WHY WE OPPOSE THE PSNI

Anybody willing to open their eyes will recognise that working class communities in the north including those with long histories and legacies of resistance to British / loyalist repression are being reduced to a shadow of their former selves by criminal and anti-social elements.

Random assaults, drug epidemics and anti-social crimes such as creeper burglaries and death driving have made once proud communities a place of real fear for many (including republicans) who grew up in streets once bound together by strong ties of solidarity and neighbourly responsibility.
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Cairde - Friends of the Network.

This section is dedicated to a new area of work which involves supporters of the network who come from all walks of life. We have been aproached by a wide range of individuals who live and work in and with our communities. Advice workers, ex- prisoners, solicitors, community workers, experienced members of our community, youth, gaelgoir's etc have been supporting and assisting the network on a wide range of issues. The role of our Cairde is to support the work of the network by providing whatever asistance they can. It is the networks position that everyone has a role to play in the republican unity project and its associated campaigns regardless of the size of the contribution. While Cairde are not members of the network they will invariably support many of the key principles behind our project. Some Cairde work with the network on many shared campaigns such as social justice, housing, opposing cutbacks while others work with us on specific issues such as the Irish language.

The network has been involved in numerous community based campaigns. In North Belfast we have supported the excellent work being carried out on housing and amenities. Other key areas include the right of residents to decide what they want done in relation to Orange Parades. It is our contention that the people know best what their needs are in relation to the economic and social problems they face each day. The network will support local residents in their battles with the state and will never interfere where they are not wanted.

Our goal is true community empowerment which means supporting and providing technical advice to residents groups, practical support for anti- drugs initiatives and driving a human rights based agenda which opposes draconian legislation and putting communities first.

Over the coming months we will be expanding our remit and hope to bring specialists in various areas to meet the network and more importantly to meet the communities it works with.

There are specialists in housing, suicide awareness, human rights and equality to mention just a few areas who have offered their expertise to the network and we will be listening to their ideas. Several of these individuals are not republicans per se but have a socialist/ social conscience and are committed to equality for all our people in our communities. The debate on empowering the community is one which the network knows will only be realised by involving the widest cross section of views and opinions.