Part 008 - PAMPHLET 038 008

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also extend congratulations to those who were active in the successful campaign for open visits in Portlaoise and give our encouragement to those who, by their actions, focussed public attention on the plight of the Armagh women. I also take this opportunity to congratulate all of you on our elec- toral successes since the last Ard- Fheis. Contrary to the predictions of our opponents, and despite har- assment in both states — plus new British anti-voting legislation in the six counties and Section 31 in the twenty-six counties — we emerged from the local government elections with a more efficient organisation and with a new middle leadership in the election of 98 local represen- tatives. In the border counties and in Dublin, we made significant break throughs relative to the consistency of our work in these areas, and in a limited contest our vote held, with significant potential being identified in many districts throughout the twenty-six counties. The performance of our coun- cillors on local government bodies in the six counties has totally vindi- cated our decision to take seats on those councils. Not only have our representatives shown their ability to participate in an intelligent and con- sistent manner, even within the restricted powers of the councils, but we have exposed the undemo- cratic nature of unionism and the passivity of the SDLP. SN'T it strange that des- pite a long involvement by the SDLP in the councils there was never any real hulla- baloo until republicans took their seats? Is it any wonder that the nationalist electorate is asking: 'What have the SDLP been doing all those years?' It is also worth recalling John Hume's often repeated assertion that his party would not talk to us. As is now well-known, the May elect- ions were hardly over before SDLP and Sinn Fein representatives were engaging in talks. So much for a party line! We applaud our councillors in the front line in the chambers of Belfast, Craigavon and other little unionist citadels. We thank those who voted for us, whether in the six or twenty- six counties. We congratulate our newly-elected councillors, whether in Dublin, Derry, Monaghan or Done- gal, and we thank all our candi- dates and party workers on their election campaigns. A special word of thanks must go to the stalwart people of Fermanagh. They have built well on Bobby Sands' elect- ion victory, and in that county and in the Omagh district, Sinn Fein now holds the chair of these councils, an achievement equal to Mac Swiney's and MacCurtain's lord mayorships of Cork city. It is this continued consolidation of our base and the obvious poten- tial for further expansion which the British and Irish establishments per- ceive as confirmation of their fears about the political threat which Irish republicanism represents to their interests. HEY are not so much afraid of Sinn Fein as afraid of the inherent 3