What Happened and Where Do We Go From Here
15 Nov 2005
On May 1st of this year, three former members of this organisation issued a statement, at the behest of the IRSP's Ard Comhairle, declaring the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America that is now disengaged from the IRSP to be a product of undemocratic processes, unilateralism, and in violation of all that is right and holy. There are aspects of this which were true and we deeply regret the manner in which the disengagement was initiated.
We had been internally discussing the need for decisive action with the members of the IRSCNA ever since returning from the Ard Fheis in November, which was run in a manner that ran rough shod over internal democracy and long-standing movement veterans, but had been interupted when the Ard Comhairle insisted on being made privy to internal discussions by the IRSCNA and orchestrated a power-play over the issue of an IRSCNA members expelled for vilification of the organisation to supporters of the PFLP, which resulted in the termination of a joint funding raising project with those individuals and unwarranted and extremely uncomradely episodes of verbal abuse of other IRSCNA members.
When the membership of the IRSCNA refused to go along with the attempt to force this disruptive and abusive members back into the organisation, collectively deciding to support his expulsion, the Ard Comhairle countered with insistance on the immediate election of a new five person collective leadership of the IRSCNA:
"The IRSCNA is a recognised extension of the RSM and therefore follows the direction of the A/C of the IRSP, as per motion that was passed at the 2004 Ard Fheis.(Which is not, in fact what the text of the motion said. - Peter)
"The A/C direct the entire membership of the IRSCNA to elect a five person Coordinating Committee."
The manner in which this was to take place was explained. All IRSCNA members were to send their votes by email to Liam O Ruairc, voting for five individuals.
In addition, the IRSCNA were directed to invite the expelled member, Sean, and his partner, who had resigned, be invited to re-join the IRSCNA and were directed to develop and provide to the membership guidelines for internal debate.
Given the high-handed criticism the group still attached to the IRSP has made of the actions of those of us who have disengaged, the tossing about of terms like "illegal and unilateral" actions, as well as the reiteration of the ridiculous assertion by the Ard Comhairle to have expelled three members who had already resigned (on the basis of their letter of resignation!), and on the basis of that group asserting that they have a majority of the former IRSCNA's members as their own members (something we are quite certain is not the case),it seems not inappropriate to ask why several circumstances now exist within that group.
First among these is why, when directed by the Ard Comhairle to elect a five person coordinating committee, are there are only three individuals in the coordinating committee of the still-aligned IRSCNA? Since each member was directed to vote for five names, how is it possible that only three were elected and if that group retained the majority of the former IRSCNA's membership were they only able to fill three of the five positions the Ard Comhairle of the IRSP determined were to be brought immeditely into being.
Did the Ard Comhairle of the IRSP raise the matter again and vote to overturn their former decision and to revise the members of the coordinating committee to only three or did they simply disregard their own resolution and continue by fiat? If they did reverse themselves, could you advise when a statement was provided to your membership explaining this?
Liam has never advised the membership of the IRSCNA still aligned to the IRSP what the number of votes for the three individuals now forming the coordinating committee were, nor how these compared with the votes cast for other members. In fact, there is no indication that the three individuals were ever elected by the members of their own organisation at all. We just have to ask, wouldn't it be more disciplined if you actually followed the directives given to you by the Ard Comhairle? Yes, of course we're being shitty is posing the question--we just wanted you to see how it feels.
Beyond this, whatever became of the directive to invite back Sean and Stephanie? There has been no indication that these individuals have rejoined the IRSCNA. There has been no indication that the Ard Comhairle of the IRSP (which was so deeply concerned about an alleged injustice done to them that it moved to directly dictate to the IRSCNA rather than act in accordance with its own charter) has even thought about the two again or that the new coordinating committee has taken the action the IRSP's Ard Comhairle directed them to do. Might that be because everyone actually knows that the original expulsion was justified and, now that it no longer provides a pretext for attacking the former IRSP International Secretary, no one has an interest in following up on it?
Let us be plain here. We do not mean to attack the coordinating committee of the IRSP-aligned group. They have the IRSP's mandate and they can do whatever they want to, it is supposed. In fact, we have plenty of experience to testify to the necessity of such seemingly arbitrary actions in efforts to provide a stable support platform for the IRSP in North America being necessary. We do think, however, that if you are going to cop attitude as though speaking from some ethical high ground, you are subject to greater compulsion to practice what you preach. So, if the IRSP Ard Comhairle collectively decided that the IRSCNA aligned to it needed to elect a five member coordinating committee immediately and that it needed to extend an invitation to a previously expelled member and his partner who resigned, then it seems that you should have five members on your coordinating committee and at least have advised your members what transpired in response to having extended those invitations. Finally, given that two months have elapsed since the new coordinating committee came into existence, shouldn't it have explained those new guidelines for internal debate yet? Or have issued a statement or two perhaps?
After all, in those same two months, the now disengaged IRSN has held an event honoring James Connolly with the IWW in Albany, New York and placed a wreath on the Connolly statue in Troy, New York; published a new journal, 'The Connolly Forum'; participated in African Liberation Day commemorations in three cities; endorsed a mobilization for a major demonstration against the war in Iraq; participated in an event in Eugene, Oregon supporting Jeff Luers; carried out contact with supporters of GRAPO in Spain; responded to requests for assistance from the Linen Library and republican socialist activists in Edinburgh; and continued fund raising efforts with the intent to contribute to Teach na Failte in Strabane later this year. These are just part of the continuing effort of the IRSCNA to build awareness of and support for the tradition republican socialist positions associated with the IRSM in North America and elsewhere.
We hope those comrades who have chosen to remain with us, despite the disengagement from the IRSP will continue to do so. In the very near future, we would also like to initiate a process to move this organisation to a more collective leadership orientation and to better define our tasks and associations now that we are fully in control of our political direction and associations. For those of us who are veterans of the republican socialist struggle for many years, we are reminded of when the IRSCNA reached the decision in the late 1980s that it would suspend its specific identification with the IRSP and began to also distribute the propaganda of the League of Communist Republicans, as well as the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement and Cymru Goch. Just as at that time, the decision was not what we had hoped for, but what we were compelled to do, and there was a sadness regarding that. However, there was also a sense of excitement about expanding our propaganda to embrace other genuine revolutionaries and function not simply on the basis of a given party's directives, but rather on the basis of a defining political vision.
We have an opportunity to reinvent ourselves in whatever manner we feel will provide the most effective vehicle for building and maintaining the analysis of James Connolly, Jim Larkin, John Maclean, Peadar O Donnell, Seamus Costello, Bernadette McAlisky, and Gino Gallagher in the world today, so that it can continue to serve those confronting twinned struggles for national and class liberation. Let us make the most of it.
Adh mor,
Peter Urban
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On May 1st of this year, three former members of this organisation issued a statement, at the behest of the IRSP's Ard Comhairle, declaring the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America that is now disengaged from the IRSP to be a product of undemocratic processes, unilateralism, and in violation of all that is right and holy. There are aspects of this which were true and we deeply regret the manner in which the disengagement was initiated.
We had been internally discussing the need for decisive action with the members of the IRSCNA ever since returning from the Ard Fheis in November, which was run in a manner that ran rough shod over internal democracy and long-standing movement veterans, but had been interupted when the Ard Comhairle insisted on being made privy to internal discussions by the IRSCNA and orchestrated a power-play over the issue of an IRSCNA members expelled for vilification of the organisation to supporters of the PFLP, which resulted in the termination of a joint funding raising project with those individuals and unwarranted and extremely uncomradely episodes of verbal abuse of other IRSCNA members.
When the membership of the IRSCNA refused to go along with the attempt to force this disruptive and abusive members back into the organisation, collectively deciding to support his expulsion, the Ard Comhairle countered with insistance on the immediate election of a new five person collective leadership of the IRSCNA:
"The IRSCNA is a recognised extension of the RSM and therefore follows the direction of the A/C of the IRSP, as per motion that was passed at the 2004 Ard Fheis.(Which is not, in fact what the text of the motion said. - Peter)
"The A/C direct the entire membership of the IRSCNA to elect a five person Coordinating Committee."
The manner in which this was to take place was explained. All IRSCNA members were to send their votes by email to Liam O Ruairc, voting for five individuals.
In addition, the IRSCNA were directed to invite the expelled member, Sean, and his partner, who had resigned, be invited to re-join the IRSCNA and were directed to develop and provide to the membership guidelines for internal debate.
Given the high-handed criticism the group still attached to the IRSP has made of the actions of those of us who have disengaged, the tossing about of terms like "illegal and unilateral" actions, as well as the reiteration of the ridiculous assertion by the Ard Comhairle to have expelled three members who had already resigned (on the basis of their letter of resignation!), and on the basis of that group asserting that they have a majority of the former IRSCNA's members as their own members (something we are quite certain is not the case),it seems not inappropriate to ask why several circumstances now exist within that group.
First among these is why, when directed by the Ard Comhairle to elect a five person coordinating committee, are there are only three individuals in the coordinating committee of the still-aligned IRSCNA? Since each member was directed to vote for five names, how is it possible that only three were elected and if that group retained the majority of the former IRSCNA's membership were they only able to fill three of the five positions the Ard Comhairle of the IRSP determined were to be brought immeditely into being.
Did the Ard Comhairle of the IRSP raise the matter again and vote to overturn their former decision and to revise the members of the coordinating committee to only three or did they simply disregard their own resolution and continue by fiat? If they did reverse themselves, could you advise when a statement was provided to your membership explaining this?
Liam has never advised the membership of the IRSCNA still aligned to the IRSP what the number of votes for the three individuals now forming the coordinating committee were, nor how these compared with the votes cast for other members. In fact, there is no indication that the three individuals were ever elected by the members of their own organisation at all. We just have to ask, wouldn't it be more disciplined if you actually followed the directives given to you by the Ard Comhairle? Yes, of course we're being shitty is posing the question--we just wanted you to see how it feels.
Beyond this, whatever became of the directive to invite back Sean and Stephanie? There has been no indication that these individuals have rejoined the IRSCNA. There has been no indication that the Ard Comhairle of the IRSP (which was so deeply concerned about an alleged injustice done to them that it moved to directly dictate to the IRSCNA rather than act in accordance with its own charter) has even thought about the two again or that the new coordinating committee has taken the action the IRSP's Ard Comhairle directed them to do. Might that be because everyone actually knows that the original expulsion was justified and, now that it no longer provides a pretext for attacking the former IRSP International Secretary, no one has an interest in following up on it?
Let us be plain here. We do not mean to attack the coordinating committee of the IRSP-aligned group. They have the IRSP's mandate and they can do whatever they want to, it is supposed. In fact, we have plenty of experience to testify to the necessity of such seemingly arbitrary actions in efforts to provide a stable support platform for the IRSP in North America being necessary. We do think, however, that if you are going to cop attitude as though speaking from some ethical high ground, you are subject to greater compulsion to practice what you preach. So, if the IRSP Ard Comhairle collectively decided that the IRSCNA aligned to it needed to elect a five member coordinating committee immediately and that it needed to extend an invitation to a previously expelled member and his partner who resigned, then it seems that you should have five members on your coordinating committee and at least have advised your members what transpired in response to having extended those invitations. Finally, given that two months have elapsed since the new coordinating committee came into existence, shouldn't it have explained those new guidelines for internal debate yet? Or have issued a statement or two perhaps?
After all, in those same two months, the now disengaged IRSN has held an event honoring James Connolly with the IWW in Albany, New York and placed a wreath on the Connolly statue in Troy, New York; published a new journal, 'The Connolly Forum'; participated in African Liberation Day commemorations in three cities; endorsed a mobilization for a major demonstration against the war in Iraq; participated in an event in Eugene, Oregon supporting Jeff Luers; carried out contact with supporters of GRAPO in Spain; responded to requests for assistance from the Linen Library and republican socialist activists in Edinburgh; and continued fund raising efforts with the intent to contribute to Teach na Failte in Strabane later this year. These are just part of the continuing effort of the IRSCNA to build awareness of and support for the tradition republican socialist positions associated with the IRSM in North America and elsewhere.
We hope those comrades who have chosen to remain with us, despite the disengagement from the IRSP will continue to do so. In the very near future, we would also like to initiate a process to move this organisation to a more collective leadership orientation and to better define our tasks and associations now that we are fully in control of our political direction and associations. For those of us who are veterans of the republican socialist struggle for many years, we are reminded of when the IRSCNA reached the decision in the late 1980s that it would suspend its specific identification with the IRSP and began to also distribute the propaganda of the League of Communist Republicans, as well as the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement and Cymru Goch. Just as at that time, the decision was not what we had hoped for, but what we were compelled to do, and there was a sadness regarding that. However, there was also a sense of excitement about expanding our propaganda to embrace other genuine revolutionaries and function not simply on the basis of a given party's directives, but rather on the basis of a defining political vision.
We have an opportunity to reinvent ourselves in whatever manner we feel will provide the most effective vehicle for building and maintaining the analysis of James Connolly, Jim Larkin, John Maclean, Peadar O Donnell, Seamus Costello, Bernadette McAlisky, and Gino Gallagher in the world today, so that it can continue to serve those confronting twinned struggles for national and class liberation. Let us make the most of it.
Adh mor,
Peter Urban
return to top