being International Working-
rolled back to the days when South America was ruled by US Women’s Day
backed fascist dictators, bringing in untold misery to their
populations but vast riches to the oligarchies that were sustained by march and rally
these regimes,.
If imperialism o overthrows the Bolivarian Revolution who will
Assemble Writers’ Square
be next, Bolivia and Mexico which recently elected a leftist
presdient ? 11 am
Venezuela is under siege and needs solidarity It is our duty to
provide that. Organised by Reclaim the
Agenda
Unity 2.2.19 Page 3
Belfast Central
Branch Meeting
Wednesday
6th February 5.30 pm
CPI Premises
Thursday 31st January
8pm: The Ballad of
Johnny Longstaff.
About an English Interna-
tional Brigader who was a
communist, who went to
Cable Street and went to
Film Screening: fight the fascists in Spain.
The Life of Thomas Paine
Wednesday, 6 February 2019
A CD of the show will be
from 19:00-21:00 Hosted by Re- Welfare Not Warfare issued soon.
claim the Enlightenment And The
International Working Sponsored by the Interna-
Duncairn Duncairn Avenue,Off An-
tional Brigade Commemo-
trim Rd, Belfast, BT14 6BP Belfast Women's Day 2019 ration Committee Further
Thomas Paine's life was a great arc.
He arrived in Philadelphia as a re- is dedicated to information: The Young
markably unremarkable thirty-seven- Rosa Luxemburg on the cen- ’Uns
year-old only to change the world,
and then have the world he changed tenary of her death
turn its back on him. He ignited the Thursday 7th March-7.00pm 31st January
American Revolution, defined the 8pm: Strand Arts Thea-
French Revolution, and championed
to 9.00 pm
the Age of Reason, yet he died largely Venue: Central Hall, Rose- tre, Belfast. Tickets
ignored and disdained. His ideas mary Street Belfast are from the Strand
about democracy, equality, slavery, online under The young
the Bible, pensions, health-care, edu- War is the greatest threat to
cation, and morality would have cre- ‘uns - The Ballad of
this planet, to human life and
ated a very different America had the
the environment:
Johnny Longstaff
other founding fathers listened to this
most radical one. In this film, Paine A critical analysis
will take you on this journey, from his Speakers
birth to his death, with all the extraor- Tribute to Rosa Luxem-
dinary events on the way. Ian Ruskin
Written by and starring Ian Ruskin burg: Lynda Walker
with Elliott Gould as the Narrator Thea Valentina Gardellin-
Concluding with discussion. Admis- Italy
sion Free: NB/ This event follows the
Reclaim the Enlightenment Society Clare Daly TD Dublin
AGM, which is scheduled to run Kerry Fleck: Belfast
from 6pm - 7pm in the same venue. Chairperson: Laura
Scoil Gheimhridh Chathal Uí Duggan: Dublin
Dhonnaile Organised by the Communist
Charlie Donnelly Party of Ireland-Northern Area
Winter School 2019 Further information contact:
Saturday 2nd March 07751951785
Details to come www.communistpartyofireland.ie
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