Recent Statements from the I.R.S.P.
Press Release: Anti-community actions cause concern
14 May 2008 During the early hours of Sunday morning, 11th May, at approximately 3.30 am, a member of the IRSP, Martin Collins, came across a group of young people who were in the process of burning a wheelie bin against the shutters of the Ladbrokes bookmakers in Central Drive in Creggan. When he noticed this he immediately stopped his car and approached the youths involved who ran off in the direction of Rinmore Drive. Martin Collins phoned the fire brigade who arrived a few minutes later and extinguished the fire. Commenting on the incident, IRSP member Martin Collins said, “This type of activity is ongoing and persistent and the recent summer weather will, in our view, lead to a rise in this type of activity. What I witnessed was young people, some as young as twelve or thirteen, taking part in this activity at this hour of the morning. Serious questions have to be asked as to the parental responsibility shown as the majority of these young people were of school going age. There were six or seven youths involved in this and this goes against recent claims that this particular area has been cleaned up and that this activity has been halted. What I witnessed runs counter to these claims. I just don’t understand how children of this age were able to roam the streets at this hour and wreak havoc amongst the community. The IRSP would ask parents to be aware of where their children are and who they are with and to make sure that they are not involved in this type of anti-community activity. Anyone concerned about this activity are asked to contact the IRSP office in Leafair on 71353090.” Commenting further Martin Collins also highlighted another incident where another member of the IRSP prevented an assault on an Italian tourist at the weekend. “During the weekend also a group of young men were attempting to assault a tourist who was making his way between Waterloo Street and William Street. He was approached by the group of men who’s clear intention was to assault him. The IRSP member who was working nearby seen the plight of the frightened tourist and immediately intervened and prevented the assault.” Martin Collins praised the IRSP member for his intervention, but also said that both incidents reflect need for a unified community response to anti-social activity in Derry. ENDS -----------------------------------------------
IRSCNA and RSYM joint statement on passing of George Habash 2 - 1 - 08 The Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America and the Republican Socialist Youth Movement would like to acknowledge the passing of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine founder and previous Secretary George Habash. We pay our profound respect to this heroic man who gave all for his people. But far more than just a martyr, Habash pointed to the way forward for the Palestinian masses: his analysis, which tied the anti-colonial struggle to the class struggle remains fundamentally correct. As James Connolly predicted, to divorce the class struggle from the anti-imperialist struggle is a sure recipe for failure in the current capitalist era. This has been proven correct beyond any shadow of a doubt in the terrible experience of Palestine. The legacy of Habash and the PFLP is one of proletarian internationalism, the cornerstone of genuinely revolutionary Marxism. The PFLP actively aided other workers anti-imperialist struggles throughout the world, not least of which was the Irish Republican Socialist Movement. While we hope that the PFLP's calls for increased anti-imperialist cooperation amongst the broader Palestinian national movement are heeded, we also sincerely hope that the PFLP's much-needed revolutionary political line gains in influence. Like the Irish Republican Socialist Movement, the PFLP has seen it's political influence dwarfed by its larger and more reformist sibling within the national liberation struggle. His passing is a loss the Palestinian national movement, and the anti-imperialist movement generally cannot afford to lose. Let us hope that his passing can at least serve to revive interest in the only genuine and scientific anti-imperialism: Marxist anti-imperialism. Is muidne, IRSCNA RSYM ******* Republican Socialist Youth Movement http://www.rsym.org 392 Falls Road Belfast Co. Antrim Ireland BT48 6DH Telephone: 028 90 321024 Fax: 028 90 330786 ******* Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America http://www.irscna.org PO Box 901479 Kansas City, Missouri 64190-1479 USA --------------- Derry Journal IRSP deny drug claims 10 January 2008 The IRSP in Derry have rubbished claims made in a national newspaper that the INLA is trying to become the largest drugs gang in the country. A spokesperson for the IRSP in Derry claimed the allegations are part of a "smear campaign" against the republican socialist movement. "These allegations are total rubbish. In Derry, the IRSP have been at the forefront of the struggle against the scourge of drugs in our communities in the Creggan and Galliagh areas. No members of the IRSP have been convicted of drugs offences, so I don't know where these claims are coming from," he said. The IRSP spokesperson also suggested the allegations were designed to curtail the growth of the movement. "The republican socialist movement has been growing dramatically in recent months, particularly in areas like Dublin and Cork and the authorities in the South don't like it, so they are spreading rumours like these to try and stop the growth. "We would challenge the people who are making these allegations to show us the proof. If the IRSP found that any of our members were involved in these type of activities it would not be tolerated," the spokesperson added. --------------- IRSP: Poverty figures unacceptable Irish Republican Socialist Party 392 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6DH Tel: 028 90 321024 *** Statement *** Irish Republican Socialist Party 12/01/08 Responding to an interim report by the The Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister the IRSP has branded the child poverty figures given by the Committee as unacceptable. IRSP Spokesperson Gerard Foster said “The fact that in this day and age, more than 40,000 children in the north are believed to be living in poverty is a disgrace. 40,000 represents 10% of the north's child population.” Mr. Foster continued “This highlights the complete failure of Stormont to deliver for the working class. The recent budget put forward by Stormont represents the economic interests of the ruling class and the capitulation of all parties over the issue of impending water charges is set to make poverty an even greater issue in the future.” In conclusion Mr. Foster said “Some quarters are suggesting that the Programme for Government provides a solution to poverty. We would reject this entirely, to challenge and end poverty is to end the present economic system that favours the rich.” *** Statement ends *** |
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Republican Socialist Publicity Bureau Costello House 392 Falls Road Belfast, BT48 6DH, Ireland Tel/Fax No: 028 90 330786 |
IRSP - Derry P.O. Box 1981 Derry, BT48 8GX Ireland |
IRSP - Dublin PO Box 10081 Dublin 1, Irealnd Tel No: 0876 320 323 DublinIRSP@hotmail.com |
IRSCNA PO Box 88341 Tukwila, Washington 98138-2341 USA irscna@irsm.org |