Looking
back over the recent Irish conflict many can and
will draw their own conclusions on many aspects
of it. For
oneself though, in this article I wish to concentrate,
in large part, on the issue of Collusion, that is,
the state collusion in the murder of its own citizens.
Indeed,
much has been raised in regard to this matter over
recent times and has been carried in a number of
newspaper articles, and so it is on such points
raised that I pen this article.
Firstly
though, I give a few lines from a brief statement
I had made in recent times in regard to both the
issue of collusion and the responses (or indeed
the lack of, from many quarters).
Yet
while many had raised such matters (Collusion) over
the years (Republicans, supporters of them - and
indeed many respected human right organisations
- such was dismissed, ignored or even ridiculed
as fantasy - by many.
Yet
even as more facts come out, step by step, there
is little 'uproar' about it, from many both in the
media and those political parties who have went
'mental' at many a minor issue in the recent past.
For
me, and many of my generation, this says a lot,
more especially if even today that such is dismissed,
ignored or ridiculed by such organisations and parties
etc (even when such facts are provided).
Indeed
what was it like in the seventies, eighties, nineties
- it does not take one to have an in-depth knowledge
of such to know that answer.
The
issue of Collusion raised, is of such enormity,
that it is hard to even get one's head around it.
What
we had was a state that 'Directed' and 'Systematically'
murdered its own citizens. Systematic - through
targeting, providing of information for, setting
up and 'taking out 'required targets - both for
military and political reasons. This, setting aside
the other murders of innocents that the agents of
the state were carrying out.
Now
think about that - the state - and it went to the
highest of levels, knew of, and were directing the
murder of its own citizens - the enormity of this,
and yet apart from those who are and have reported
on such matters, many others show little sign of
acknowledging such - for whatever interests.
Yet
this collusion went to the very heart of the system
- within every aspect of it and within every one
of its functions. Yet as we are lead to believe
(in some quarters) that the state was just colluding
in the cover up and murder of those Terrorists (and
therefore that is O.K) - well for myself it had
seen childhood school friends, from a child (a young
girl) murdered and collusion of cover up, it seen
a relative now, again a child (a young boy), again
murdered and collusion of cover up, it seen a young
innocent neighbour, murdered via collusion and cover
up.
The
list goes on in their hundreds over the decades,
for many families.
Yet
for many such collusion is of little surprise if
one has even a limited understanding of the history
of the British Colonial past and indeed present.
Indeed many of their tactics employed are in many
ways the same, today.
I
remember when after the war in Iraq was declared
over when various Socialist and left wing parties
and publications were talking of the insurgency
against the occupation as the New Vietnam, even
then.
For
oneself though, I had almost solely raised the issue
of the lessons learnt of such Colonial Powers involved
and the 'real preparation for the Iraqisation of
Iraq and all the various historical lessons of Colonial
and Imperial history that could be used. Even then
I had risen of how they would use such aspects ranging
from normalisation through to their experiences
and personnel in Ireland to attempt to deal with
the issue.
Of
course little pre-planning for after the illegal
war went into this, by some, but what benefit they
did have, was that long history of occupation, division,
and control, to fall back on, and which they would
utilise.
Of
course, and as stated then, they could be in Iraq
(in force, unless forced out) for many years to
come, although their 'Colonial supporters' would
always remain to ensure their interests are secured
in that region, and all resources would be continued
to be provided to try to ensure such.
Such
occupations though will continued to be resisted
as has been the case in the long history of Colonial
and Imperialist intervention, some resistance, mass,
while at other times less so, with various tactics
and strategies over time used in the course of the
resistance. Nevertheless that region will see such
resistance for many, many a year to come as they
continue to attempt to boot out the illegal occupying
forces, as other struggles had done and still do
today.
And
in doing so, Collusion (although in differing circumstances)
will of course be used by the occupiers to attempt
to secure their aims. Therefore the targeting and
infiltration of various organisations will have
long begun, and murder and death will of course
follow with that, as it always does, as such collateral
damage means little to the overall interest of the
occupiers.
Indeed
as I have always said that the only interest of
such states is the state interest itself - remove
that, and then it is only a matter of time until
their removal, if the right circumstances are created
locally.
Indeed
they will use such history and experience once again,
as they hop from Ireland to Iraq, in regard to some
more of their Colonial lessons learnt.
Yet
as more and more comes out in relation to such Collusion
within the Irish conflict it though is interesting
to watch how many supposed democrats and democratic
parties and organisations re-act to such. It shows
in many cases and in very real terms, that political
interest ascends well above democratic values in
regard to such murders and brutality that had happened
during the conflict, as well as the others that
may well continue, including within the tidying
up exercise still ongoing.
Indeed
many of them, for their own interests concentrate
almost solely on paramilitary violence, while side-stepping
state violence, or worst, excusing it. While many
issues of the past are raised, and as we continue
forward into a future, many though want questions
answered to attempt to bring closure to the deaths
of their loved ones.
While
I, like many others, know that such Collusion is
but another aspect of a state apparatus (they believe)
to be used if they believe it needs to be used to
secure the interests of the said state, it nevertheless
does not make it right.
Indeed
there are various aspects of collusion, may it be
direct Collusion through the targeting and direct
murder of someone through to the collusion in the
cover up of murder, or indeed other political and
organisational collusion etc, again many aspects
of the state have been involved in this.
And
on that, and as I read deeper, a small point. Indeed
I raise once again the issue of the withdrawing
of essential funding for the West Belfast Feile.
To me it seems ironic that such a community festival
which had replaced the bonfires, the riots and childhood
traumas, that had provided kids and adults alike
with an avenue for creativity and talent rather
than destruction and violence is attacked in such
a crude way.
This
is a disgrace and completely unacceptable and needs
to be continually stood against.
For
me I remember the first ever Feile and the winning
of a medal for sport, through to last one and the
running in a Race against Racism, with already even
this year my partner volunteering to, and already
working (like many others) to provide such essential
outlets, through putting on a play for special needs.
Similarly,
and again on the issue of the Conway Mill, we have
seen the vast resources being lauded and poured
into expensive venues for the people who can afford
them, while such essential venues like the Conway
Mill being ignored for the people that need them.
There
is the politic of old afoot here in that regard,
and such needs to be stood firm against, visible
and otherwise.
And
on the politics of old (and whatever one thinks
of the peace process), and on the aul assembly and
the DUP.
Well
the DUP, in real terms, as stated, want to attempt
to reel back many essential issues of equality and
organisational protections and securities, this
quite simply cannot happen.
Watching
this complete farce, for many, has now become boring
and unacceptable. If the DUP cannot be reeled in
and won't do business then the assembly should be
shut down. Then essential human, equality and cross
border rights, agencies and realties should be forwarded.
Indeed,
this would still, I believe, secure much continuance
for citizens of our society while, for the DUP,
I believe, severely hampering both them as an organisation,
and many of their aspirations.
While
for many the institutions up and running would be
better (local and accountable in many regards, whatever
one thinks of their left - right directions), the
fact remains of the DUP's continued hardball.
Quite
simply such may very well be continued to be faced
down as they will slowly realise, in real terms,
that there is either this, in which they can share
power, or plan B which very well may not be to their
liking or indeed to their understanding.
Indeed,
historically and presently, such states create their
own circumstances (occupation and division, brutality
and injustice) and those that stand against such
are those who in most cases have quite simply been
driven to re-act through the circumstances created
by the state.
Indeed
through providing injustice and brutality they create
resistance and revolt, and as was - is, in Ireland,
and so in Iraq, they will be there for decades to
come.
Therefore
I state, do
they seek to bring democracy and stability through
bombing and slaughtering men, women and children
from on high, is democracy brought about by massacres
of innocent civilians, is it brought through the
brutality and injustices and human rights abuses
inflicted on sons and daughters, mothers and fathers,
friends and neighbours. Is democracy brought about
by the sanctions and starvations of a people, of
the undemocratic overthrowing or dismissing of elected
and popular governments and decisions, and much
more?
No
it is not, and they know it - but, and as always
such state interest is the interest of the state
itself.
And
because of that as children in such situations grow
up seeing such injustice and brutality, both political
and economic then they will of course come to their
own understanding and decisions. Similar as I had
done, when, as I had once written, yet I had once
as a child bowed to such injustices but now with
its continuance and growing overtness I realised
that I could bow my head to such no longer.
If
we are to move forward then many such lessons need
to be learnt, if not then such will always always
be challenged and resisted - as it rightly should,
through various avenues, while in tandem seeing
that struggle and ultimate aim for fundamental change
continuing.
And
with that said, I finish this article as I had started,
on that essential issue of state Collusion.
And
on that point I leave you with my mothers in law's
words, as she talks about her young brother, a child
, murdered at the hands of the state, and still
to this day thirty years on seeks truth and justice.
Yet
even on such matters of such a young life being
taken there are still those, for their own interests
who still see such as little consequence.
And
so for those who continue to speak out about such,
to those who still struggle on for that truth and
justice, for me they are worth a million of such
politicians, who, for some, their interest and gains
are self orientated and whose primacy is that of
getting one over on the other side.
And
so I leave you with my mother -in -laws words.
'There
have been a lot of families in Ireland, England,
Scotland and Wales who have suffered the same
grief as my family, I realise their grief is neither
less nor greater than the hurt we still suffer,
there is no hierarchy in the grief of families.
We have all been the victims of the mismanagement
of successive British governments and politicians.
I do believe, however, that those in positions
of authority have a duty to protect and defend
the people they claim to serve; therefore, their
behaviour should be beyond reproach. This includes
members of the security forces, police and 'activists'
from both sides of the political divide who felt
compelled to either defend their community or
further their political agendas. I believe that
all life is sacred. If however, you choose to
be a combatant you do so understanding the consequences
may incur you being responsible for taking someone's
life or indeed losing your own. In the hierarchy
of victims I believe the innocent murdered civilians
must be taken into consideration first'.
Such
states have much to answer for, yet dealing with
and facing such political and economic inequalities,
providing and winning such various truth's and justice's
may indeed, for some, begin to help to move them
forward in their lives.
For
oneself I seek and work for fundamental change of
society, but in doing so stand firm with, and acknowledge
those who are attempting to drive forward on many
of these issues for positive and progressive change.
Yet
for all those concerned with such, both visible
and otherwise, we all need collectively, whatever
differences we hold, to face down that politic of
old holding all back, and to push to drive such
issues forward as so to attempt to provide a just
and more equal society for all of our citizens.
