tion in Bournemouth last Sunday calane or a Mandy Moore, speaking for the National Labour women s commiltee, backed the successful She explained how Jo Richardson, Brenda Wilkinson and herself LABOUR WOMEN went one step further in challenging Labour's traditional bi-partisanship over the Irish queswhen they public campaign, debate and discussion to be mounted for withdrawal of British troops.
had visited Belfast, in line vith last year's conference decision, and talked witl victims relatives those who had been hit by plastic buliets.
They had visited the Divis Estates and relatives of women in Armagh gaol. one stressta now vital ll was that the British labour movement should take note of what the majority of republican opinion had to say.
The resolution passed linked the issue of liberties strip-searching to the question ot British withdrawal. It called for the NLWC to circulate the Benn-Heffer Withdrawal to CHlL sections councils and stressed the need continue dialogue with Irish feminists the republican movement. An amendment Birmingham Sparkbrook, the break of s tested year old, Dr Marie O'Shea under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The Militant resolution backing official Party policy, called for the establishment of a 'Northern Ireland Labour Party' denounccu the policies of individual terror of the IRA' demned the Brighton bombings and was rejected both by the platform and the conference.
During the lunch hour before the debate newly elected Sinn Fein councillor Lilly Fitzsimmonds gave a speech to a Labour Women for Ireland fringe meeting that single of the adaptations to imperialism in the Militant resolution.
If you ignore the role Northern she said, 'you end up condoning it.' She explained how Northern Ireland had been treate British imperialism the wishes of the Irish people She told of how • the civil rights movement of the '60s had been ruthless surpressed the pogroms of the specials' . 'We were glad to see the British troops she reminded the audience, 1970 when the unionists attacked us and we tried to de fend our homes they turned their guns on us A curfew was imposed on the people in the Lower Falls and they were not allowed out of their homes for two days. of the Upper Falls defied the British Army. We mar ched down the road with The Braish troops attack TO OUG Then in 1971 internment was introduced and loose the nationalist population resulting in the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972 when people shot dead in cold wee blood.
Lilly pointed out that repression has continued since that time "The techniques have become more refined and the censorship in the media has grown'.
She highlighted the role women had played in The soldiers that struggle. called their patrols 'duc} patrols We invent • hen patrols' followed them around the streets blowing whistles banging dustbin lids.
Many men had to leave their homes the were left alone 'But we're very used to looking after ourselves and the men. We took over the defence of our homes and our children.
This was the origin of the Relatives Action Committees March 1976. 'We agitated, we organis ed demonstrations, vigils ano pickers wachever ley brought the to courts.' Lily's eldest son was arrested as a school for in ments and re months rearrested a year later.
She pointed out what the constant harassment of the British army meant for women. *Marie Drumm was shot dead in hospital. Miriam Daly, a lecturer at Queens University, was shot dead in her home. Sadie Lamour was killed. Susan Bunting was critically injured. hear about the deaths of British soldiers but you never hear our side.
women with the exception of the Militant tendency, are not only the republican's MeanIe case but they are leading the fight to get the rest o the British labour movement to listen to it.
Women for Ireland can be contacted c/o Feminist Library, Hungerford House, Victoria Embankment, London WC2 6PA • Dr Maire O'Shea Sube 301t contacted c/o Committee . 448 Strat- can ford Road, Birmingham BI1 4AE or phone 021-773 8683.
Socialist Action 21 June 1985 BY MID-APRIL 1985, 994 miners had been dismiss-