THE TEN year Gerry Tuite in Dublin last week, for offences allegedly committed in England, landmark for Anglo-Irish security.
He had been charged possession of weapons and explosives with intent to endanger life and damage property. The prosecution's case was mainly based on the testimony of British police officers, flown over under heavy guard to Dublin's Special 'no jury' court for the 2 week trial. A second trial on the charge of conspiracy to cause explosions is due to begin in October.
A trial in Ireland for offences committed England is unprecedented. Il was une only way Tuite, captured in Ireland 18 months after escaping Brixton remand prison, could be nailed.
many decades, Republicans run from Britain or Northern Ireland were immune from prosecution in the South due to a law banning the extradition prisoners wanted for political offences. But this was cumvented in 1976 by the SLOW (Jurisdiction) Act, enabling a trial to be held in Ireland instead.
Solite Minister Haughey used the against Tuite, in relation prison sentence received by was a new 'co-operation' on events in England, despite its explicit referral acts done in Northern this GOWCVCN. display of the united detertain and Ireland to smash the anti-imperialist struggle, as little surprise.
Since the mid seventies, there has been increasingly security cooperation between the two Bovelllicails such that the South now spends Elm a day on border security. Internal repression against anti-imperialists the South has been stepped up and an armed Special Task Force established to crush Republicanism.
All this is happening in a country wracked by one gravest. economic and political crises for 60 years.
Unemployment, now over 150,000, stands at an all time high in the nebuDIc. Ana me country's foreign debt has reached f11bn, having trebled over three years. The interest on this debt is an enormous burden on economy, and Anglo-Irish talks still on the agenda renders totally vulnerable to foreign exchange rate changes.
On one day recently, £zSm was added tọ the foreign debt Sulbi because of a rise in value of the US dollar.
maenL is also chronically unstable. In the last year there have been two general both producing hung parliaments. The latest hangs on Haughey's wheeling and dealing in pursuit of votes.
His Finance Bill June relied three times on the Speaker's casting vote get through the Dail (parliament). Many people expect yet another election before 1983, but foresee any greater stability.
So Haughey desperately in need of solutions and political support. He clearly expects LILC and farmers to pay for the crisis. But with a weak and unstable ruling class, it is unlikely that he can crush their resistance, unaided.
This led him to make limited concessions to nationalist sentiment, strongiy revivea wilh last year's hunger strike, such the refusal DaCK Thatcher's boycott of But, despite this stand the South's rulers are still keen to pursue the 'AngloIrish talks' though sacrifices will be demanded in return for the much aCCOCO ecorome and political support of imperialism The direct extension of the British penal system into Dublin and Tuite's conVICDOI such pound of flesh. THE TROOPS OUT (Report)
7/8/9 August.
TonUuy of internment between nationalists unrest simmer barely below the surface.
The support peaceful August.
Court Road, London W1 Troops Out Movement is organising its annual delegation to the North of Ireland over the weekend of Anyone interested may participate; it is not necessary to be a The delegation is intended as both an act of solidarity with the beleaguered nationalist comfact-finding mission. That weekend marks the 13th anniversary of troops be ing sent on to the streets and the 11th anniversary Despite the relative downturn of the republican armed and mass struggle in the wake of last year's hunger-strike, hatred for British rule among the nationalist community, and the political divide and loyalists, are both stronger and deeper than ever. Resistance and will visiting Crossmaglen and Derry, where it will meet loca people, take part in discussion workshops, and protests. Costs are kept to a minimum (about £SO), accommodation is arranged with local people, and delegates will travel over night by bus from London and elsewhere on Friday 6 August, returning overnight Monday 9 Anyone interested in joining the delegatior should write to Delegation Organising Committee PO Box 353, London NW5; telephone (01) 278 8394; or attend a TOM meeting at 7.30pm or Thursday 29 July at the Roebuck pub, Tottenham
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Photo: JOHN SMITH TOM member.