From Unity, 30 January 2010

Fight back

by Lynda Walker

As the political impasse in the Northern Ireland Assembly continues, ordinary people are concerned about the consequences if the Assembly collapses. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have put their sectarian politics before the people of Northern Ireland. There is nothing new in this. Time after time they look for a reason to block the progress of the Belfast Agreement.
     The working of the Belfast Agreement demands that compromise takes place regarding the politics of the various parties, but the DUP are less likely to do that. They want the Parades Commission to be set down in exchange for the policing and justice powers being transferred to the Assembly. If this happens there could be serious consequences regarding the various contentious parades. The sectarian cards are still being played.
     As we await the outcome of the crisis talks, the Communist Party of Ireland recognises that there is a need to build a different political base and campaign to win people away from the old sectarian politics. We are used to this situation, but we are not complacent. A radical challenge from the trade union and community movement in the form of a People’s Charter may go some way to achieve this base.
     In the meantime, members of the public are expressing concern about problems relating to their living standards. Even the Shankill Mirror reports: “Talk to people on the Shankill about community confidence and they will say it is about education, jobs, health, transport, water rates, affordable housing, anti-social behaviour, drugs, about problems of not having a visible police service that will respond immediately.” The paper also asks: “Is it not about time that the DUP and Ulster Unionists worked together on this issue and started listening to their electorate?”
     In fact a united or monolithic Unionist Party has never solved anything for the working people of Northern Ireland, and the “secret talks” with the Conservatives, UU and DUP to from a pact will not benefit the working class. What the Shankill Mirror should be calling for is for all sections of the working class to work together across the sectarian divide, to fight for their economic and political rights.
     BBC news reports that “recession” is coming to the end but attacks on people’s jobs and livelihoods continues: t may be the end of the recession for some, but not for others. It will mean little to those who are facing bankruptcy, with an average of three a day. The figure for personal bankruptcy in the North has exceeded 1,100 for the first time last year, a massive 40% up on the 2007 figures. This is the unacceptable face of capitalism. It means loss of credibility, loss of family home, and in many cases broken families.
     Also reported this week was the loss of an estimated 30,000 jobs in the building sector because of the recession and housing market collapse. The Construction Employers’ Federation is calling on the Minister of Finance, Sammy Wilson, to invest in the public sector, roads, schools and hospitals as a matter of urgency. Trade unionists and community activists have a right to be heard, and we look forward to their increased intervention on these issues.
     Finally, on the weekend of the Bloody Sunday commemoration the Communist Party of Ireland expresses concern that the Bloody Sunday report has not yet been made public. After nearly six years since the investigation, the Saville Report should be published.

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