socialist environmental alliance header

S. E. A. Statements

SEA may withdraw from Derry debate on policing organised by Bloody Sunday Weekend Committee

Monday 22nd January 2007

The Socialist Environmental Alliance may withdraw from tomorrow (Tuesday) night's Derry debate on policing organised by the Bloody Sunday Weekend Committee.

In a statement, the SEA says that, "It seems from a statement announcing the meeting that it may not have been organised on the basis originally described to us.

"When we were first approached, we explained to the organisers that we could have no role in a discussion of whether Republicans should support the PSNI. That's a matter for Republicans.

"We were explicitly assured that there would be space in the discussion for the distinctive, socialist view of the SEA. It was on the basis of this assurance that we discussed the invitation and decided to take part. Yet a statement from the organisers, published on Sunday, now describes the meeting as 'the only time that Sinn Fein will sit down and discuss policing alongside other republicans.'

"The news report of the statement adds that the meeting 'is expected to attract a large crowd of both pro-policing and anti-policing republicans.'

"If that is to be the character of the meeting, it seems to marginalise the SDLP---also billed to attend---as well as completely ignoring the SEA.

"We will be in touch with the organising group to clarify the position before deciding finally whether to participate.

"We do not believe that the ongoing debate between the Sinn Fein leadership and republicans who disagree with them about policing is productive from a working-class point of view."





SEA Logo