A response to reaction

Southern Ireland now has one of the most conservative and perhaps reactionary governments in its history. The real spirit of the new Dail is epitomised by the appointment of Michael McDowell to the post of Minister of Justice. With widespread allegations of police brutality and even corruption, the Republic hardly needed a ‘law and order’ man in charge of the coercive organs of the state. Unless that is, the ruling elite is determined to manage the now slowing economy in such a way that any objections from the poorer and/or marginalised is kept well in check and that all protest is to be sharply policed.

Widely reported tales of ‘Big Business’ influencing appointments to cabinet make this scenario all the more likely. Southern Ireland has never been a particularly liberal place but there has almost always been at least a certain sympathy for the poor and the weak. In large measure this appears to have dried up as the beneficiaries of the recent prosperity now espouse economic Darwinism. The Fianna Fail/PD election triumph indicates that a majority (albeit a bare majority) of the population feel that they are prospering quite nicely in the current climate and wish to keep things that way.

This is very much in keeping with the rest of Western Europe. The ‘Constitutional Right ‘ is gaining the upper hand as the currently comfortable majority vote to retain their privileges at the expense of the rest of society. This brutal ‘I’m alright Jack’ school of thought overlooks the fact that as the economy declines or the individual’s luck changes that the system then fails them too. The problem of course is that at a certain stage, the proposed remedy of the Right is to cut even further into the share of the national wealth allocated to the weaker portion of society.

History has taught us that in times of crises it is not possible to depend on the powerful and wealthy doing the proper thing. At best, we should have a state designed to cater for the needs of all the people - a socialist republic in short. While working towards that goal, we must also ensure that vehicles exist in order to protect those that can’t grab a slice of the ‘Tiger’s rump’. We need strong and independent trade unions and we need strong and well organised communities prepared to demand their human and economic rights.

The answer lies in proper and autonomous organisation.

No help to prisoners

We carry a letter in this issue (on Page 22) from a republican prisoner in Maghaberry Jail outlining his concerns for his personal safety and the well-being of his other comrades. Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of prison life in the North will recognise the nature of his plight and acknowledge the seriousness of the situation. Segregation between bitterly opposed groups is only basic good sense and the NIO ‘s determination to prevent it is nothing short of vindictive and perverse.

That said, there is disturbing evidence emerging that all is not well within the prisoner support groups. This magazine has received correspondence from different parties to a political ‘turf dispute’. Efforts to establish a common organisation, working and campaigning for prisoner’s rights have been disrupted by a wrangle over who shall control the support group. Fourthwrite has no intention of attempting to adjudicate between the contending claims. The root cause of the dispute lies in political sectarianism and with organisations more anxious to promote their own party agenda than to work for the welfare of people in jail.

Contributors to and readers of this magazine have a real sympathy for prisoners and have always worked energetically to help them. We shall continue to do so but we would also call on those involved in the current dispute to show political maturity and create a unitary campaign.

FOURTHWRITE, PO BOX 31, Belfast BT127EE