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New documents:

Election leaflet and sample ballot from the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly elections, for Jemma Dolan of Sinn Féin, running in Fermanagh / South Tyrone.

https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/6567/

https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/6568/

Sinn Féin: Jemma Dolan 1 (2022) — Sinn Féin

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"Defence Tactics for Demonstrators"

A 1969 article from United Irishman, newspaper of Sinn Féin, outlines advice for protests and dealing with police.

One tip suggests: "Isolated policemen [are] to be well taken care of and are NOT to be molested apart from having their braces removed. A trousers ready to fall down is the best safeguard against further rioting by a policeman."

You can read the full article here: https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/289/

The United Irishman, Vol. 23, No. 3 (1969) — Sinn Féin [Pre 1970]

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Scanned headline reading: Defence Tactics for Demonstrators
An illustration of a placard shield captioned: Shield-cum-placard of wallboard or plywood, with a hole or slot to see through.
Extract from a scanned newspaper article, reading: Unbroken Line

Marchers on the right of the parade should carry their placards on their right arms; those on the left on their left arms. During an attack from the side all marchers on the particular side should turn in
that direction; stand shoulder to shoulder and under no circumstances, repeat UNDER
NO CIRCUMSTANCES, allow the line to be broken. Where gaps do occur, they should be filled instantly. The responsibility to protect women and
children should outweigh all personal discomfort.
An illustration of two men in hats and overcoats holding placards on their side. One placard reads: Let there be no panic. The image is captioned: Flankers.
Extract from a scanned newspaper article, reading:

Points to note: 

1. Careful briefing of all stewards and marchers.

2. Use placard as shields as well as slogan carriers.

3. Always allow the police to start the trouble.

4. NEVER allow the marchers to start trouble.

5. AVOID confrontations.  Remember the parable of the incoming tide.

6. Always wear padded headgear and padded shoulders under a topcoat.

7. Never allow a line of defenders to be broken. To do so is fatal.

8. Policemen are not, repeat, NOT supermen.

9. There are only about 5,000 to 6,000 thousand policemen in the whole country. Many of the Dublin police have been on night duty and are not available for duty. Others are tied up on ordinary duties, and the total available for riot duty are less than half of the total. Many are too old for this kind of work and are left to “mind the house”.
Extract from a scanned newspaper article, reading:

10. If you have to, use pepper on police dogs. Or the “shake hands” as outlined above.

11. Use flat headed nails against squad cars and water cannons, but only when it's a matter of defence.

12. Careful reconnaissance of police barriers, and avoid them if at all possible.

13. Use as many routes as possible. This conceals the main march.

14. As many cameras as possible to be used.

15. “Number spotters” well organised. To be used in evidence later.

16. Isolated policemen to be well taken care of and are NOT to be molested apart from having their braces removed. A trousers ready to fall down is the best safeguard against  further rioting by a policeman.

17. A GOOD AND STEADY BODY OF MARCHERS
ARE THEIR OWN BEST DEFENCE AND ENSURES A PEACEFUL MARCH OR DEMONSTRATION.
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Published , Wednesday 27th June 1973:

Republican News, Evening Edition.

Republican News was the newspaper of Sinn Féin in the North. It later merged with their Southern paper, An Phoblacht, to become an all-island paper.

https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/1503/

Republican News (Evening Edition), No. 2 (1973) — Sinn Féin

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New document:

"25 Years On – We Shall Overcome"

An Phoblacht Republican News marks the 25th anniversary of the deployment of British troops in the North in 1969.

From Déardaoin, 11 Lúnasa / Thursday, 11 August 1994, the newspaper of Sinn Féin.

https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/6492/

An Phoblacht Republican News, Iml. 16, Uimh. 32 (1994) — Sinn Féin

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4th May 1986:

The Hillsborough Agreement: The text of the Bobby Sands Commemorative lecture given by Danny Morrison in Twinbrook, Belfast on Sunday 4th May 1986

https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/424/

The Hillsborough Agreement (1986) — Sinn Féin

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31st March 1966, Westminster elections were held in Northern Ireland. All seats were won by the Ulster Unionist Party, with the exception of West Belfast, where Gerry Fitt won the seat for the Republican Labour Party.

Sinn Féin newspaper, The United Irishman, reported an "Election Rout of Republicans":

"No matter how tinted the glasses through which one might look, the results of the 1966 Imperial Elections in the Six Counties show a rout of the Republicans."

https://www.leftarchive.ie/subject/6358/

Election - Westminster Election (NI), 1966

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A scanned newspaper article headlined: Election Rout of Republicans
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31st March 1966, Westminster elections were held in Northern Ireland. All seats were won by the Ulster Unionist Party, with the exception of West Belfast, where Gerry Fitt won the seat for the Republican Labour Party.

Sinn Féin newspaper, The United Irishman, reported an "Election Rout of Republicans":

"No matter how tinted the glasses through which one might look, the results of the 1966 Imperial Elections in the Six Counties show a rout of the Republicans."

https://www.leftarchive.ie/subject/6358/

Election - Westminster Election (NI), 1966

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A scanned newspaper article headlined: Election Rout of Republicans
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Published 16th March 1973:

An Phoblacht: "The Choice is Yours – No Peace, Until British Troops Leave Ireland"

https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/2418/

An Phoblacht, Vol. 4, No. 6 (1973) — Sinn Féin

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"Sinn Féin Philosophy: Revolutionary Or Reformist?"

An article from the first issue of Congress '86, magazine of the League of Communist Republicans (LCR).

The LCR formed among IRA prisoners who resigned following the ending of Sinn Féin's policy of abstention in 1986.

Scanned article reading:

Sinn Féin Philosophy: Revolutionary Or Reformist?

The recent Ard Fheis allowing S.F. delegates if elected to enter and take their seats in Leinster House has left many Republicans and Socialists within the movement and the class as a whole reappraising their role within that movement. The walkout and formation of Republican Sinn Fein is well enough documented elsewhere not to warrant further debate or discussion here. What is worth much more discussion and debate is, in what light should the revolutionary Socialist element view the decision to end abstentionism in particular and Sinn Fein's philosophy as expounded by Sinn Fein in general. It would be a great mistake to try and separate the two, as only when we examine Sinn Fein's philosophy from a materialistic analysis can we truly see the decision to end abstentionism in its true light.

The taking of seats in bourgeois parliaments is generally seen by revolutionaries as a tactical option and is the line most often quoted by those who support the decision to enter Leinster House. The taking of seats in bourgeois parliaments is indeed a tactical option for revolutionaries. However, at this stage it is necessary to point out that sometimes those who call themselves revolutionaries are in fact opportunists and reformists hiding behind revolutionary rhetoric. Irish history affords us the opportunity to analyse those who in the past called themselves revolutionaries and socialists and who took the same path to Leinster House as Sinn Fein are preparing to do at present.

Fianna Fail in the 20's, Clan Na Poblachta in the 40's and The Workers Party (nee Official Sinn Fein) in '69, all these parties have one thing in common, they all claimed that they were only going into Leinster House for tactical reasons and would never never allow themselves to sink into the mire of what passes for politics in the Free-State. History is the final judge and as we all know each of the above mentioned parties not alone sank into the mire but they remerged as staunch upholders and guardians of the status quo as dictated from Leinster House. On hindsight it is easy for us to see that the above mentioned parties were merely opportunists and reformists hiding behind their own particular forms of rhetoric. Tragically the fact remains that at the time many people put their faith and trust in these parties only to have that faith and trust betrayed at a later date.

For those of us who believe that only socialism, only communism can end the ruthless economic exploitation, political oppression and foreign occupation of our country we have a direct obligation to ensure that no such betrayals ever again, by any political party, shall hinder us in our forward march towards a socialist republic.

The marriage between republicanism and socialism has never been a happy one, and could be at best described as a marriage of convenience. The whole question takes on a new sense of urgency in the light of the abstentionist issue and recent remarks made by the President of Sinn Fein Gerry Adams in an interview which appeared in the Irish Times 10/12/86. Mr. Adams stated that “Socialism was not on the agenda” also in his recently published book ‘Politics of Irish Freedom' in which he said "Republican struggle should not at this stage of it's development style itself Socialist Republican as this would imply that there is no place in it for non socialists”. The historical precedent which immediately springs to mind is the now infamous caution of DeValera when he stated that "labour must wait", Not a very encouraging precedent.

In no sense of the word can such an ideology be regarded as revolutionary and clearly must be delegated to the marshy ground of opportunism and reformism. For those of us who believe that if there is to be a revolution there must first be a revolutionary party and that without a revolutionary party built on the Marxist-Leninist revolutionary theory and in the Marxist-Leninist revolutionary style, it is impossible to lead the working class and the broad masses to victory, the weakness and flaws in the ideology of Sinn Fein are obvious for those with the courage and clarity to see them.

The question now arises, what is to be done? Firstly we learn from history. The old cry don't embarrass Fianna Fail must never be allowed to be converted into the don't embarrass Sinn Fein. It is clear that we as revolutionary socialists must vigorously struggle against all attempts to entrench non socialist ideology in the working class. As revolutionaries it is our duty to expose all flaws and weakness that are inherent. The time comes in the life of any socialist when there remains only two choices, submit or resist.

That time has come for Irish socialists, we shall not submit and we have no choice but to resist. The time has come when the unhappy marriage between republican and revolutionary socialists must be terminated. We must put our faith in the most creative class, the working class and the broad masses. We must set about the task of building a revolutionary party, a party built on the


Marxist/Leninist theory. Then and only then shall we be equipped and capable of leading the working class and masses to victory.
Socialists everywhere must get together, expose, plan organise and build the very defence of our people, our future and our freedom depends on our ability o tackle the tasks ahead.

Comrades let us not be found wanting in the months and years of struggle ahead…
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, 17th January 1971:

A press release from Sinn Féin announcing their new Social & Economic Programme.

This is effectively a draft of the Éire Nua policy, which was supported by Sinn Féin into the 1980s, and continued to be supported by Republican Sinn Féin.

https://www.leftarchive.ie/document/1876/

Press Release from Sinn Féin: New Social and Economic Programme (1971) — Sinn Féin

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