BY PETE CLIFFORD
LONDON - Sinn Fein is invited to attend all party talks beginning September 15 on the future of Ireland, Marjorie Mowlam, London's minister for Northern Ireland, announced August 29. Mowlam's announcement means that Irish republicans and the British government will sit down for formal negotiations for the first time since London imposed the division of Ireland in 1921.

Sinn Fein has issued a document stating that in the talks the party will push for "the broad nationalist objective of an end to British rule in Ireland." Mowlam has admitted that "the options of the Union and a united Ireland are on the table."

This move registers the growing strength of the movement for national self determination and has ratcheted up the turmoil and feuding among the pro-British Unionist parties.

Meanwhile, nationalists are pressing forward the fight for Irish freedom on the streets.

The newly relaunched prisoners campaign, Saoirse, is planning a massive eve-of-talks rally at Belfast City Hall on September 14. The rally will be preceded by feeder marches from different parts of Belfast. Saoirse spokesperson Martin Meehan said, "The issue of the prisoners must be kept high on the agenda for the talks.. we are calling on people to take to the streets to support our demand for the release of political prisoners."

In a gesture towards such demands, London downgraded the security status of 13 Irish prisoners in England, moving them out of the `special secure units' and allowing open visits under close supervision. Sinn Fein welcomed this move as a "small step." But spokesperson Michael Brown simultaneously called for the transfer of all 26 prisoners in England "to jails in Ireland, pending their immediate release."

In South Armagh, 100 young people held a protest outside the newly expanded British Army base at Faughill mountain on August 24. The rally was reported in the August 28 issue of the republican paper An Phoblacht as the first in a series of militant mobilizations to be organized by the newly formed Sinn Fein Youth.

The progress achieved by nationalist fighters is continuing to work its way throughout the Irish Republic. In a statement indicating a shift from the position of the previous Irish government, new Irish premier Bertie Ahern said July 24 that a settlement in the North would need to "overcome previous failures going back to 1920." He added, " in the longer term a united Ireland achieved by agreement still offers the best and most durable basis for peace and stability."

Politics in the Republic is currently dominated by the debate on who will be nominated for the post of Irish President. Previously a nominal office, it is clear that the race for the presidency reflects the growing backing for the nationalists. The two front runners are John Hume, the Social Democratic and Labour Party leader from Derry, Northern Ireland, and former premier Albert Reynolds. Both have backed Sinn Fein's presence in the talks. If Hume wins the presidency, this would further signify that capitalist politicians in the Republic consider Northern Ireland part of Ireland.

There is clearly unease amongst the rulers about the negotiations. An editorial in the August 29 Times, for example, said Mowlam's move was " a remarkable concession from a democratic state... Armed terrorists will be invited to shape the future of the United Kingdom without having to surrender a bullet or dilute their revolutionary aims." The editorial said the republicans "are dictating the direction of the peace process."

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble reacted to Mowlam's announcement by claiming the republicans had "blood on their hands." But he kept open the possibility that his party will participate in the talks. Ian Paisley, Democratic Unionist Party leader, announced that his party would not take part in any talks with Sinn Fein.

Meanwhile, An Phoblacht reports violent feuding between the pro-unionist paramilitary groups, with the Ulster Volunteer Force threatening to "wipe out" another organization, the Loyalist Volunteer Force. Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey described this development as the work of the British military, intent on destabilizing the negotiations.

At the same time, London's Independent said that "most of the Protestant population seems to favour engagement in talks together with Sinn Fein."

Despite the absence of open opposition to negotiations with Sinn Fein, the British ruling class is still dragging its feet. The August 29 Times editorial said that "There is a powerful case for a principled Unionist refusal to discuss the future of this democracy with armed terrorists." But in the same breath it added, "A Unionist presence at the table should make it more difficult for London and Dublin to agree a nationalist settlement." The Times editors suggested that the wisest course for London would be to press for "proximity talks which do not require direct contact with Sinn Fein."

The Irish nationalist party, however, is insisting on face to face talks. "My answer to proximity talks is a flat no," said Sinn Fein leader Mitchel McLaughlin.  
 
 
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