Support Barred Steering Committee Members

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Saturday February 21, 2004 18:47 by Laurence Vize - Fairview Against The War

2 Members ousted in crude takeover

Please help in supporting 2 elected representatives of the members of the Irish
Antiwar Movement Michael O Sullivan and Laurence Vize who according to 6 members
of the 16 member steering committee who voted in favour have no further right
to attend steering committee meetings to which they were elected.
This action was taken in stealth without being placed on the placed on the agenda
of the meeting.. A motion to expel 2 members was taken under “items arising
from the agenda”
This motion was proposed by the chairman who as on 31st January exploited his
role of Chairman to achieve the objective of removing any opposition to his
party in the movement.
8 steering committee members were not even informed of Richard Boyd Barrett
s intention to move this motion. 3 opposition group members could not attend.

Both members are part of a group of 5 committed and working activists who sought
to build the movement and work to democratise it. They exposed the utter
ruthlessness
of the SWP members to control the movement at any cost.
This action attacks your right as members the IAWM to elect representatives
of your choice.
This action is a travesty of justice. No complaints were made in advance and
no chance was given to organise a proper defence.
It was done in secret, no minutes will be published, One of the ousted representatives
was the only person to ever publish minutes of SC meetings to the members
No democratically elected representative can be removed without an election.

In fact the steering committee has now no authority to meet or carry out any
business because 2 members will be refused attendance. It cannot be convened
as a representative body.
On the agenda of this meeting was
· A demand for to see the books of the organisation which have never been shown
to members
· A proposal for an enquiry into allegations of misconduct against SWP member
Aoife Ni Fhearghil
The same group has now said that there was “no complaints to answer” on this
compliant despite never even viewing the supporting evidence or even listening
to the complainant Mr Vize The IAWM belongs only to its members
Nobody at the meeting was told of the press conference organised by Richard
in a few hours time to publicise the March 20 Demo. Not even the elected PRO
obstructed in his role (he has now resigned ). Such is Mr Barretts respect
for democray! Please send messages of support to
Laurence Vize [email protected] Micheal O Sullivan [email protected]

The individuals who voted for this travesty
Raymond Deane ( Ireland Palestine Solidarity Committee)
Aoife Ni Fheargil(SWP) Richard Barrett (SWP) Colm Stephens (SWP)
Kieran Allen (SWP) Michael O Brien (Socialist Party)