8/8/2019 Justice for Ireland

1/2

1

Justice for Ireland

Published in WIN (Workshop in Nonviolence) Magazine

A journal of the War Resisters League

March 21, 1974

The war in Northern Ireland has confused many of us. It has received little attention in the peace

movement here. I hope in this article to familiarize WIN readers with a group that can provide some

good answers to our questions. I'm just learning some of the answers myself. I visited Belfast four years

ago and remember some of my impressions. In the middle of the pain of that war I recognized the fear

of the British soldiers as I came upon them one night in the back streets. I remembered how I felt as I

traveled in Saigon and empathized with them. Now I know they have no more right to be there and I had

in Vietnam. I did not carry the connection between the two cities further at that time. I can now.

Both Saigon and Belfast are occupied by military force. The United States plays important role in

sustaining the war in both. The truth about Vietnam is well known. The truth about Northern Ireland is

better disguised.

Ireland was one of England's first colonies. There England developed imperialism which she later

brought to the rest of the world. The US support has allowed England to continue her control in

Northern Ireland. The US agreed to replace British NATO troops so they could be sent to Northern

Ireland. The US has protected the British economic system through World Bank loans. British marines

are trained to fight urban guerrilla war at Camp Le Jeune. American industry provides the rubber bulletsand tear gas. American media has relayed British propaganda that it is a religious war. The media here

does not question British contentions blaming the IRA for each act of terrorism. The media does not

discuss charges from the different sides that Britain has set up sectarian fronts engaging in assassination

(a Phoenix type program). These assassinations have provided the rationale that troops are there to

keep peace between warring Irishmen. We need to know more about this.

Those of us who believe in nonviolence have had a difficult time discussing Northern Ireland. There

seems to be the side of the IRA and the side of the British. Like most situations though there is a third

and less publicized side. That is the nonviolent civil rights movement. That is the Northern Ireland civil

rights movement. The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) is not well known but it hasbeen active for many years and needs our help. Its affiliate in the US is the National Association for Irish

Freedom (NAIF).

NAIF was formed in 1971. It emerge from the National Association for Irish justice (NAIJ) and was a

broad-based group that included those who wanted a united Ireland and believe armed struggle is the

way to justice, and those who support self-determination for all, acting through nonviolence. The split

came over who was for what and NAIF was formed by those who preferred a militant nonviolent civil

8/8/2019 Justice for Ireland

2/2

2

rights movement. They believe that some people hate the British more than they love their own people.

That the violence of the IRA has caused the isolation of the civil rights struggle and given the British an

excuse to extend their control. NAIF would prefer to isolate the British through rent strikes and civil

disobedience while they organize the people to control their own lives.

NAIF has engaged in actions here including sit-ins at Nixons re-election office. They have focused on USinvolvement during testimony in Congress. They have sat in at the British consulate. Presently they are

trying to get New Yorks Mayor Beame to cancel a party he has scheduled aboard the Queen Elizabeth ll.

This ship is subsidized by the British government. Like other Irish groups they boycott British goods. (The

word boycott, by the way, originated in Ireland when many tenants stopped paying rents to Captain

Boycott)

N AIF has tried to clarify the issues for the American Irish community. They are not well-liked by the St.

Patrick's Day committee. In 1972 a coffin they were carrying was taken from them during the parade. In

1973 they were expelled as they approached the reviewing stand and television cameras. They were

carrying pictures of 13 people massacred at Derry only six weeks earlier. Judge Comerford runs the

parade and he does not like the songs and pretty colors being upset by the reality of oppression. Signs

have recently been allowed calling for England to get out of Ireland. NAIF points out that this can

happen if the Irish community in the US demands that the US withdraw its support.

N AIF/NICRA presently has seven cases of torture before the European Human Rights Committee .They

are also bringing cases before the United Nations.

While the thrust of their activity has been toward Northern Island they also emphasize the need to

organize one's own community. Their members are involved in tenants committees and trying to fight

racism and sectarianism here. They are strong advocates of unity in the Irish movement while they have

been subjected to red-baiting by those who believe the struggle belongs to the Catholic Church. Theirservices in Northern Ireland are used by Loyalists and Republicans alike. Ed Murphy

Ed Murphy lives on Staten Island. He is a Vietnam Veteran who currently serves on the Executive

Committee of the War Resisters League