Conference tallis::celt

1338.0. "Beginners guide to Sinn Fein" by KOALA::HOLOHAN () Thu Mar 03 1994 14:48

the following was part of a "feature" in the 24/2/94 issue of
AN PHOBLACHT/REPUBLICAN NEWS



"A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SINN FEIN"

1.Evolution of a republican party
2.A radical voice
3.Electoral strategy--representing the people
4.Sinn Fein structures


Evolution of a Republican party

Modern Irish Republicans trace their political origins to the movement of the
United Irishmen of the 1790s.  They took their inspiration from the French
Revolution and fought for the breaking of the political connection between
Ireland and Britain, believing that only an independent Ireland could guarentee
equality and prosperity for the Irish people.

Most of the leading figures of the United Irishmen were Presbyterians and
Protestants and a key part of their programme was unity between Irish people
of all religions in the cause of liberty.  Their rebellion in 1798 was ruth-
lessly surpressed, but their ideas continued to inspire Irish nationalists
for over a century and a half.

The separatist strand of Irish nationalism waxed and wained in the 19th Century
enjoying its biggest popular following in the Fenian movement in Ireland and
the United States in the late 1850s and 1860s, but by the end of the century,
the organised demand for complete separation was almost nonexistent.

The name Sinn Fein (We Ourselves) first emerged in the early 1900s.  It was a
federation of nationalist clubs and eventually, all nationalists to the left
of the Irish Parliamentary Party at Westminister came to be popularly known as
Sinn Feiners.  The press of the time called the 1916 Rising the "Sinn Fein
Rebellion".

The Sinn Fein party, reorganised in 1917, was based on the demand for an Irish
Republic.  It won the 1918 general election overwhelmingly and set up Dail
Eireann (Assembly of Ireland).  Following three years of guerilla war, led by
the underground republican government, the party split in 1922 on the issue of
the Treaty which partitioned Ireland.

Throughout the 1920s, following a devastating Civil War, Sinn Fein continued as
the republican party.  The departure of its leader Eamonn de Valera to form
Fianna Fail in 1926 meant that it was to remain a small abstentionist party for
the next two decades.  Its fortunes ebbed and flowed in the late 1950s and
early 1960s with the IRA's border campaign, during which it enjoyed some
electoral success.

In the 1960s, Sinn Fein adopted a more radical stance on social and economic
affairs and campaigned politically to gain support on issues other than
partition.  But differing approaches to the Civil Rights Movement and to the
outbreak of the present conflict in the Six Counties led to another split.
One section of Sinn Fein was in the process of abandoning the republican demand
for complete British withdrawal from Ireland and went on to become what are
now Democratic Left and the Workers Party.

The Sinn Fein which emerged in 1970--popularly known at the time as "Provision-
al" Sinn Fein--was to evolve through the '70s and '80s to the party we know
today.  It was to the forefront of the resistance of the nationalist people in
the Six Counties, as they saw their peaceful demand for civil rights met with
state violence.  Sinn Fein again took on the role of the leading advocate of
British withdrawal and a 32-County Ireland and campaigned on the streets
throughout Ireland in the 1970s.

It was only in the early 1980s that the challenge of Sinn Fein as a serious
political force and central element in the republican struggle was first fully
felt.  The re-evaluation of strategy and reorganisation which resulted from
the mass campaign in support of republican prisoners in the H-Blocks and
Armagh before and during the 1981 Hunger Strike (when ten prisoners died) set
Sinn Fein on its course for the 1980s.

Electoral successes (see panel on elections) placed the party at the centre
of the political stage and thwarted British government efforts to impose an
internal partitionist solution in the Six Counties.  It gave the most effective
voice they had ever had to the dispossessed nationalists of the Six Counties.
Having always pursued a lasting, peaceful settlement based on national self-
determination, the party refined its peace strategy in key documents Senario
for Peace (1987) and Towards a Lasting Peace in Ireland (1992).  The pursuit
of that strategy laid the groundwork for the present efforts to achieve lasting
peace in which Sinn Fein has been a central participant.


A Radical Voice

Sinn Fein is a 32-County legal registered political party with a wide range of
policies, not just relating to the conflict in Ireland but reflecting all Irish
political, economic and social issues.

Sinn Fein's objective is the achieving of national self-determination and the
creation of a secular, socialist republic with a democratic island economy
based on the principles of the Proclamation of 1916, the Democratic Programme
of 1919 and the beliefs of Tone, Pearse and Connolly.

Sinn Fein has radical policies on national self-determination, neutrality,
the European Union, employment, worker's rights and unemployment, industrial
relations, privatisation, emigration, agriculture, poverty, women, the
environment, fisheries, culture, local government, health and social services,
education, the Irish language and international issues.

The party also campaigns against 26-County collaboration with Britain through
extradition and on justice issues arising directly out of the partition of
Ireland, including discrimination in employment, censorship, prisoners' issues,
shoot-to-kill, plastic bullets, collusion and other repressive legislation.


Electoral Strategy--Representing the People

Despite the efforts of its political opponents, especially the British govern-
ment which has adopted many measures to curb its electoral success, Sinn Fein,
over the last 13 years, has been a formidable electoral force.  Since 1982 the
party has contested 16 elections across Ireland, and has contested elections
in all but two of the last 13 years.  This is a unique record for any political
party in Ireland.

In the Six Counties, Sinn Fein has consistantly registered votes of more than
ten per cent of the total electorate and almost 40% of the nationalist
electorate.  In the 26 Counties, the republican alternative has been
consistantly offered under conditions where republicans are censored, demonis-
ed and lack the financial resources of the establishment parties.

Elections in the Six Counties have been conducted under conditions where
election candidates have been denied access to the media, where election
workers have been harassed, arrested and murdered, where combined opposition
to Sinn Fein was the sole electoral plank of our opponents.

In the 26 Counties, Sinn Fein has just under 30 councilors across the state.
In Monaghan, there are seven councillors on county and urban authorities.
Sinn Fein representatives also sit in a number of councils including Donegal,
Leitrim, Dundalk, Birr, Kildare, Tralee, Listowel, Gorey, Dublin Corporation
and Shannon.  This year Sinn Fein will be contesting urban, district, and
town commission elections throughout the 26 Counties.

In the Six Counties, Sinn Fein is currently represented by 51 councillors with
12.5% of the overall vote and 36.3% of the nationalist electorate.  It was
their third highest percentage vote in the current phase of the struggle and
the ninth consecutive Six County election.

Sinn Fein is represented on 15 of the 26 councils in the Six Counties and in
1993 it increased its representation in seven of them.  In Belfast, the largest
elected assembly in the Six Counties, Sinn Fein won the largest share of
first-preference votes giving them ten seats, the second largest grouping on
the council.

In West Belfast, where Gerry Adams was narrowly defeated in the 1992 Westmin-
ister election due to tactical voting by unionists, Sinn Fein won 47% of the
vote compared to 21% for the SDLP.

In Magharafelt District Council, Sinn Fein topped the poll with 43% of the
first-preferences.  Sinn Fein also gained seats in Antrim, Belfast, Craigavon,
Lisburn and Newry and Mourne.  In Dungannon, Sinn Fein candidates topped the
poll in three wards.

Sinn Fein has remained a formidable electoral force in the Six Counties and
has the potential to advance in the 26 Counties.  In 1994, continued Sinn Fein
electoral campaigning reaffirms that there is a large nationalist population
who will not be silenced, will not be cowed by military repression or loyalist
death squads, who continue to demand and work for justice, freedom and real
democracy across Ireland.


Sinn Fein Structures

-Ard Fheis
The ultimate governing and legislative body within Sinn Fein is the annual
Ard Fheis (conference).  It consists of (a) The officers and members of the
Ard Chomhairle. (b) Two delegates from each comhairle limisteir. (c) Two
delegates from each comhairle ceantair. (d) Two delegates from each affiliated
cumann of 20 members or less.

-Ard Chomhairle
When the Ard Fheis is not in session, control of the party is vested in the
Ard Chomhairle (national executive) which is comprised of the president,
vice president, general secretary, two national treasurers, the publicity
director, party chairperson, nine other members and one representative
from each of the comhairli limisteir.

The officers and nine other members are elected by the Ard Fheis delegates.
The Ard Chomhairle has the power to co-opt five members for specific posts
and the power for additional co-options to ensure that no less than one
quarter of Ard Chomhairle positions are held by women.

-Coiste Seasta
The Ard Chomhairle elects from its members a Coiste Seasta of eight members
who meet regularly and have full power to carry out routine business between
Ard Chomhairle meetings.

-Comhairli Limisteir
The Ard Chomhairle, in consultation with local Sinn Fein membership, can
establish comhairli limisteir.  These are based on county or constituency
boundaries and have charge of the Sinn Fein organization in the region.
Delegates from the cumainn in the area attend the Comhairle Limisteir AGM
to elect officers and formulate policy for the ensuing year.

-Comhairli Ceantair
Each comhairle ceantair is based on a county electoral area as defined from
time to time by the county council, and has charge of all cumainn in the area.
The comhairle ceantair consists of its officers and two delegates from each
cumann in the area.

-Cumainn
The base of Sinn Fein is the cumann.  Cumainn are established in such areas
as the Ard Chomhairle or authorised comhairle ceantair directs.  A cumann
consists of not less than five members, the recommended maximum number of
members being 12.  The cumann, as a component part of Sinn Fein, brings the
policies of the party to the people in their local areas.

-Departments
There are a number of departments within Sinn Fein which specialise in differ-
ent areas of political work.  These include Publicity, Prisoner of War, Cultur-
al, Women, Education and Trade Union Departments, and Foreign Affairs Bureau
which deals with international affairs and Irish solidarity abroad.

        Interesting reading Mark.
        
        Just one thought that I have had. When peace to Ireland comes in 
        what ever format, what role will Inn Fein play. Will they still 
        be a political party or will the need peter out and Sinn Fein 
        fade away?
        
        Simon

 re. .1
   That Simon, will be up to the voters.
                  Mark

    Sinn Fein is a result of schism after schism of the Republican
    movement. It's claim to the mantle of 1916 is akin to a blood vessel in 
    your toe claiming to be the centre of your blood system. 
    
    >>In West Belfast, where Gerry Adams was narrowly defeated in the 1992
    >>Westminister election due to tactical voting by unionists, Sinn Fein 
    >>won 47% of the vote compared to 21% for the SDLP.
    
    So how did they lose the election. I suppose unionist votes should'nt
    be counted.
    
    Joe.

    If Sinn Fein had the support it claims, tactical voting would have made
    no difference.
    
    Laurie.

    
    re. .3
    
     There are very few political parties that do not undergo some
     form of change over a 80 year history, so what is your point
     of "schism after schism"?
    
    re. .4
     Tactical voting can make a world of difference.  Look at the
     influence the Unionist currently have over the British conservatives.
     Their few votes and guaranteed support of a failed party can
     swing a lot of influence and special favors.
    
                           Mark

     re .5
    
    My point is that with each split they have become more and more
    marginalised.
    
    Joe.

    RE; .5
    
    That isn't tactical voting Mark... Get a grip.
    
    Laurie.

 re. .6

 They've become marginalized because of government 
 censorship.  They've become marginalized because the
 British forces and death squads routinely murder Sinn
 Fein representatives. 

                 Mark

    Yeh
    
    Like they fire mortars at them dfo they.  Name your sources please Mr
    Holohan.
    
    Regards
    
    Bruce

    re .8.
    
    Nope, they've been marginalised by radical policies and support of
    terrorism. These cries of censorship are nothing but a smokescreen.
    Remember that they have never being censored in the Republic in the
    printed media, which was the main media in Ireland until the last 20
    years. They still never got more than 5% of the vote. Sinn Fein should
    have been disbanded when DeVelara left them to start Fianna Fail.
    
    Joe.

    
    Multiple choice question. You can check off more than one answer.
    
    Question:   Who killed the last 80 or so people murdered in NI?
    Answer  :   (a) The British Army
                (b) The RUC
                (c) The IRA
                (d) The UDA/UVF/UFF
    

    
    What no answer to -1?  I am surprised. 
    

    re .12
    
    No you're not, Chris !
    
    :-))
    
    John
    

    true true, we live in hope though

    If anybody wants to find out the truth about the origins of Sinn Fein
    and the IRA and how they became marginalised since their heyday during the
    War of Independance I suggest you read "The IRA" by Tim Pat Coogan.
    Make sure you get the Third Edition, which covers all the way up to
    1986.
    
    Joe.

    
    Coogan is ok to a point, except when he starts to make excuses for the
    guys that bring him his daily bread as writer, talk show guest etc.