YOUTH
SECTION
Brief report of SLP delegation to Ogra Shinn Fein Ard Fheis
(Sinn Fein Youth National Conference)
Two SLP members and two friends of the SLP went to Dublin at the
invitation of Ogra Shinn Fein (Sinn Fein Youth) Ard Fheis (National
Conference), this is the third Ogra Ard Fheis that the SLP/SLPY have been
asked to attend and address.
We met a SF councillor from a working class area of Dublin (most SF
councillors represent working class areas!), and had an interesting
discussion about their work to raise the struggle for independence and
socialism, starting out by addressing anti-social behaviour and other
local issues.
We had a very interesting discussion with a SF activist in the Sinn Fein
Bookshop who re-counted the problems of dealing with anti-social elements
in the community and especially drug dealers who push on the youth. Sinn
Fein members are pretty much in total support of community policing and
for the community to take collective steps to address this as the state is
not interested or is in collusion with these criminal and anti-people
elements. This comrade also gave interesting advice to the SLP as to how
to build up its electoral strength from a point where the SLP has no
councillors or MPs or MEPs.
Sukant Chandan of the SLP delivered a talk and discussion session on
`Islam and National Liberation' to Ogra Shinn Fein members (about 50 came)
and had a lively debate about the different roles organised religion has
played in the West (closely associated with or conducting reactionary and
imperialistic activities with imperialism) and that of organised Islam in
the East (anti-imperialist liberation movements taking Islam as a main
point of inspiration, and often organised Islamic bodies joining in the
liberation struggle).
We all went to a Republican concert in a local community in Dublin to hear
the band 'Spirit of Freedom' where we all enjoyed a good 'craic' while
also remembering the sacrifices of those who given their lives for a
Ireland, `Gaelic and Free'.
Jim Monaghan of the Colombia 3 spoke about the different models of mass
struggle in Latin America and how Sinn Fein can learn from this, stressing
that they have to see the different paths of progress made in
anti-imperialist and social struggle to apply this process in the Irish
context.
Gerry Adams spoke about the important of youth in the Republican struggle
through the different phases of struggle. He congratulated Ogra for their
Suicide Prevention Campaign of the last year (suicide is one of the main
killers of young people in ireland) and encouraged them to campaign
against road deaths, which kills more youth than those killed at the
height of the struggle. He welcomed the new Ogra anti-imperialist campaign
'Anti Racism, Imperialism, Sectarianism and Exploitation' - 'ARISE', and
called for Ogra to deepen their ideology and struggles for "Unity,
Independence and Socialism", stating that "one cannot be achieved with the
other".
It is a recurring theme in Sinn Fein that they are stressing their
socialist republican identity, applying this to their successes in
struggles in Ireland, and reaching out to all progressive forces across
Ireland to bring change for a United Socialist Ireland.
The Ogra Ard Fheis was noticeable, like previous Ogra Ard Fheis for the
intelligence, comradeship and professionalism that marks the debates and
proceedings of their conferences.
Sukant Chandan and Catherine Roberts delivered addresses on behalf of the
SLP to the Ard Fheis. Both stressed that supporting the Irish Revolution,
led by Sinn Fein, is a duty for the British progressive and socialist
movement, as we have a common enemy - British Imperialism, and that the
Irish model is a important one, if not the most important model of working
class and mass struggle for the British movement, and that we wish the
comrades in Ireland every success building on the inspirational successes
they have already accomplished.
Sukant Chandan
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