KEN LIVINGSTONE'S weekend struck a major media black-out on serious debate on the Irish visit. At the same time Owen Carron, the Sinn Fein MP, called to boost the campaign against plastic Fein leaders that he spoke to had indicated their willingness to negotiate a settlement with. OBSII government, but that was the Tories who were refusing to talk.
GLC leader said that the basis of the discussions should be a declaration for withdrawal by the government. The Unionist parties could not continue to veto political developments in the north.
'I believe that once the government removes that right of veto, there will greater degree of political realism among ine DolTC representatives of the Uousts ds lo wilat sort of negotiations will be required for Protestants in a united Ireland.' Instead of backing Livingstone against his press critics, Labour leader Michael Foot attacked him for not meeting working people on all sides.
reply Livingstone explained that Unionist parties have every opportunity to put their case in the media and have free access to Britain. His purpose was to meet the banned Sinn Fein leaders view was not given a fair wnOsC UCONS. encouraged Foot to also go to Belfast.
AROLIer Sinn rein leader, Owen Carron MP, addressed COlICICECC against the use of plastic bullets in Manchester last weekend. He explained how the plastic ouiIcts were used to terrorise the hiatvlasu communities visit to Belfast last blow addressed a 300 strong conference Livingstone's visit was greeted with the in the north and political protest.
tne conterence also heard a moving plea from Kathleen Stewart. of a 13 year-old killed by a HOLIC NasuC bullet. Mrs Stewart has fought a seven vear campaen to clear the name of her son, accused by the British army of being a mob leader. Her case against the British government s curreniv betore the European Court in Strasbourg.
The 300 delegates the conference (of whom 124 came Labour Party bodies and 84 from trade union bodies) also Gererd spaake fromn the Jreen West vermany explaln now rubber were being stocked up by police for use against peace demonstrators.
Jonathon Rosenhead spoke on behalf of the joint campaign organised against plastic by the National Council for Civil Liberties and the British Society for Social Responsibility in Science He said that the myth promoted by the army was We was a cae eroer lead or plastic bullets. In tact it was the Case that both were used and both could be lethal. There were now 10,000 plastic bullets being stockpiled by police forces in Britain.
As Richard Balfe MEP summarising the theme of the conference put it; 'The security forces in. Ireland are now practicing on the Irish people what they will practice the working class in Britain the future. mation on ireland Carol Kelly was killed by a plastic bullet Ken Livingstone Dave Cook Debate
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predictable howls from every section of the daily press. But the message that he brought back could not be blurred over. He reported that Sinn
Unionist In