Southampton Labour Briefing no. 4

Last year's Labour Party conference voted by an overwhelming majority to ban plestic bullets. This is a big step forward. It makes Ireland once again an issve in the British ae ese ovement. Outside Britain, as elways, the repres~ Sion being meted cut in its oldest colony is more clearly scen. The lhuro~ pean Parliament has called for an end to the use of plastic bullets (the vote was 110 to 43, with only British Tories and Northern Irish Unionists voting

against). why all the fuss?

Plastic bullets were first used in the North of Ireland in 1973, to

succeed the more unreliable rubber bullets. Incidents like the blinding

of ten year old Richard Moore in 1972 (when there was actually no rioting in the area) had led the security forces to introduce 2 weapon they could more accurately target. Varget at whom? Plastic bullets are not used as an

‘onti-terrorist! weapons veal bullicts fired at those who attack the ckpoin Plastic bullets are strests to deal with

In fact many of the i. | hed not been involved in rioting were just going ebout their business or looking out of their windows, or were children playine in the street or runnine errands. Seven of the fourtcen plastic bullet deeths hove been children. The ve Se. use of plastic bullets has led to rioting in protest at their use. As

APO

ole

security forces, or miss chéc and roadblocks. used on the protest.

Bishop Daly hes pointed ovt, "Plastic bullets are responsible for more riots

than they have quelled" Plastic bullets are fot: as their suggests, harmless. In addition to

the deaths they heve inflictcd horrific injuries, including blinding, brain

demoge, end parnlysis. Peul Corr, for exemple, was shot in 19&1 by Royal

Marine commandos, firing from e passing

ae)

Lendrover. The plastic bullet hit him

nD Ss)

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whe Sidecof his nose, tearing Party of off, and shettering his palate. Paul was

12 years old. Agein there wes no ricting in the area, Plestic bullets aré as heavy as cricket balls, and harder. They leave the at 160 mph.

The resolutions pessed at internetion— al levels end the hard-won Lebour Farty vote in October, eclong with the Bishoy of Salisbury's call last week for « ban, are suseiul. Birt it urgent ta

gun

vow (rt as she

of constitucney partics and trade union

brenches to translate the commitment into action. The Labour movement — contorcnee in HMonchester on 26th Februcry Ls spons sored by & number of MPs ene setions. It aims to build « cam

eed

that the use of

poien which can ensure

plestic bullets is ended.

The emergeney motion from stiukes is a call for Southampton Labour farty tO support this initieti

len Parker

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APTONAL sOCTAL

— in: Sid of

acca: MEG

Chile Ted cs

é Lil Solwslor Solidority Hriends of -Paics

to be held on ab steorts

730. pm

Chile Folestine

fil Sclwvedorx south African

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Music from

and.

Food refreshmen

We Dee. you to .sui

BLOODY SUNDAY

See ease cece mee ST

This weck is the eleventh anniversary of the murders of 14 unarmed demonstrat~ ors by the British Army in Derry in L972. It is remembered annually as both on atrocity end 2 significant turning point in the recent history of the North OL. Ireland.

The notorious parachute regiment shot the fourteen civilians on was one of many marches for civil rights in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Basic rights to housing, employment and voting head been denied to the cetholic minority Since the partition of Irelend in 1921 By 1968, when the rest of Western Hurope was enjoying a comparatively high stand-- ard of living, this discrimination could no longer be tolerated. However, no significant reforms were offered by the Loyalist Stormont government of the times instead the RUC and Loyalis groups resisted the passage of these

what

marches to the extent that street battles ensued. After the British troops were

sent in to 'keep the peace', draconian measures were no heiseags to prevent further protests by the catholic minority. It was agate these measures ~ internment of hundreds without trial or charge and benning of all demonstretions - as well as for civil rights, that a

denonstretion fe ih bee ascinonstrators,

water cannon “9 cs re the achute Regiment shot live Sane: As a result fourteen people died

The resultant pvblic uproar quictened by a government encuiry unier Lord Widgery, which itself attempted to cover up the real story. The Army claimed thet they had fired at snivers in the local flats; yet not one of the dead were carrying arms, and all ‘itnesses denied having secn or hoax suns other then those of the Army. Wi-gery remarked: "...firing bordered oy the reckless", while contradicting -imself “there was no breakown in discipline". The daily papers, select-—

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ive as ever, claimed that Widery had cleared the Army of blame, arl no soldicr was ever prosecuted, In fact 20lonel Wilfore, who had cornmanded the Paras on that day reccived in OBE for his work.

It was ft to the Derr City Coroner, Mr O'Neill ‘o st-te the obvious “horrific faci thet i+ was "shcer unadulterated murder".

Mom e

Southampton Labour aE ie is a weekly socialist newpaper

_LABOUR

bulletin produced by local ‘Socialist Challenge". For further detoils of

BRIBE ING

supporters of the

policies end local meetings phone Southampton 39851.

Sore eee ce Ge a eee ewe nee ee

PAY THE WATHR WORKERS }

SE a a oe a a ae a ae 7

The water workers! strike is deve lop-- ing into a crucial test of strength in the battle agcinst the Tory government. To cefeat the iz pay limit imposed by Thatcher would be a massive blow to her line of ‘resolute government’, and a Massive boost to the morale of workers everywhere.The result will be J simportent in view of the impending general election, expected this year.

Despite their powerful position to disrupt both industry and domestic supplies the water workers face a number of problems. Foremost will be the huge press cempaign to turn public opinion sinst them. Second will be the use of strike breakers, eg troops. Third will be emphasis on pay rather then @ rise thet off sup

e so

oepooue

the union leadership's differentials,

ats inflation, which could cut

our

6 port of the ee paid in other industries. Fourth is the danger of withdrawel of TUC support (as happened in the ASLEF dispute if the dispute does not reach « rapid conclusion, given its harsh effects.

The Labour Party can support the 1

workers by explaining the case for the fut1 1} emt vitweu Lb LS PNaoCCher who is prolonging the dispute by refusing their reasonable and necessary claim. We need to secure ues for a national cempaign with the backing of the whole trads union and fine movement, to break the 4% limit and win a proper wage for all public sector workers. As 2 ste PPCs should issue « statement in svuppoz and wards should orgenise fund—rcoising was done in the health dispute.

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Richard Correll