THE North of Ireland Peace People' have split. perhaps the only surprise that there was still a Peace People to split.
The news came last week when Betty Williams and Peter McLachlan announced their resignations Ene organisation. Williams, with Mairead Corrigan and Ciaran McKeown, was a co-founder of the Peace People in August 1976.
McLachlan became of the organisation in October 1978. He was a Unionist Party member of the now defunct Northern Ireland Assembly and a former staff member at Tory central office.
The immediate reason for split was the support from McKeown and Corrigan for
Loyalist
But is demoralised organisation other.
North of and along together themselves.
different. chairperson Peace People, the their banners. form of political status for Republican and prisoners in the North of fired Ireland. But behind the divisions is a familiar pattern — the leadership of a and moribund IRA. against each driver So now those who once promised to bring the entire population of the in sisterly LOVE have proved incapable of even staying The interana Years a i read shot, Mairead Corrigan proclaimed: 'Believe me, in a month's time there's not going to •be a bombing, or a hi-jacking, or a shooting. There's going to be peace.' That was in the early days of the TEO when thousands marched in Ireland and Britain under IRA'.
The spark, or rather the shot, which led to the movement was that by soldier August 1976. It was fired at a car being driven The soldiers bullet killed the a member and the car went out control, careering onto the pavement and killing three children.
The way the leaders of the Peace People dealt with those deaths was an early indication of their approach. They did not blame the British Army soldier who fired the but rather they castigated the dead Provisional for getting in the way of the soldier's bullet and hence being unable to control the car.
Betty Williams made
intentions clear when she explained the Daily Express, in headlines, I Must Stop From the start the movement was directed against the Provisionals. But it was not this thinking that brought Catholics behind the banner of 'peace' during the first few weeks. Rather it was a general war-weariness, a simple and of understandable desire to see violence end.
What in the end destroyed the Peace People was prescription for general violence was the defeat or surrender of the IRA.
That emphasis did attract a good deal of support. peace marches was 'guarded' by Loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association. her When the Peace People came to banner Britain their supporters ranged from the the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland to the Labour lifted a ban on Irish demonstrations in Trafalgar Square so that Williams,
By Steve Potter A FULL SCALE civil war is going on in Afghanistan. Rightist guerillas are fighting the Soviet and Afghan armies. American imperialism has attempted to polarise world opinion in favour of the withdrawal of the Russian troops. What attitude should we take?
The Soviet troops entered one of the most underdeveloped countries of the world. Out of 15 million inhabitants only 15 per cent live in the towns. The infant mortality rate is the highest in the world; the literacy rate one of the lowest. There is a tiny working class, perhaps only 150,000 strong, employed in manufacturing and construction. But there has been a rapid expansion of a new 'middle class' made up of employees, technicians, engineers.
Power In the countryside the landowners maintain practically unlimited power, because in general the rich landlord also assumes the functions of community leader. formed close links with the mullahs (Islamic clergy) and chiefs of the local communities where they are not themselves big landowners already.
Together they make up a reactionary bloc army officers, teachers and These landowners have Afghanistan. Right wing guerillas make up the reactionary bloc whose aim is to defend the status quo in which the reform programme through eventual execution replacement by Amin.
Dismayed congratulatory impact which would by popular insurrection Gulf'.
against the PDPA government. adults. Trade unions were set up and in one year had organised 160,000 workers matin in the ess the romes ope dramatic in its impact on a country Afghanistan, meant that the government was heading for direct conflict with the reactionary rural alliance which had already defeated Daoud's tame plans — heading for a civil war. Disagreements on the bureaucratic way in was carried were reflected in bitter factional struggles inside the PDPA. Disputes within the Khalq came to a head with the overthrow and of Taraki and his The Kremlin, although they sent the usual telegram to the victor, were undoubtedly dismayed by this turn of events They had wanted to slow down the Amin was in favour of speeding up the reforms by the same unpopular methods. The number one question in their minds was the advantage that imperialism would accrue from the crisis in he country. The imperialists had feared an lefeat for the reactionaries in Afghanistan. Th would have repercussions throughout the area, but particularly through the possible revival of the Baluchi movement destabilise neighbouring Pakistan. These fears were massively booster after the overthrow of the Shah in January 1975 The toppling of the Shah also caused