This is true. I’ve been invited to speak at this year’s Pongu Thamil on behalf of Socialist Resistance – presumably not near the top of the bill. It’s the annual festival for Tamil people in London and gets an audience of 15-20 000. Even though SR’s editorial team is often asked to speak to crowds of that size commonsense suggested it’s best not to speak off the cuff at an event like this . Below is what I’ll be saying

Sisters / brothers / friends and comrades –

As you have just been told I originally come from Belfast. Like some of the people here today my family was forced at gunpoint to leave its home by a sectarian militia. Like many of you and your families I know what it is like to be spread-eagled against a wall at rifle point by the troops of a hostile occupying army.

So when I say that I give my solidarity on behalf of Respect and Socialist Resistance to the Tamil people in their just struggle for self-determination it is more than rhetoric. It comes from the heart and, if I have anything different to say here today from what the other speakers will say to you, it will be to present some of that recent Irish experience to point out some of the traps that enemies and false friends will lay for you in your struggle.

Today is the 12^th of July. That is a special date in the Irish calendar. As we stand here tens of thousands of Orangemen are walking the streets using a 17^th century battle to justify 21^st century prejudice and discrimination.

A lie has been told so often that it almost seems like the truth. Peace, justice and freedom have not been established in Ireland. The country remains partitioned. One part is still occupied by the imperialist army. Politicians and former revolutionaries now find themselves in coalition government with the most right-wing, reactionary party in mainstream European politics.

They grovel to war criminal like George Bush, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown – men whose armies are responsible for the deaths of uncounted thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan and who now seem almost certain to attack Iran.

The absence of violence is not peace. What you see when you look at Ireland today is the complete victory of imperialism and the most reactionary forces in Irish society. Don’t accept what you are told about imperialist attempts to broker peace deals. They do not bring peace with justice or self-determination. Who in their right mind could believe that the Americans and Israelis would ever give real peace, justice and freedom to the Palestinian people? Only a fool! And it is the same wherever imperialism dabbles.

Take for example the decision of the European Union to LTTE in Europe for “their involvement in terrorist acts”. I am a Marxist. As such I disagree with relying solely on armed struggle to liberate a nation or a class. As a Marxist I support the right of an oppressed group to use whatever methods it thinks are right to free itself. But that same EU takes no action against a Sri Lankan government which uses its troops to carry out extra judicial executions with impunity, support terrorist militias or force thousands of people from their homes.

If, as I believe, the Tamil people will find only enemies and false friends among the governments of Europe, where can they find their real friends? Where will they find the people who will support them in their quest for equality, autonomy and the right of self determination? Who will stand beside them in the struggle against the racism they face in the cities where they have come for work and security?

My answer to these questions is that you will find your real friends in the workers’ movement and the progressive socialist organisations. There is a socialist proverb “you dig where you stand”. It means you fight where you are. 

If you are not yet in a trade union. Join one.

There you will be able to make workers from all over Britain aware of the struggle of the Tamil people. You can organise delegations of trade unionists to go and see at first hand the injustices your friends and families face at home. You will be able to get your union to take a stand in defence of the Tamil people and provide practical support.

If you are not involved in political organisations in Britain you should do so. All the same issues that face you in your daily lives face millions of other working people. Your wages are frozen while your bills are rising. It’s impossible to find somewhere to live. Politics is how we fight these things.

Naturally I am biased. I am a member of Respect and I think that if you want to fight for social justice in Britain and to work with friends who will, without conditions, support the struggle for peace and justice in your homeland that you should join us. We will welcome you.

Victory to the struggle of the Tamil people!

Self determination for the Tamil people!