{"id":23292,"date":"2023-03-22T14:06:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T14:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/?p=23292"},"modified":"2023-05-09T15:49:27","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T15:49:27","slug":"ric-reconstituted-and-the-2023-declaration-of-calton-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/2023\/03\/22\/ric-reconstituted-and-the-2023-declaration-of-calton-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"RIC reconstituted and the 2023 Declaration of Calton Hill"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the conclusion of\u00a0Completing Scotland’s Democratic Revolution<\/a>, in which Allan Armstrong<\/strong>\u00a0examines the legacy of \u00a0of Scotland’s 2014 Democratic Revolution and the 2023 Declaration of of Calton Hill<\/a>, designed to complete that unfinished democratic revolution.<\/strong><\/p>\n

RIC RECONSTITUTED AND THE 2003 DECLARATION OF CALTON HILL<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Democracy Cairn, Calton Hill, Edinburgh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the attempted shutdown on 17.1.21[1]<\/a> the Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) was reconstituted on 29.1.22.[2]<\/a>\u00a0 Delegates and individuals attended from the Borders, Clydebank, Dundee, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, North Lanarkshire and Stirling. \u00a0Aberdeen was cut off by Storm Malik! \u00a0Angus & Mearns, whilst unable to attend, sent in their support for the proposals, which had been circulated beforehand. \u00a0Two new affiliated organisations, the Republican Socialist Platform \u2013 RSP (a successor to the Republican Communist Network which had been affiliated to RCN mark 1), and the SNP Socialists, also attended. \u00a0Individual Scottish Green members were looking to the party\u2019s reaffiliation. The Scottish Federation of Socialist Teachers continued its affiliation. \u00a0Others in particular political organisations, including anarchists, joined RIC as individual members. \u00a0Many are active in organisations such as Living Rent and international solidarity campaigns,<\/p>\n

RIC went on to organise a very successful conference on June 12th<\/sup>, 2021,<\/sup> with guest speakers, Blair Anderson, Graham Campbell, Brenda Eadie, Janet Fenton, Katie Galloghly-Swan and Annie Lane. \u00a0RIC also formed part of the Cop-26 Coalition in November 2021.\u00a0 RIC\u2019s activities were favourably reported by Nan Spowart in the Sunday National[3]<\/strong><\/a><\/em>.\u00a0 This article covered RIC\u2019s special emphasis on the role of stateless nations and indigenous peoples.<\/p>\n

However, the key difference between the old RIC and the new RIC was the need to go beyond the old third principle:- \u2018A modern republic for real democracy.\u2019\u00a0 <\/strong>In effect, this meant that a republic is seen as state without a monarchy. But republicanism is a democratic political principle, championing the sovereignty of the people. \u00a0The old principle acted as a kind of Labour Party Clause 4 – the abolition of the monarchy, could be left until after \u2018Indy Ref1\u2019. \u00a0The debate over republicanism began at the very first RIC conference.[4]<\/a> \u00a0But it was only at the National Forum on May 17th<\/sup>, in Glasgow, that RIC agreed to recognise the sovereignty of the Scottish people and the need for a Constituent Assembly where their voice could be heard<\/strong>.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

However, this was never tested because of the \u2018No\u2019 vote on September 19th<\/sup>, 2014. And by the time of the 2016 Holyrood election, some of RIC\u2019s Glasgow office bearers, having committed themselves to Respect, Independence, Socialism and Equality = Scotland\u2019s Left Alternative,\u00a0retreated even further from any republican, \u2018sovereignty of the people\u2019 principles.<\/span>\u00a0 Yet, it had already become quite clear that the unionists were not going to allow \u2018IndyRef2\u2019. \u00a0And by the time of Johnson\u2019s reactionary unionist government in 2019, the British ruling class was quite prepared to resort to the full panoply of the UK state\u2019s anti-democratic Crown Powers, not only to prevent \u2018IndyRef2\u2019, but even to roll back the limited democracy conceded under the 1998 \u2018Devolution-all-round\u2018 deal.<\/p>\n

This growing reactionary unionism, and the inability of either the constitutional nationalists or the liberal unionists to effectively challenge this, should have been the main issue at the RIC conference on 17.1.21. \u00a0But with the SNP government floundering, those former office bearers, now organised in conter,\u00a0<\/em>were looking for other Independence Movement leaders \u2013 Kenny Macaskill was mentioned and George Kerevan (ex-International Marxist Group, ex-Labour, ex-SNP, soon to be Alba) was brought forward. Conter<\/em> rather easily fell into the still secret Alba plans to kill off RIC.\u00a0 They certainly damaged RIC, but with a new keen younger membership, RIC has been revived.<\/p>\n

And central to this was the unanimous RIC decision on 29.1.22 to adopt Six Principles:-<\/p>\n

1) For a democratic, secular, socially just and environmentally sustainable, Scottish Republic<\/strong><\/p>\n

2) Action based on the sovereignty of the people not the UK Crown, leading to the setting up of a Constituent Assembly<\/strong><\/p>\n

3) Action to establish universal health, care, education, housing, income, pensions, and trade union rights; and to win land reform and challenge environmental degradation<\/strong><\/p>\n

4) Equality and opposition to discrimination on grounds of sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion\/belief, disability or age<\/strong><\/p>\n

5) Solidarity with the struggles for workers\u2019 rights, democracy and self-determination, based on internationalism from below<\/strong><\/p>\n

6) Support for Scotland\u2019s artistic and cultural revival in all its languages<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the British ruling class facing constant constitutional crisis, they have turned to the royal family to front their Crown Powers. \u00a0Given that the Windsors are one of most dysfunctional families in the UK, this requires massive amounts media promotion. \u00a0But the BBC, once again fully living up to the meaning of its first initial, \u00a0leads the way, using royal births, deaths and jubilees to push all other programmes, and even mildly critical news, to the margins, for days at a time.<\/p>\n

But most of all, events like royal jubilees, deaths, and royal proclamations allow the armed and security forces to create conditions resembling a military coup. \u00a0They organise massive displays of military force. \u00a0Highly armed soldiers are placed on prominent buildings. \u00a0There are major clampdowns on people\u2019s movement. \u00a0For all those royalists, or even just the curious (e.g. overseas tourists) who line the routes of royal processions., countless subjects trying to go about their daily business have their lives seriously disrupted. \u00a0Indeed, this is the intention, as roads are blocked for hours, not only to others wanting to drive along them, but to prevent people trying to cross them (e.g. parents trying to collect their children from nurseries or schools \u2013 who can be diverted for miles). \u00a0These hours-long clampdowns are imposed are completely unnecessarily, since the position of any royal cortege is known down to the last imperial inch.<\/p>\n

To counter this, and to demonstrate that RIC will not be intimated by state attempts to suppress Scotland\u2019s self-determination, RIC has taken part in some events, and initiated others. \u00a0Our Republic organised a protest against the queen\u2019s Platinum Jubilee on Edinburgh\u2019s Calton Hill on 3.6.22. \u00a0This was joined by RIC, RSP, Tommy Sheppard MP and Maggie Chapman, Scottish Greens. MSP.\u00a0 RIC, along with Our Republic, protested on 11.9.22 at the royal proclamation [6]<\/a> outside St. Giles Cathedral (with heavily armed soldiers looking down). The Church of Scotland, is the \u00a0official upholder of Protestant ascendancy north of the border and just does what is asked..<\/p>\n

RIC organised the \u2018Let the People Decide\u2019 protest outside the Supreme Court in London on 23.11.23, when it ruled that there is no constitutional way, based on the democratic right of national self-determination, to achieve Scotland\u2019s independence.[7]<\/a> \u00a0RIC also provided a speaker at the large \u2018Time for Scotland\u2019 protest rally that evening outside Holyrood, organised by Lesley Riddoch.[8]<\/a>\u00a0 Here the RIC speaker announced the Our Republic rally had organised a rally to protest the royal coronation on May 6th<\/sup>, 2023.<\/p>\n

This rally is being organised on Calton Hill, a place with a long tradition of democratic dissent.\u00a0 More recently this has included the Vigil from 1992 to 1997 to establish a Scottish parliament. [9]<\/a> \u00a0When a Scottish parliament was agreed in the 1997 referendum. Donald Dewar ensured the new building would be sited, well away from Calton Hill, and as near to Holyrood Palace as possible.\u00a0 This was done to emphasise Scottish-British subjecthood under the Crown. \u00a0But following the first Declaration of Calton Hill in 2004, the royal opening was challenged by a well-attended and entertaining rally.[10]<\/a>\u00a0 This was sympathetically reported by award-winning Scottish journalist, the late Ian Bell, great-nephew of James Connolly.<\/p>\n

Today, in anticipation of king Charlie\u2019s coronation on May 6th<\/sup>, a new Declaration of Calton Hill has been drawn up – www.caltonhill.scot<\/a>. \u00a0This defends and advances this earlier Declaration.\u00a0 But it also turns to Scotland\u2019s 2014 Democratic Revolution.\u00a0 The aim is to bring together once more that rainbow alliance which achieved so much in 2014. Its initial signatories are drawn from the worlds of Scottish politics, grassroots campaigning and from Scotland\u2019s vibrant cultural scene.<\/p>\n

We have no constitutional means to achieve Scottish independence.\u00a0 Our protest on May 6th<\/sup>anticipates the withdrawal of participation in the UK state\u2019s directly imposed institutions.\u00a0 And it looks to \u00a0extra-constitutional, non-violent, direct action until we complete Scotland\u2019s Democratic Revolution.<\/p>\n

Nae tae BOSS \u2013 British Occupied Subject Scotland<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aye tae a Scottish Democratic Republic<\/strong><\/p>\n

Freedom Come All Ye<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Allan Armstrong, 22.3.23<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1]<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Freedom come all ye<\/em>, Allan Armstrong, bella caledonia –<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0RIC Revived<\/em>, Allan Armstrong, bella caledonia – https:\/\/bellacaledonia.org.uk\/<\/a> 2022\/02\/05\/ric-revived\/<\/u><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Radical Independence Campaign builds bridges with groups around the world, <\/em>Nan\u00a0Spowart, The National<\/em>, \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0https:\/\/www.thenational.scot\/news\/19700006.radical-independence-campaign-builds-bridges-groups-around-world\/<\/a><\/p>\n

[4]<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/a>Genuine self determination means acting like republicans now<\/em> – Allan Armstrong, bella caledonia – https:\/\/bellacaledonia.org.uk\/2012\/11\/20\/radical-indy-conference-10-genuine-self-determination-means-acting-like-republicans-now\/<\/a>2<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What happens after September 18th<\/sup>? and Organisation after September 18th<\/sup><\/em> – Emancipation & Liberation<\/em> RIC special bulletin, May 2012 – http:\/\/republicancommunist.org \/blog\/ 2014\/05\/01\/a-republican-perspective-is-important-for-scotlands-future\/<\/a>. The motion was overwhelmingly passed.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kPFlprKjY9E<\/a> and<\/strong> https:\/\/www.theguardian<\/a>. com\/uk-news\/2022\/sep\/12\/anti-monarchy-protester-charged-with-a-breach-of-the-peace-edinburgh-queen-death-king<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a> [7]<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0RIC statement on Supreme Court ruling<\/em> https:\/\/ric.scot\/2022\/11\/ric-statement-on-supreme-court<\/a>-rulin<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[8]<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Gordon Brown\u2019s\u00a0 report and the Supreme Court Ruling, 2,Let the People Decide<\/em>, Allan Armstrong, http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/ 2022\/12\/09\/gordon-browns-new-report-and-the-supreme-cou<\/a>rt-ruling\/<\/u><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

[9]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vigil for the Scottish Parliament Monument Scottish places info – <\/em>https:\/\/www.<\/a>scottish-places.info\/features\/featurefirdt10375<\/a>.html<\/a><\/p>\n

[10]<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0The Declaration of Calton Hill and the Scottish independence movement – Text of a leaflet produced and handed out by RCN (Scotland) for the Declaration of Calton Hill event on October 6th<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0(2004) – \u00a0http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/2005\/03\/01<\/a> \/the-declaration-of-calton-hill-and-the-scottish-independence-convention\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

__________<\/p>\n

also see:<\/p>\n

For a republican all-islands \u00a0coalition, Allan Armstrong<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is the conclusion of\u00a0Completing Scotland’s Democratic Revolution, in which Allan Armstrong\u00a0examines the legacy of \u00a0of Scotland’s 2014 Democratic Revolution and the 2023 Declaration of of Calton Hill, designed to complete that unfinished democratic revolution. RIC RECONSTITUTED AND THE 2003 DECLARATION OF CALTON HILL After the attempted shutdown on 17.1.21[1] the Radical Independence Campaign (RIC)…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1852,1858,1861,1867,1873,1846,1854,1874,1845,1868,1847,1848,1863,1864,1878,1876,1875,1877],"tags":[230],"class_list":["post-23292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-how-communists-organise","category-oppression-liberation","category-alienation-self-determination","category-emancipation-liberation-and-self-determination","category-against-unionism","category-british-imperialism","category-the-left-crisis","category-republicanism","category-us-imperialism","category-against-imperialism","category-the-eu","category-ex-ussr","category-cultural-celebration","category-our-history","category-england-against-unionism","category-ireland-against-unionism","category-scotland-against-unionism","category-wales-against-unionism","tag-author-allan-armstrong"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/mastodon.scot\/@rcfscotland\/110067316381001510","error":""},"views":1686,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23292"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24626,"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23292\/revisions\/24626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/republicancommunist.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}