Part 013 - PAMPHLET 038 013

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but by the real substance, its effects on their lives and its relevance to the struggle of the Irish people for self-determinat- ion. In this regard the establishment have made the major mistake of bel- lieving their own propaganda. They believe that Sinn Fein flourishes In conditions of deprivation, unem- ployment and one-sided laws. They fail to note Sinn Fein's commit- ment - while smashing partition - to working alongside ordinary people to win as many gains as possible within the six and twenty-six counties. They also underestimate the intell- igence of the republican electorate. No mention was made in the past of the Flags & Emblems Act, the sta- tus of the Irish language, the condit- ions of political prisoners and their families. Issues like this, neglected by the SDLP and Dublin in previous negotiations with the British, are now elevated to the position of major importance. The people are not so unsophisticated. They realise that It is their soundness on these issues, allied to their support for Sinn Fein, which makes these issues important points now. So too on the question of poli- tical prisoners. Our domestic oppo- nents advise both administrations that Sinn Fein needs the imprison- ment of our comrades in order to maintain our support base, and that we fear the release of these pris- oners or the modification of regu- lations governing the imprisonment of 'SOSPs' or lifers. On the contrary, this assumption reflects how little people understand the conditions in which we and our supporters live. The political prisoners are our bro- thers and sisters, sons and daughters, husbands or wives, mothers or fath- 8 ers. They should not be imprisoned at all and any real change in their conditions will be due to their own resistance and the steadfastness of their families. It will be welcomed by us as such. Not as a sop to the consciences of their jailers, but as an overdue recognition of their incorr- uptibility. S O too on the accusation that we exploit social inequalities. Unemploy- ment, social demoralisation, po- verty, bad housing and ill- health may be a breeding ground for apathy, drug-taking, alcohol- ism, and the battering of women and children, but they are hardly fertile conditions for political activism. Where Sinn Fein members are in- volved with the people against the drug menace and other issues of social concern, it is not for political point-scoring but because these evils hurt the communities that we live in and represent. Regardless of what way our motives are maligned or misrepresented, we fully intend to continue to campaign, with those in- volved, for proper and total changes in this situation. And we do not fear any progress on this front. On the contrary, in its proper context we will welcome any meaningful pro- gress and we recognise the central- ity of people's own efforts in making these issues pertinent now. Indeed, whilst recognising that Britain may make some concess- ions to Dublin and the SDLP, and that the EEC and US financial aid may be made available as part of a mistaken analysis that we will be un- dermined, any such concessions are