Reflections On The Development Of Armed Struggle In Canada

REFLECTIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARMED STRUGGLE I N CANADA The q u a l i t y o f t h e r e s p o n s e t o t h e a r t i c l e , " J u l i e R a t s Out", i n R e s i s t a n c e no. 10, and t h e r e c e n t d i s c u s s i o n s u r r o u n d i n g t h e l e t t e r t o Open Road, i n d i c a t e t h e d e g r e e t o w h i c h we, a s a movement, h a v e not a d d r e s s e d even t h e most b a s i c i s s u e s r a i s e d by t h e a c t i o n s o f D i r e c t A c t i o n and t h e Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e , o r t h e s u b s e q u e n t a r r e s t and t r i a l s o f t h e V a n c o u v e r 5.

I t h a s been o u r t e n d a n c y t o t r e a t t h i s example o f armed r e s i s t a n c e w i t h i n t h e b o u n d a r i e s o f t h e C a n a d i a n S t a t e a s i f i t were an i s o l a t ed, u n p r e c e d e n t e d , and w h o l l y a h i s t o r i c a l e v e n t . A f t e r a l l , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e FLQ i n Quebec between 63 and 70, Canada h a s no mode r n e x p e r i e n c e w i t h homegrown armed r e s i s t a n c e - i n f a c t , v e r y l i t t l e h i s t o r y o f m i l i t a n t r e s i s t a n c e of any s t r i p e .

I t i s our weakness t h a t we f a i l t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t i n t h i s way Canada i s n o t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f West European s o c i e t i e s , b u t i s , i n f a c t , u n i q u e . V i r t u a l l y e v e r y o t h e r West E u r o p e a n s o c i e t y h a s d e v e l o p e d and s u s t a i n e d an armed movement s i n c e t h e e a r l y 7 0 s . I f we a r e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e D i r e c t A c t i o n - Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e - V a n c o u v e r 5 e x p e r i e n c e , i f we a r e t o c r i t i c a l l y a s s i m i l a t e and b u i l d upon i t , we must look a t i t i n t h i s b r o a d e r c o n t e x t o f West European - A m e r i c a n r e s i s t a n c e .

Why Armed

Struggle?

I f we a r e t o l o o k a t armed s t r u g g l e a s a s e r i o u s o p t i o n w i t h i n t h e C a n a d i a n S t a t e , we must e s t a b l i s h what we b e l i e v e t o be t h e o b j e c t i v e g o a l s o f armed s t r u g g l e .

C l e a r l y s t a t e d armed s t r u g g l e h a s t h r e e p o t e n t i a l p u r p o s e s i n t h e s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h we a r e c u r r e n t l y l i v i n g : (1) armed p r o p a g a n d a .

(2) s a b o t a g e - c a u s i n g r e a l m a t e r i a l damage t o t h e S t a t e a p p a r a t u s and c a p i t a l i s m .

(3) pose t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y o p t i o n ; l a y t h e b a s e f o r a f u t u r e p o p u l a r armed r e s i s t a n c e .

(1)

Armed Propaganda "The c o o r d i n a t i o n o f u r b a n g u e r i l l a a c t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g e a c h armed a c t i o n , i s t h e p r i n c i p a l way o f making armed propaganda. T h e s e a c t i o n s , c a r r i e d out w i t h s p e c i f i c and d e t e r m i n e d o b j e c t i v e s , i m e v i t a b l y become p r o p aganda m a t e r i a l f o r t h e mass c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s y s t e m . " - C a r l o s M a r i g h e l l a , "Minimanual o f t h e Urban G u e r i l l a "

A l l g u e r i l l a a c t i o n s a r e i n e v i t a b l y armed p r o p a g a n d a . The s u c c e s s of s u c h a c t i o n s a s propaganda t o o l s , however, depends on a v a r i e t y o f factors.

The g r e a t e r t h e d e g r e e t o w h i c h t h e t a r g e t of t h e a c t i o n i s a s s o c i a t e d i n p o p u l a r c o n c i o u s n e s s w i t h some a s p e c t o f o p p r e s s i o n , the g r e a t e r t h e ease w i t h which i t can f i n d broad-based support. I f t h e t a r g e t h a s been a c l e a r f o c u s f o r ongoing work on t h e p a r t o f t h e l e g a l movement, t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e a c t i o n w i l l be i m m e d i a t e l y c l e a r , a t l e a s t t o t h o s e comrades aware of t h e i s s u e . T h i s w i l l be e s p e c i a l l y t r u e i f t h e a c t i v i t i e s of t h e l e g a l movement h a v e f a i l e d t o

a l t e r t h e b e h a v i o r of t h e t a r g e t , d e s p i t e an ongoing and c o n s i s t e n t campaign. The t i m i n g i n t h i s c a s e i s i m p o r t a n t . Armed propaganda w i l l be most e f f e c t i v e i f t h e l e g a l movement h a s h i t an a a p a r e n t impasse.

I t i s e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t t o t h e o v e r a l l propaganda s u c c e s s of an armed a c t i o n t h a t i n n o c e n t l i v e s n o t be e n d a n g e r e d . Any r e t i c e n c e r e g a r d i n g armed s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e movement w i l l be r e i n f o r c e d by t h e i n j u r y or death of an i n n o c e n t p a r t y , and any p o t e n t i a l p o p u l a r a p p e a l w i l l be c o m p l e t e l y p r e c l u d e d . However, we must e q u a l l y r e c o g n i z e t h a t such i n j u r i e s and d e a t h s , a s u n f o r t u n a t e a s they c e r t a i n l y a r e , w i l l a l w a y s be a p o s s i b i l i t y i n t h e c o n t e x t o f armed r e s i s t a n c e , p a r t i c u l a r l y as t h e S t a t e o f t e n h a s a s e c r e t i n t e r e s t i n a l l o w i n g s u c h i n c i d e n t s t o o c c u r ( i f n o t c r e a t i n g them) t o f u e l i t s propaganda war a g a i n s t the g u e r i l l a .

I t must e q u a l l y be r e c o g n i z e d t h a t a l l S t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e C a n a d i a n S t a t e , a r e d a i l y engaged i n g e n o c i d e and v i o l e n t a t t a c k s a g a i n s t 3 r d World p e o p l e s , a g a i n s t o t h e r s p e c i e s , and a g a i n s t t h e e a r t h i t s e l f .

No e r r o r on t h e p a r t o f t h e g u e r i l l a c o u l d b e g i n t o t o u c h t h i s d a i l y v i o l e n c e , w h i c h h a s become a c c e p t a b l e as a s t r u c t u r a l p a r t o f our s o c i e t y t o s u c h a h i g h d e g r e e a s t o go on v i r t u a l l y i g n o r e d , e x c e p t i n t h e most r h e t o r i c a l way.

Beyond t h e a c t u a l a c t i o n i t s e l f , t h e s u c c e s s i n t e r m s o f p r o p a g a n d a depends, t o a g r e a t d e g r e e , on t h e c a p a c i t y o f s u p p o r t e r s i n t h e l e g a l movement t o e f f e c t i v e l y do p r o p a g a n d a work. The a c t i o n must b e come w i d e l y known and c o n t e x t u a l l y u n d e r s t o o d t o r e c e i v e t h e maximum p o p u l a r s u p p o r t . The g u e r i l l a c a n n o t be e x p e c t e d t o do t h i s , and by and l a r g e w i l l n o t be i n a p o s i t i o n t o do t h i s .

This job i s the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f s y m p a t h e t i c p e o p l e a c t i v e i n t h e l e g a l movement.

(2)

Sabotage

E v e r y u r b a n g u e r i l l a a c t i o n d i r e c t e d a t p r o p e r t y i s an a c t o f s a b o t a g e . Whereas t h e l e g a l movement c a n r a i s e c o n c i o u s n e s s r e g a r d i n g a p a r t i c u l a r i s s u e , a s l o n g a s i t i s p u b l i c and l e g a l , i t c a n do l i t t l e to a c t u a l l y d i s r u p t the a b i l i t y of the S t a t e apparatus t o c a r r y through w i t h i t s i n t e n t i o n s .

Only a f l e x i b l e , c l a n d e s t i n e , armed movement i s i n a p o s i t i o n t o c a r r y o u t r e l e n t l e s s a t t a c k and s a b o t a g e , a l b e i t i n a l i m i t e d form. Such s a b o t a g e , w h i l e i t may n o t u l t i m a t e l y s t o p a p r o j e c t , s l o w s i t down and g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e s t h e cost.

(3)

Pose t h e R e v o l u t i o n a r y O p t i o n "The p r i n c i p l e ( i s ) t h a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i o n i n i t s e l f , the v e r y a c t o f a r m i n g o n s e l f , p r e p a r i n g , e q u i p p i n g , and p u r s u i n g a c t i v i t i e s t h a t v i o l a t e b o u r g e o i s l e g a l i t y , gene r a t e s r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n c i o u s n e s s , o r g a n i z a t i o n , and c o n d i t i o n s . " - a Tupamaro

r

"The mass armed c a p a b i l i t y w h i c h w i l l d e s t r o y t h e S t a t e has i t s b e g i n n i n g s i n v e r y s m a l l armed a c t i o n s , and through t h e s e g u e r i l l a a c t i o n s t h e mass armed c a p a b i l i t y ~ d e v e l o p s . " -RAF

By engaging i n armed s t r u g g l e , e"en i n i t s f o r m a t i v e s t a g e , the g u e r i l l a r a i s e s the i s s u e s of m i l i t a n t armed r e s i s t a n c e t o the c a p i t a l i s t S t a t e from a dim t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t t o an immediate p r a c t i c a l p o s s ibility.

I n d o i n g so the n a t u r e of l e f t d i s c u s s i o n i s q u a l i t a t i v e l y changed. The p o s s i b i l i t y f o r r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s to engage i n e f f e c t i v e armed r e s i s t a n c e i s a f f i r m e d .

W h i l e t h i s p r e l i m i n a r y armed r e s i s t a n c e w i l l , de f a c t o , r e c e i v e o n l y l i m i t e d s u p p o r t , even on the l e f t , t h i s l i m i t e d s u p p o r t i s t h e p o t e n t i a l n u c l e u s f o r the e v e n t u a l armed s t r u g g l e t h a t w i l l be n e c e s s a r y f o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y change t o o c c u r i n any n a t i o n - S t a t e .

As w e l l as i n d i c a t i n g t h e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r m i l i t a n t r e s i s t a n c e , armed a c t i v i t y d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of p i n p o i n t i n g the s y s t e m ' s weak p o i n t s and a t t a c k i n g o f f e n s i v e l y and e f f e c t i v e l y , even from a p e r s p e c t i v e of r e l a t i v e w e a k n e s s . By s o d o i n g t h e myth of t h e i n v i n c i b l e S t a t e i s d e f l a t e d and new p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r r e s i s t a n c e a r e opened up.

"Urban g u e r i l l a w a r f a r e aims t o d e s t r o y t h e d o m i n a t i o n of the S t a t e by s t r i k i n g a t s i n g l e weak p o i n t s , and t o d e s t r o y t h e myth of t h e omnipotence of the S t a t e and i t s i n vulnerability."

-RAF When c a r r i e d out i n a c o n s i s t e n t way g u e r i l l a p o l i t i c s can be emp o w e r i n g t o e v e n the l e g a l l e f t .

The g u e r i l l a , b e c a u s e of i t s c l a n d e s t i n e o r g a n i z a t i o n , i s i n a p o s i t i o n t o add a c o n c r e t e d i m e n s i o n t o t h e propaganda and a g i t a t i o n of t h e l e g a l l e f t .

I n s h o r t , t h e g u e r i l l a i s t h e o f f e n s i v e p o s i t i o n adopted by a l i m i t e d number of comrades t o g i v e o f f e n s i v e c h a r a c t e r t o t h e o t h e r w i s e def e n s i v e and e d u c a t i o n a l work of t h e l e f t .

The g u e r i l l a i s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y e x p r e s s i o n of our r a g e i n t h e f a c e of a s e e m i n g l y m o n o l i t h i c and u n t o u c h a b l e enemy.

Arguments A g a i n s t

Guerilla

Politics

Almost e v e r y example of u r b a n g u e r i l l a r e s i s t a n c e h a s been s u b j e c t t o a l i t a n y of a t t a c k s from t h e " t r a d i t i o n a l " l e f t .

The most common and recurrent c r i t i c i s m s are t h a t : (1) (2)

t h e t i m e i s not r i g h t and,as such,armed r e s i s t a n c e i s e l i t e s t . armed r e s i s t a n c e b r i n g s down r e p r e s s i o n on i n n o c e n t (legitim a t e ? ) l e f t o r g a n i z a t i o n s and i n d i v i d u a l s .

(1)

Waiting f o r the Right

Time

" I f t h e r e i s not a r e a s o n a b l y p r e p a r e d group, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n j u n c t u r e s a r e s i m p l y w a s t e d or not t a k e n adv a n t a g e o f . " - a Tupamaro " I t would be wrong t o engage i n armed s t r u g g l e o n l y when t h e ' c o n s e n t of t h e m a s s e s ' i s a s s u r e d , f o r t h i s would a c t u a l l y mean t o r e n o u n c e the s t r u g g l e a l t o g e t h e r , as t h i s

c o n s e n t can be o b t a i n e d o n l y by s t r u g g l e i t s e l f .

True mass armed s t r u g g l e c a n o n l y t a k e p l a c e when i t i s unders t o o d by t h e m a s s e s , however, t h e comprehension of t h e need f o r armed s t r u g g l e can o n l y be a r o u s e d through beg i n n i n g armed s t r u g g l e . " -RAF The c o n c e p t t h a t when " t h e time i s r i g h t " f o r armed s t r u g g l e we w i l l r e c o g n i z e i t and by some amazing o s m o s i s a b s o r b t h e i n f o r m a t i o n and a b i l i t y we need t o e f f e c t i v e l y wage g u e r i l l a w a r f a r e i s i n d e e d a c u r i o u s one.

C l e a r l y , i f we don't b e g i n now t o p r e p a r e f o r the ev e n t u a l armed c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e S t a t e , the S t a t e w i l l t a k e a l l n e c e s s a r y p r e c a u t i o n s to a s s u r e t h e i r u l t i m a t e c o n t r o l before the p o i n t of c r i s i s l i k e l y t o m o t i v a t e m a s s i v e r e s i s t a n c e i n t h e F i r s t World a c t u a l l y o c c u r s .

I n f a c t , i t i s c l e a r t h a t t h e modern t e c h n o p o l i c e S t a t e i s f a i r l y a d v a n c e d i n t h i s a r e a . W h i l e we c a r r y on our l o w - l e v e l , l a r g e l y e d u c a t i o n a l , and, by and l a r g e , i n e f f e c t u a l p o l i t i c a l work, t h e S t a t e i s b u s i l y d e v e l o p i n g t h e means of s u r v e i l l a n c e t h a t w i l l a l l o w them t o i d e n t i f y and, i f n e c e s s a r y , m o n i t o r t h e movement and a c t i v i t y o f e a c h and e v e r y i n d i v i d u a l i n t h i s s o c i e t y . I f we do not a c t now t o o r g a n i z e an e f f e c t i v e c l a n d e s t i n e o p p o s i t i o n ( w i t h i n t h e c o n s t a n t l y n a r r o w i n g f i e l d of p o s s i b i l i t y ) the t o t a l s u r v e i l l a n c e S t a t e w i l l be q u i e t l y p l a c e d i n motion, p e r h a p s c u r t a i l i n g once and f o r a l l t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of e f f e c t i v e r e v o l u t i o n a r y upsurge.

I t i s not a m a t t e r of e l i t i s m , i t i s s i m p l y a m a t t e r of t h o s e i n d i v i d u a l s who a r e c o n c i o u s of t h e need t o r e s i s t t h e r i s e of the new " t e c h n o - f a s c i s m " a c t i n g now, b e f o r e i t i s too l a t e .

I f s m a l l groups do n o t a c t now, t h e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r mass o r g a n i z i n g i n t h e f u t u r e may be c l o s e d f o r e v e r .

(2)

Armed R e s i s t a n c e B r i n g s Down R e p r e s s i o n " R e p r e s s i o n i s i n d e e d p a r t of r e v o l u t i o n , a n a t u r a l a n t i t h e s i s , the always-to-be-expected d e f e n s e - a t t a c k r e f l e x of the b e l e a g u r e d , t o o t h l e s s t i g e r . " -George J a c k s o n

The c o n c e p t t h a t armed a c t i v i t y b r i n g s down r e p r e s s i o n on i n n o c e n t p e o p l e on t h e l e f t i s one of t h e more r e v e a l i n g s t a t e m e n t s t o come from s e c t i o n s of t h e l e f t opposed t o armed s t r u g g l e .

Such a p e r c e p t i o n persumes t h a t somehow t h e S t a t e i s w i l l i n g t o s t a n d by and a l l o w l e f t o p p o s i t i o n to u n f o l d u n c h a l l e n g e d as l o n g a s i t r e mains n o n - v i o l e n t .

C l e a r l y , t h i s i s not t h e c a s e . W h i l e n o n - v i o l e n t , l e g a l o r g a n i z i n g may n o t i l l i c i t d i r e c t i n t e r v e n t i o n from t h e S t a t e , t h e p o l i c e a p p a r a t u s w i l l engage i n c o n s t a n t i n t e r v e n t i o n , i n f i l t r a t i o n , s u r v e i l l a n c e , and d e s t a b i l i z a t i o n .

Andy l i o x l e y ' s work a s an i n f i l t r a t o r i n t h e P e a c e Movement s t a n d s as w i t n e s s t o t h i s .

T h i s s t a t e m e n t f u r t h e r presumes t h a t t h e r e e x i s t s some form of v a l i d l e f t a c t i v i t y t h a t w i l l a l l o w t h e l e f t t o p l a y an o b j e c t i v e l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y r o l e w i t h o u t t h r e a t e n i n g t h e i r s e c u r i t y v i s - a - v i s the S t a t e .

Such a c o n c e p t r e f l e c t s l i t t l e more t h a n t h e F i r s t World l e f t ' s de-

s i r e t o engage i n " l e f t " p o l i t i c s w i t h o u t able middle-class l i f e s t y l e s .

threatening

their

comfort-

The u n r e c o g n i z e d r e a l i t y i s t h a t armed a c t i v i t y does not c r e a t e r e pression.

R e p r e s s i o n i s a s t r u c t u r a l p a r t of t h e " t e c h n o - f a s c i s t " S t a t e on e v e r y l e v e l .

Armed r e s i s t a n c e s i m p l y b r i n g s i t out i n t o t h e open where i t can be s e e n and u n d e r s t o o d f o r what i t i s .

F i n a l l y , the l e g a l l e f t o f t e n f a i l s t o r e a l i z e t h a t t h e p r i m a r y mot i v a t i o n f o r r a i d s , a r r e s t s , and o t h e r r e p r e s s i v e a c t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e l e g a l l e f t i n the wake of a g u e r i l l a a t t a c k i s not t o c a p t u r e t h o s e who a r e r e s p o n s i b l e , the p o l i c e know t h e y won't be found i n l e g a l l e f t o r g a n i z a t i o n s , but t o d r i v e a wedge between t h e l e g a l movement and t h e g u e r i l l a .

The t r a d g e d y i s t h a t t h e l e g a l l e f t , b y and l a r g e , f a l l s r i g h t i n t o the s t r a t e g y , o f t e n g o i n g on t o do the S t a t e ' s a n t i g u e r i l l a p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s work. " I f we a c c e p t r e v o l u t i o n , we must a c c e p t a l l t h a t i t implies: r e p r e s s i o n , c o u n t e r - t e r r o r i s m , days f i l l e d w i t h work, n e r v o u s s t r a i n , p r i s o n , f u n e r a l s . " -George J a c k s o n D i r e c t Action

and

the Wimmin's F i r e

Brigade

H a v i n g e s t a b l i s h e d a g e n e r a l framework f o r e v a l u a t i n g armed s t r u g g l e i n F i r s t World u r b a n e n v i r o n m e n t s , we'd l i k e t o t u r n our a t t e n t i o n t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r s of the D i r e c t A c t i o n and Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e experience. (a)

The

Actions

(1)

CheeTceye-Dunsmuir Power

Substation

On I'ay 31, 1982, D i r e c t A c t i o n bombed t h e Cheekeye-Dunsmuir power substation.

From both an i d e o l o g i c a l and a s t r a t e g i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e t h i s a c t i o n was armed a c t i v i t y of t h e h i g h e s t o r d e r .

As an a c t of s a b o t a g e i t was . v e r y s u c c e s s f u l . The p o w e r - s u b s t a t i o n , w h i c h was j u s t about r e a d y t o go i n t o a c t i o n , was r e n d e r e d u s e less.

D i r e c t A c t i o n ' s 4 bombs c a u s e d more t h a n $5 m i l l i o n damage, n e c e s s i t a t i n g t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e s u b s t a t i o n from n e a r s c r a t c h .

I n terms of p o s i n g the r e v o l u t i o n a r y o p t i o n , t h e a c t i o n was w e l l t i m ed.

The l e g a l movement had s p e n t y e a r s p e t i t i o n i n g , l e t t e r - w r i t i n g , p i c k e t i n g , blockading, e t c . without s u c c e s s f u l l y p u t t i n g a h a l t to Hydro's p l a n t o d e v e l o p Cheekeye-Dunsmuir r e g a r d l e s s of e n v i r o n m e n t a l or human c o s t s . D i r e c t A c t i o n showed t h a t when t h e S t a t e c l o s e s a l l l e g a l c h a n n e l s t h e r e s t i l l r e m a i n o p t i o n s f o r p e o p l e who a r e opposed t o t h e p o l i c i e s of the S t a t e , and t h e s e o p t i o n s can be e x c e r c i s e d by s m a l l committed groups w i t h few r e s o u r c e s .

I n propaganda terms t h e communique was c l e a r and s i m p l y why t h e bombing had been n e c e s s a r y :

concise,

explaining

"We r e j e c t the e c o l o g i c a l d e s t r u c t i o n and the human opp r e s s i o n i n h e r e n t i n t h e i n d u s t r i a l s o c i e t i e s of t h e c o r p o r a t e machine i n the West and t h e communist machine i n the East.

I n the l a s t two hundred y e a r s i n d u s t r i a l c i v i l i z a t i o n has been r a p i n g and m u t i l a t i n g the e a r t h and e x t e r m i n a t i n g o t h e r s p e c i e s a t an e v e r a c c e l e r a t i n g r a t e .

We s a y t h i s i s not r i g h t .

J o b s , p r o g r e s s , s t a n d a r d s of l i v i n g n o t h i n g i s s u f f i c i e n t j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r the h o r r i b l e damage b e i n g done."

"While b e i n g i n c o m p l e t e o p p o s i t i o n t o f u r t h e r e c o l o g i c a l d e s t r u c t i o n , we a l s o oppose t h e human o p p r e s s i o n r e s u l t i n g from the economic and p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m s t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d t h a t a r e b a s e d on power and p r o f i t .

I n f a c t , ecologi c a l d e s t r u c t i o n i s d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o the human o p p r e s s i o n s of s e x i s m , r a c i s m , h i e r a r c h y and i m p e r i a l i s m .

The d e s i r e f o r power, t h e i n s e n s i t i v i t y t o the s u f f e r i n g of o t h e r s and t h e need t o f e e l s u p e r i o r a r e the s i n i s t e r bonds t h a t u n d e r l i e a l l t h e s e human r e l a t i o n s . " - D i r e c t A c t i o n , "Cheekeye Dunsmuir Communique" I f t h e r e was a weakness i n propaganda t e r m s , i t d i d n ' t l i e e i t h e r i n t h e a c t i o n or t h e accompanying communique, i t i s t o be found i n our i n a b i l i t y as a movement t o r e c o g n i z e t h e p e r a m e t e r s of what had o c c u r r e d and t o w i d e l y c i r c u l a t e t h e communique and d e v e l o p a d i s c u s s i o n around i t .

(2)

L i t t o n I n d u s t r i e s Bombing

As an a c t of s a b o t a g e , t h e D i r e c t A c t i o n bombing of L i t t o n I n d u s t r i e s on O c t o b e r 14, 1982, was a m a s s i v e s u c c e s s , c a u s i n g an e s t i m a t e d $7 m i l l i o n damage and e v e n t u a l l y p l a y i n g a r o l e i n c r e a t i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n whereby L i t t o n s y s t e m s of Canada was not i n v i t e d t o b i d on t h e c o n t r a c t f o r t h e g u i d a n c e d e v i c e f o r t h e advanced v e r s i o n of t h e C r u i s e M i s s l e . L i t t o n P r e s i d e n t , R o n a l d K e a t i n g , made c l e a r i n A p r i l 84 t h a t b o t h p u b l i c p r e s s u r e and t h e D i r e c t A c t i o n bombing p l a y e d a r o l e i n k n o c k i n g L i t t o n out of t h e r u n n i n g .

He s a i d , " ( P r o t e s t e r s ) a r e an i r r i t a n t , t h e y g e t a l o t of p u b l i c i t y , and t h e A m e r i c a n s r e a d e v e r y damn b i t of i t . P r e s s u r e from t h e s e p e o p l e i s making t h e A m e r i c a n s look t w i c e . " He added, "No one e l s e has been bombed."

(He's got a v a l i d c o m p l a i n t , someone ought t o do s o m e t h i n g about t h a t . ) A g a i n t h e communique was attack.

c l e a r and

c o n c i s e as to the reasons

for

"The i n s a n i t y of n u c l e a r war, and t h e c o n t i n u i n g d e v e l o p ment of weapons f o r n u c l e a r war s t a n d s as a h o r r o r f o r a l l to see.

I n the i n d u s t r i a l i z e d w o r l d more r e s o u r c e s , s c i e n t i s t s and e n g i n e e r s a r e engaged i n c r e a t i n g t h e a r m i e s and weapons s y s t e m s f o r n u c l e a r war t h a n any o t h e r s i n g l e p u r suit.

T h r e e t o t e n new bombs a r e added d a i l y t o t h e a r -

the

s e n a l s of g l o b a l a n n i h i l a t i o n and o v e r $300 b i l l i o n i s s p e n t e v e r y y e a r i n c r e a s i n g and u p g r a d i n g an o v e r k i l l s t o c k p i l e of more than 55,000 n u c l e a r weapons.

I n the U.S., Reagan has a s k e d f o r a 31% i n c r e a s e i n the P e n t a gon's $1.7 t r i l l i o n f i v e - y e a r budget and has a l s o announced a new $1.5 t r i l l i o n arms program. Who can doubt the d i c t a t o r s and m i l i t a r i s t s i n t h e K r e m l i n a r e f a r b e h i n d . "

" I n d u s t r i e s i n Canada t h a t p r o d u c e n u c l e a r weapons comp o n e n t s a r e f u l l y i n t e g r a t e d w i t h t h e n u c l e a r p o l i c i e s of the U.S. t h r o u g h t h e U.S./Canada D e f e n s e P r o d u c t i o n S h a r i n g A r r a n g e m e n t s . T h e s a r r a n g e m e n t s c o v e r the p r o d u c t i o n s i d e of t h e NORAD agreements f o r a c o n t i n e n t a l d e f e n s e p o l i c y and s e t out t h e d i v i s i o n of l a b o u r between Canada and the U.S. f o r weapons p r o d u c t i o n . The f e d e r a l g o v e r n ment d i r e c t l y a s s i s t s and s u b s i d i z e s C a n a d i a n armament m a n u f a c t u r e r s t h r o u g h a m y r i a d of programs d e s i g n e d t o h e l p t h e d e a t h m e r c h a n t s win U.S. D e f e n s e Department c o n t r a c t s a v a i l a b l e under the P r o d u c t i o n S h a r i n g A r r a n g e m e n t s .

Through t h e D e f e n s e I n d u s t r y P r o d u c t i v i t y Program, the f e d e r a l government h a s g i v e n L i t t o n $26.4 m i l l i o n t o subs i d i z e p r o d u c t i o n of the G u i d a n c e s y s t e m f o r t h e C r u i s e Missle.

I n a d d i t i o n , the government has g i v e n L i t t o n a f i v e y e a r $22.5 m i l l i o n i n t e r e s t f r e e l o a n f o r the same purpose."

I n f a c t , from a s a b o t a g e and propaganda p e r s p e c t i v e , i t seems l i k e l y t h a t t h e a c t i o n would have been a s u c c e s s had i t not l e d t o 7 i n j u r i e s , some of them q u i t e s e r i o u s . The i n j u r i e s were t h e r e s u l t o f t h e bomb e x p l o d i n g 12 m i n u t e s e a r l y ( t h e r e h a s s i n c e been some s p e c u l a tion that p o l i c e u s i n g r a d i o s a c c i d e n t a l l y t r i g g e r e d i t ) and of s e c u r i t y p e r s o n e l l and the p o l i c e f a i l i n g t o g r a s p t h e s e r i o u s n e s s of t h e s i t u a t i o n and e v a c u a t e the b u i l d i n g i m m e d i a t e l y . As i t was the w o r k e r s were l e a v i n g t h e b u i l d i n g a t t h e e x a c t moment the 550 l b s . bomb e x p l o d e d , l e a v i n g them open t o t h e maximum i n j u r y .

D i r e c t A c t i o n r e l e a s e d a communique t a k i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r e r r o r s on t h e i r own p a r t , as w e l l as i n d i c a t i n g a c t i o n s on the p a r t of L i t t o n s e c u r i t y p e r s o n e l l and the cops w h i c h c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e t r a gedy. T h i s d e t a i l e d communique s a i d i n p a r t : "We s i n c e r e l y r e g r e t t h a t any i n j u r i e s o c c u r e d a s a r e s u l t of t h i s a c t i o n .

We n e v e r i n t e n d e d any harm t o come t o anyone - e s p e c i a l l y t o t h e w o r k e r s a t L i t t o n - but i n s t e a d , we took c a r e i n p r e p a r i n g what we s r i o u s l y assumed were adeq u a t e p r e c a u t i o n s t o i n s u r e t h e s a f e t y of a l l p e o p l e i n t h e area.

Unfortuanately, t h i s d i d not t u r n out t o be the case.

"We do not r e g r e t , however, our d e c i s i o n t o attempt t o s a b o t a g e the p r o d u c t i o n of t h e C r u i s e M i s s l e ' s g u i d a n c e

•brain*.

We o n l y c l a i m i n a l l h o n e s t y t h a t t h i s a c t i o n was n e v e r meant t o be an a c t of t e r r o r i s m .

We were not t r y i n g to t h r e a t e n or k i l l the w o r k e r s or e x e c u t i v e s of L i t t o n Systems. We were a t t e m p t i n g t o d e s t r o y p a r t of an i n d u s t r i a l f a c i l i t y t h a t p r o d u c e s m a c h i n e r y f o r mass murder.

We wanted t o blow up as much of t h a t t e c h n o l o g y o f d e a t h as possible."

The communique then went on t o d e l i n e a t e a l l of t h e e r r o r s w h i c h l e d to the i n j u r i e s . ( I t i s too l o n g t o p r i n t or summurize h e r e , b u t i t i s w e l l worth r e a d i n g f o r a v i e w as to what e r r o r s D i r e c t A c t i o n made and the degree t o w h i c h p o l i c e and s e c u r i t y i n c o m p e t e n c e c o n t r i b u t e d to the s i t u a t i o n . ) As c o u l d be e x p e c t e d t h e i n j u r i e s s e r v e d t o a l i e n a t e c e r t a i n s e c t i o n s of the l e f t .

Even i n t h e " a n a r c h i s t " community c e r t a i n i n d i v i d u a l s were t r i p p i n g over t h e m s e l v e s t o e x p r e s s d i s a p p r o v a l .

I n t h e Novemb e r 15, 1982 i s s u e of S t r i k e 1. L a z a r u s J o n e s r u n s v i r t u a l l y t h e whole gamut i n d r e d g i n g up a t t a c k s on D i r e c t A c t i o n : "Under c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s , and under c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s , armed s t r u g g l e i s v a l i d and n e c e s s a r y .

Unfortuna t e l y the i n d i v i d u a l s who c o m p r i s e D i r e c t A c t i o n seem t o have t a k e n no a c c o u n t of t h e n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n s or c i r cumstances ."

The

classic

"time i s not

r i g h t " argument.

" D i r e c t A c t i o n ' s s t a t e m e n t on t h e i n j u r i e s c a u s e d by t h e bombing i s both d e l u d e d and e q u i v i c a l . They c l a i m t o ' s i n c e r e l y r e g r e t t h a t any i n j u r i e s o c c u r e d a s a r e s u l t of the a c t i o n . ' This i s probably t r u e .

I would s u g g e s t t h a t D i r e c t A c t i o n r e f l e c t on t h e f a c t t h a t by t a k i n g t h e c o u r s e t h e y seem t o have c h o s e n t h e y must be p r e p a r e d t o k i l l and maim."

The

mad

terrorist

argument.

"Even i f t h e c h a l l e n g e ( o f armed s t r u g g l e ) i s t a k e n up t h e o n l y r e a l r e s u l t , as t h e E u r o p e a n e x p e r i e n c e h a s shown, i s an e x p a n s i o n of t h e v a n g u a r d and t h e r e i n f o r c e m e n t of t h e b a s i c e l i t i s m of t h e g u e r i l l a and h i s / h e r contempt f o r t h o s e who r e f u s e t h e p a t h of r e v o l u t i o n a r y s u i c i d e . " The

g u e r i l l a as f u l i t e

elitism.

And P a t Murtagh, i n a f a n c i f u l a r t i c l e about " C a n a d i a n A n a r c h i s m " w r i t t e n f o r the L i b e r a t i o n Workers B u l l e t i n , an A u s t r a l i a n A n a r c h o s y n d i c a l i s t paper, s a y s : "A c e r t a i n element ( o f t h e V a n c o u v e r A n a r c h i s t s c e n e ) v e e r e d o f f i n t o m i n d l e s s a d v o c a c y of a n y t h i n g t h a t was v i o l e n t , whether a n a r c h i s t or n o t .

T h i s element has

born i t s f r u i t Armed s t r u g g l e

i n the present

as mindless

activities

of D i r e c t

Action."

violence.

The p o l i c e moved q u i c k l y t o e x p l o i t any u n c e r t a i n t i e s i n t h e movement r e g a r d i n g t h e a c t i o n s v i a a s e r i e s of r a i d s a g a i n s t l e g a l p e a c e g r o u p s . R a i d s were c a r r i e d out a g a i n s t t h e C r u i s e M i s s l e C o n v e r s i o n P r o j e c t , t h e A l l i a n c e f o r N o n - V i o l e n t A c t i o n , and World Emergency, a s w e l l a s a g a i n s t prominent i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e p e a c e movement.

These a c t i o n s , c l e a r l y i n t e n d e d t o d r i v e a wedge between D i r e c t A c t i o n and t h e p e a c e movement, were, i n l a r g e p a r t , s u c c e s s f u l , w i t h some l e a d i n g f i g u r e s i n t h e p e a c e movement g o i n g a s f a r a s t o c o o p e r a t e w i t h the p o l i c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n and t o p u b l i c l y s t a t e t h e i r hope t h a t D i r e c t A c t i o n would be s u c c e s s f u l l y apprehended. T h e r e w e r e , of c o u r s e , a l so l a u d a b l e examples o f i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e p e a c e movement who c l e a r l y e x p r e s s e d t h e i r s o l i d a r i t y w i t h D i r e c t A c t i o n ( a n d l a t e r t h e Vancouve r 5) i n t h e f a c e of S t a t e a t t a c k s .

(3)

Red Hot V i d e o F i r e b o m b i n q s

The November 22, 1932 f i r e b o m b i n g s of 3 Red Hot V i d e o l o c a t i o n s i n t h e Lower M a i n l a n d of B.C. was f a r and away t h e most p o p u l a r armed a t t a c k of t h i s p e r i o d .

The s h o r t f o u r p a r a g r a p h communique r e a d a s follows: "We,the Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e , c l a i m r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e f i r e - b o m b i n g of t h r e e Red Hot V i d e o o u t l e t s i n t h e Lower M a i n l a n d of B.C. on November 22, 1932. T h i s a c t i o n i s a n o t h e r s t e p towards t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of a b u s i n e s s t h a t p r o motes and p r o f i t s from v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t wimmin and c h i l d ren.

Red Hot V i d e o s e l l s t a p e s t h a t show wimmin and c h i l d r e n b e i n g t o r t u r e d , r a p e d and h u m i l i a t e d .

We a r e n o t t h e p r o p e r t y of men t o be u s e d and abused.

Red Hot V i d e o i s p a r t o f a m u l t i - b i l l i o n d o l l a r p o r n o g r a p h y i n d u s t r y t h a t t e a c h e s men t o e q u a t e s e x u a l i t y w i t h violence.

A l t h o u g h t h e s e t a p e s v i o l a t e t h e C r i m i n a l Code of Canada and t h e B.C. g u i d e l i n e s on p o r n o g r a p h y , a l l l a w f u l a t t e m p t s t o s h u t down Red Hot V i d e o h a v e f a i l e d b e c a u s e the j u s t i c e s y s t e m was c r e a t e d , and i s c o n t r o l l e d , by r i c h men t o p r o t e c t t h e i r p r o f i t s and p r o p e r t y .

As a r e s u l t we a r e l e f t no v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e b u t t o change the s i t u a t i o n o u r s e l v e s through i l l e g a l means. T h i s i s an a c t o f s e l f - d e f e n s e a g a i n s t h a t e p r o p a g a n d a . We w i l l c o n t i n u e to defend o u r s e l v e s ! " T h i s a c t i o n was e x t r e m e l y s u c c e s s f u l , r e d u c i n g 2 o f t h e 3 Red Hot Vidoe o u t l e t s attacked to ashes.

I n t h e 3rd c a s e t h e i n c e d i a r y dev i c e f a i l e d t o i g n i t e . I t was a l s o an a c t i o n i m m e d i a t e l y embraced by a l l s e c t i o n s o f t h e women's movement as one w h i c h e x p r e s s e d their

r a g e . Groups as d i v e r s e as the B.C. F e d e r a t i o n of Women and t h e M o n t r e a l b a s e d F e m i n i s t C o a l i t i o n A g a i n s t Pornography p u b l i c l y emb r a c e d i t . I t was soon c l e a r t h a t women r e c o g n i z e d i n t h i s a c t i o n the f i n a l o p t i o n when f a c e d w i t h the t o t a l i n t r a n s i g i e n c e of t h e State.

I n s p i t e of t h e u n f o r t u n a t e i n j u r i e s a t L i t t o n I n d u s t r i e s , t h e D i r e c t A c t i o n and Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e campaigns of 1932 were, by and l a r g e , e f f e c t i v e on a l l l e v e l s .

As propaganda the a c t i o n s and communiques were e x t r e m e l y p o i n t e d end e f f e c t i v e , i n t e r l o c k i n g w e l l w i t h l a r g e - s c a l e p u b l i c campaigns. We w i s h to r e i t e r a t e t h a t any s h o r t c o m i n g s on the propaganda l e v e l were i n l a r g e p a r t b a s e d on t h e l a c k of r e c o g n i t i o n on the p a r t of s y m p a t h e t i c p e o p l e a c t i v e i n t h e l e g a l movement of the n e c e s s i t y of d i s t r i b u t i n g the communiques and e n c o u r a g i n g d i s c u s s i o n around them and the s t r a t e g y w h i c h t h e y r e p resented.

I t was not u n t i l the i n j u r i e s a t L i t t o n t h a t the movement began d i s c u s s i n g D i r e c t A c t i o n and t h e i r s t r a t e g y , and t h o s e of u s who w i s h e d t o d e f e n d the s t r a t e g y were f o r c e d i n t o an i n t e n s e l y def e n s i v e p o s i t i o n , a v e r y poor p o s i t i o n from w h i c h t o b e g i n s u c h a complex d i s c u s s i o n .

R e t r o s p e c t i v e l y , i t was a major e r r o r t o l e t t h e p o s i t i v e example of the Cheekeye-Dunsmuir bombing p a s s w i t h s o l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n g i v e n . The f a c t t h a t the L i t t o n bombing was d e s t i n e d t o be D i r e c t A c t i o n ' s l a s t a c t i o n f u r t h e r c o m p l i c a t e d m a t t e r s b e c a u s e we were s t i l l i n the m i d s t of t h e v e r y complex d i s c u s s i o n s u r r o u n d i n g t h a t a c t i o n and the i n j u r i e s a t the time of the a r r e s t s .

The

Arrests

The a r r e s t of t h e Vancouver 5, on J a n u a r y 20 1983, was, when one l o o k s a t i t r e t r o s p e c t i v e l y , almost i n e v i t a b l e . The q u a n t i t y of o r g a n i z i n g t h e s e 5 i n d i v i d u a l s had t o do i n v i r t u a l i s o l a t i o n made e r r o r s t h a t would l e a d to t h e i r e v e n t u a l a r r e s t v i t u a l l y c e r t a i n . f

N o n e t h e l e s s , i t a p p e a r s as i f the comrades made c e r t a i n e r r o r s i n d i c a t e an i n a d e q u a t e c o n c e p t i o n of p o l i c e t a c t i c s .

They a r e t h a t must be r e c o g n i z e d , examined, and u n d e r s t o o d , so as t o be ed i n t h e f u t u r e .

that errors avoid-

The f a c t t h a t t h e y c o n t i n u e d to l i v e i n the V a n c o u v e r a r e a and c o n t i n u e d t o m a i n t a i n c o n t a c t , even a t a v e r y low l e v e l , w i t h some f r i e n d s was a complete misjudgement of c i r c u m s t a n c e s .

Clearly, i f and when the p o l i c e p i n p o i n t e d them a s s u s p e c t s f r i e n d s and a c q u a n t a n c e s w o u l d be put under s u r v e i l l a n c e . At t h a t p o i n t i t was onl y a m a t t e r of time u n t i l the p o l i c e came i n d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h one or more of t h e 5, a f t e r w h i c h the a r r e s t s were a v i r t u a l c e r t a i n t y .

I f one. i s t o b e l i e v e the p o l i c e v e r s i o n of the s u r v e i l l a n c e t h a t l e d t o the 5 (and c e r t a i n p a r t s of the p o l i c e s t o r y a p p e a r t o be t o t a l l y i m p l a u s i b l e - w h i c h i s l o g i c a l enough b e c a u s e t h e y h a v e a v e s t e d i n t e r e s t i n making s u r e we know a s l i t t l e as i s n e c e s s a r y t o g u a r e n t e e c o n v i c t i o n s , so as to p r e v e n t us from d e v e l o p i n g e f f e c t i v e c o u n t e r - s u r v e i l l a n c e ) then t h i s i s e x a c t l y what happened.

T h e r e a r e l e s s o n s t o be drawn from t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e r e g a r d i n g the n a t u r e and s t y l e of the p o l i c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n .

It is c l e a r t h a t t h e y a r e more aware of where i n d i v i d u a l s a r e a t i d e o l o g i c a l l y t h a n we sometimes g i v e them c r e d i t f o r .

They were a b l e t o draw up a pool of s u s p e c t s r e a s o n a b l y q u i c k l y , and a l t h o u g h t h i s p o o l c o n t a i n e d many i n d i v i d u a l s who were t o t a l l y u n i n v o l v e d , i t a p p e a r s t o h a v e e v e n t u a l l y p r o v i d e d t h e key c o n n e c t i o n t h a t l e d t o the 5, a f t e r w h i c h i t s i m p l y became a m a t t e r of c o l l e c t i n g the n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a tion.

I t i s c l e a r t h a t t h e y a r e c a p a b l e of s o p h i s t i c a t e d s u r v e i l lance.

They c l a i m t o h a v e had as many as 3-10 c o p s s u r v e i l l i n g a s i n g l e s u s p e c t a t t i m e s , and t h e y c l a i m to have been a b l e t o p l a c e B r e n t i n C a l g a r y a t a c e r t a i n p o i n t due to "a p a p e r t r a i l " w h i c h he left.

I t i s a l s o c l e a r t h a t they are w i l l i n g to overlook c r i m i n a l a c t i v i t i e s i f t h e y a r e h o l d i n g out f o r a b i g g e r b u s t .

They c l e a r l y l e t s e v e r a l p o s s i b l e s t o l e n v e h i c l e a r r e s t s p a s s , and o u i t e p r o b a b l y w a t c h e d the Red Hot V i d e o f i r e b o m b i n g s , w h i l e h o l d i n g out f o r a more major a r r e s t .

Some of the l e s s o n s t o be drawn from t h i s a r e c l e a r . Comrades e n g a g i n g i n i l l e g a l a c t i v i t y on t h i s s c a l e must be p r e p a r e d t o go comp l e t e l y underground, w h i c h i m p l i e s s e v e r i n g a l l c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e i r p r e v i o u s m i l i e u and f r i e n d s .

Such c o n t a c t s , w h i l e e m o t i o n a l l y and p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t , a r e s u i c i d a l from a s e c u r i t y p e r s p e c tive.

Police surveillance i s sophisticated.

I f comrades i n v o l v e d i n c l a d e s t i n e work a r e t o a v o i d i t , t h e y must p r a c t i c e s o p h i s t i c a t e d counter-surveillance.

P r i m a r y i n t h i s i s a c a p a c i t y t o remove thems e l v e s from the a r e a s where i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a r e l i k e l y t o s t a r t .

And, of c o u r s e , i t i s c l e a r t h a t any s e n s e t h a t the p o l i c e a r e aware of one's a c t i v i t i e s , p a r t i c u l a r i l y any d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h the c o p s , however s e e m i n g l y i n n o c u o u s , r e q u i r e s t h a t the g u e r i l l a d e s t r o y e v e r y t h i n g t h a t might a l l o w the cops t o t r a c e them and d i s a p p e a r .

A l l of t h i s i m p l i e s a h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d network.

"The u r b a n g u e r i l l a p r e s u p p o s e s the o r g a n i z a t i o n of an i l l e g a l a p p a r a t u s , i n o t h e r words, a p a r t m e n t s , weapons, amm u n i t i o n , c a r s , and i d e n t i f i c a t i o n p a p e r s . " -RAF I t a p p e a r s t h a t by r e m a i n i n g i n the V a n c o u v e r a r e a , by m a i n t a i n i n g c o n t a c t s w i t h f r i e n d s , and by i g n o r i n g s i g n i f i c a n t b r u s h e s w i t h t h e law, the 5 g r e a t l y f a c i l i t a t e d t h e i r own u l t i m a t e a r r e s t .

The

Trial " I f t h e m i l i t a r y s i t u a t i o n i s d i f f i c u l t from t h e f i r s t moments, t h e p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n w i l l be no l e s s d e l i c a t e ; and i f a s i n g l e m i l i t a r y e r r o r can wipe out t h e g u e r i l l a s , a p o l i t i c a l e r r o r can check t h e i r development f o r a l o n g p e r i o d . " -Che G u e v e r a

W h i l e c e r t a i n t a c t i c a l e r r o r s may have c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e a r r e s t of t h e 5, t h e i r r a m i f i c a t i o n s f o r the s t r a t e g y of armed r e s i s t a n c e were minor.

I t was the e r r o r s committed by the a r r e s t e d comrades and t h o s e of us who d i d d e f e n s e / s u p p o r t work t h a t s e r v e d most t o d e f u s e

t h e importance of t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s of D i r e c t A c t i o n and F i r e B r i g a d e t o r e s i s t a n c e i n Canada.

t h e Wimmin's

The approach of t h e 5 t o t h e l e g a l s y s t e m and the t r i a l s was a s e r i o u s p o l i t i c a l m i s j u d g e m e n t . By f i r s t m a i n t a i n i n g t h e i r i n n o c e n c e r a t h e r than d e f e n d i n g the a c t i o n s r a t h e r than d e f e n d i n g t h e a c t i o n s and a p p r o a c h i n g t h e t r i a l s a s a v e h i c l e f o r a d i s c u s s i o n of t h e i r ana l y s i s , t h e i r s t r a t e g y , and t h e r o l e of armed s t r u g g l e i n a F i r s t World c o u n t r y , t h e y c o m p l e t e l y a b d i c a t e d any c o n t r o l o v e r t h e t r i a l s .

By h e d g i n g t h e i r b e t s on m i n i m i z i n g t h e i r s e n t e n c e s , t h e 5 put thems e l v e s i n a s i t u a t i o n where t h e y c o u l d not a c t i v e l y u s e t h e t r i a l s f o r propaganda p u r p o s e s w i t h o u t t h r e a t e n i n g t h e i r l e g a l s t r a t e g y . I n s o d o i n g they promoted s e v e r a l e r r o n e o u s p e r c e p t i o n s .

F i r s t of a l l , t h e y de f a c t o r e c o g n i z e d t h e r i g h t of t h e c o u r t s , and by e x t e n s i o n t h e S t a t e , t o judge t h e i r a c t i o n s , r a t h e r than p i n p o i n t i n g t h e r o l e of t h e l e g a l s y s t e m as a p i l l e r of c l a s s j u s t i c e b e f o r e w h i c h no e q u i t a b l e judgement can e v e r be s u s p e c t e d , and l e a s t of a l l i n a c a s e i n v o l v i n g armed r e s i s t a n c e .

T h i s e r r o r was f u r t h e r compounded by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y u l t i m a t e l y p l a c e d t h e c a s e i n t h e hands of l a w y e r s and hung t h e i r hopes on l e g a l c h a l l e n g e s r e g a r d i n g t h e l e g i t i m a c y of w i r e t a p s , and s i m i l a r d e t a i l s of l e g a l p r o t o c o l . Such a s t a t e m e n t of f a i t h i n t h e l e g a l s y s t e m s e r v e d o n l y t o c o n t r i b u t e t o f u r t h e r myst i f i c a t i o n s u r r o u n d i n g t h e t h e o r e t i c a l " n e u t r a l i t y " of t h e c o u r t s , and by e x t e n s i o n t h e S t a t e .

The r e s p o n s e of s u p p o r t e r s was t o adopt t h e l i b e r a l demand of t h e " r i g h t to a f a i r t r i a l " .

The more we worked w i t h t h i s demand, t h e more we boxed o u r s e l v e s i n p o l i t i c a l l y .

I f the 5 were m a i n t a i n i n g t h e i r i n n o c e n c e and we were demanding "a f a i r t r i a l " , t h e n we w e r e de f a c t o b l o c k e d from e n g a g i n g i n t h e p r i m a r y d i s c u s s i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e a c t i o n s and t h e r o l e of armed s t r u g g l e i n Canada.

I f questioned r e c a l l i n g the a c t i o n s , we were f o r c e d by our l i n e to t r e a t t h e i s s u e of armed s t r u g g l e as s e c o n d a r y or even i n c o n s e q u e n t i a l . A l t h o u g h t h e 5 d i d r e s i s t t h i s , t h e y d i d so i n a f a i r l y weak f a s h i o n .

"We know t h a t i f t h e r e was s u c h a t h i n g as f a i r t r i a l s & j u s t i c e - we would w a l k f r e e .

But t h e r i s no j u s t i c e & we w i l l not r e c e i v e a f a i r t r i a l .

Y e t b e c a u s e i t i s sometimes p o s s i b l e to e x p l o i t the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s inherent i n the b o u r g e o i s d e m o c r a t i c l e g a l p r o c e s s (which r e s u l t from t h e need f o r lawmakers t o appear f a i r and l e g i t i m a t e ) , we w i l l be p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e courtroom f a c a d e t o t r y and m i n i mize the l e g a l a t t a c k a g a i n s t u s . " - J u l i e , Ann, G e r r y , Doug, B r e n t - 13-03-83, "Free the F i v e N e w s l e t t e r " I t was n o t , however, u n t i l i s s u e no. 7 of t h e " F r e e t h e F i v e Newsl e t t e r " , i s s u e d on Nov. 16, 83, t h a t 4 of t h e 5 f i r s t p u b l i c l y opposed t h e " f a i r t r i a l " s t r a t e g y , w h i c h y t h a t time had been g o i n g on f o r n e a r l y 10 months.

"Much of t h e p o l i t i c a l work done around our c a s e has

been

c e n t e r e d on the i s s u e s of ' r i g h t t o a f a i r t r i a l ' and a b u s e s of p r o c e s s by t h e media, p o l i c e , and p r o s e c u t i o n . "

"We would l i k e t o s e e t h e p o l i t i c a l work done on bur c a s e c e n t e r around what we c o n s i d e r t o be the r e a l i s s u e s : environmentalism, feminism, a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s m , & r a d i c a l a c t i v i s m . " -Ann, G e r r y , Doug, B r e n t However, i n s p i t e of t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s t h e d e f e n s e / s u p p o r t milieu f a i l e d t o change g e a r s .

We c o n t i n u e d t o o r i e n t our work around S t a t e e x c e s s e s and i l l e g a l i t i e s , d i s p e n s i n g i n f o r m a t i o n , b u t r e f u s i n g t o engage i n the c e n t r a l d e b a t e : What i s the r o l e of armed r e s i s t a n c e i n C a n a d a ? How can m i l i t a n t r e s i s t a n c e be c o n s t r u c t e d h e r e ?

I f we a r e t o attempt t o p i n p o i n t t h e r e a s o n s why we f a i l e d t o r e s p o n d p o s i t i v e l y t o t h e s i t u a t i o n t h e a r r e s t s and t r i a l s p r e s e n t e d us w i t h , s e v e r a l w e a k n e s s e s become a p p a r e n t .

Both the p r i s o n e r s and t h e i r d e f e n s e / s u p p o r t committees f a i l e d t o s e e the j u d i c i a l e x p e r i e n c e , b o t h t h e c o u r t s and p r i s o n , a s an i n t e g r a l p a r t of t h e armed struggle.

The 5 f a i l e d t o t a k e t h e l e a d i n u s i n g t h e courtroom as a p l a t f o r m f o r propaganda and the p r i s o n as a c e n t r a l element i n t h e c o n f r o n t a t i o n between o p p r e s s i o n and r e s i s t a n c e . F o r our p a r t we f e l l i n t o the t r a p of b e l i e v i n g we c o u l d somehow s a v e our f r i e n d s i f we d w e l l e d on the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h i n t h e S t a t e ' s l e g a l s y s t e m and downplayed t h e armed a c t i o n s of D i r e c t A c t i o n and t h e Wimmin's F i r e Brigade.

The l i b e r a l d e v i a t i o n s t h a t o c c u r r e d i n t h i s s c e n e r i o were n e v e r r e c t i f i e d i n any i m p o r t a n t way b e c a u s e no s h a r e d c o n c e p t i o n of p o l i t i c s i n g e n e r a l or of t h e t r i a l s i n p a r t i c u l a r e v e r e v o l v e d between t h e 5 and t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s .

B e c a u s e t h e r e was no s o l i d p o l i t i c a l a n a l y s i s of t h e s i t u a t i o n coming from the p r i s o n e r s and t h e s u p p o r t e r s f a i l e d to evolve one, t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of u s i n g t h e t r i a l s t o b u i l d s u p p o r t f o r the armed s t r u g g l e was l o s t .

The s i t u a t i o n f u r t h e r s l i p p e d from our c o n t r o l when t h e g u i l t y p l e a s were f i l e d .

On March 17, 1983, J u l i e and G e r r y p l e a d e d g u i l t y .

Julie p l e a d e d g u i l t y t o c o n s p i r a c y t o rob a B r i n k s armoured c a r , a t t e m p t e d a r s o n o f t h e P o r t C o g u i t l a r a Red Hot V i d e o , c a r t h e f t , p o s s e s s i o n of e x p l o s i v e s , p o s s e s s i o n of weapons d a n g e r o u s to the p u b l i c p e a c e , and bombing L i t t o n I n d u s t r i e s . G e r r y f i l e d the same g u i l t y p l e a , l e s s p o s s e s s i o n of e x p l o s i v e s and the L i t t o n bombing. On J u n e 4, 84, Ann p l e a d e d g u i l t y t o the Cheekeye-Dunsmuir bombing, t h e L i t t o n bombing, p o s s e s s i o n of e x p l o s i v e s , and p o s s e s s i o n of weapons. Ann had a l r e a d y b e e n f o u n d g u i l t y of c o n s p i r a c y t o r o b a B r i n k s armoured c a r , p o s s e s s i o n of e x p l o s i v e s , p o s s e s s i o n of weapons, p o s s e s s i o n of s t o l e n p r o p e r t y , v e h i c l e t h e f t , and b r e a k i n g and e n t e r i n g . On J u n e 8, Doug p l e a d e d g u i l t y t o the C h e e k e y e Dunsmuir bombing and B r e n t p l e a d e d g u i l t y t o p o s s e s s i o n of weapons and p o s s e s s i o n of e x p l o s i v e s , h a v i n g a l r e a d y been found g u i l t y of the same c h a r g e s as Ann i n the f i r s t t r i a l ( l i s t e d above).

While the d e s i r e to put

an end

t o dead time f a c e d

i n endless

trials

i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e , e s p e c i a l l y g i v e n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e outcome o f t h e f i r s t t r i a l was h a r d l y a v i c t o r y f r o m a l e g a l p e r s p e c t i v e , J u l i e h a v i n g been s e n t e n c e d t o 20 y e a r s and G e r r y t o 10, a f t e r p l e a d i n g g u i l t y , and Ann and D r e n t h a v i n g b e e n f o u n d g u i l t y on a l l c h a r g e s , t h e g u i l t y p l e a s l e f t l i t t l e t o be r e c o u p e d p o l i t i c a l l y f o l l o w i n g t h e a l m o s t e x c l u s i v e f o c u s o f d e f e n s e / s u p p o r t p o l i t i c s on t h e " r i g h t t o a fair trial".

P a r t i c u l a r i l l y damaging p o l i t i c a l l y w a s G e r r y ' s d e c i s i o n t o a c c e p t a g u i l t y p l e a on t h e Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e a c t i o n as p a r t o f a p l e a b a r g a i n . T h i s was p a r t i c u l a r i l y d i s o r i e n t i n g as t h e Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e h a d b e e n g e n e r a l l y r e c o g n i z e d and a c c e p t e d as an a l l women's g r o u p a n d t h e a c t i o n as an a l l women's a c t i o n .

G e r r y ' s d e c i s o n t o p l e a d g u i l t y p u r e l y as a p r a c t i c a l i t y , w h i l e u n d e r s t o o d by those s u p p o r t e r s c l o s e r t o t h e d e c i s i o n making p r o c e s s , was n o t n e c e s s a r i l y s o c l e a r f o r t h e b r o a d e r p o l i t i c a l c o m m u n i t y w a t c h i n g t h e t r i a l s , some o f whom w e r e t a k e n a b a c k b o t h b y t h e g u i l t y p l e a s (we h a d done s u c h a n e f f e c t i v e j o b o f o u r " r i g h t t o a f a i r t r i a l " c a m p a i g n t h a t some p e o p l e i n t h e p o l i t i c a l c o m m u n i t y a c t u a l l y b e l i e v e d t h e 5 were p e r s e c u t e d i n n o c e n t s and i n t h e f a c e o f t h e g u i l t y p l e a s f e l t t h e i r t r u s t h a d been b e t r a y e d I T h i s i s r a t h e r a l a r g e s t a t e m e n t o f how e f f e c t i v e l y we b u r i e d t h e k e y i s s u e s i n o u r d e f e n s e / support work.) a n d l e f t u n s u r e as t o w h e t h e r t h e Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e h a d a c t u a l l y b e e n a s t a t e m e n t o f women's r e s i s t a n c e , o r s i m p l y D i r e c t A c t i o n u s i n g a n o t h e r name f o r r e a s o n s o f p o l i t i c a l e f f i c a city.

G i v e n t h e m a s s i v e p o p u l a r i t y o f t h e Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e , p a r t i c u l a r i l y i n t h e women's c o m m u n i t y , t o i n t r o d u c e s u c h u n c l a r i t y was a p o l i t i c a l e r r o r .

I t was n o t u n t i l t h e s e n t e n c i n g t h a t t h e f i r s t r e a l p o l i t i c a l s t a t e m e n t s came f r o m t h e 5, a n d t h i s was V-i y e a r s a f t e r t h e a r r e s t a n d n e a r l y 2 years a f t e r t h e l a s t a c t i o n .

On J u n e 5, C>*, Ann r e a d h e r statement.

T h i s l o n g , e l o q u e n t , and p o w e r f u l s t a t e m e n t s a i d , among other things: " I n t h e b e g i n n i n g when I was f i r s t a r r e s t e d , I was i n t i m i d a t e d and s u r r o u n d e d b y t h e c o u r t s and p r i s o n .

This fear provided the basis f o r the h e l i e f that i f I played the lega l game, I would, g e t a c q u i t t e d o r p e r h a p s l e s s t i m e .

This b e l i e f o b s c u r e d my v i s i o n and f o o l e d me i n t o b e l i e v i n g t h a t I c o u l d g e t a break f r o - t h e l e g a l system.

But t h i s past e i g h t m o n t h s i n c o u r t h a s s h a r p e n e d my p e r c e p t i o n s and s t r e n g t h e n e d m p o l i t i c a l c o n v i c t i o n s t o see t h a t t h e e r r > l gar.e i s r i g g e d a n d p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n e r s a r e d e a l t a marked dec ." ,r

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" I would p r e f e r t o l i " e i n peace b u t "hen I l o o k e d around me, I c o u l d n ' t f i n d i t a n ' v h e r e .

S^eryw^ere I l o o k e d , t h e l a n d was b e i n g d e s t r o y e d t h e I n d i a n s w e r e * i c : i m s o^ g e n o c i d e , t h i r d w o r l d p o o p or w e r e o p p r e s s e d apd m a s s a c r e d , neools i v °^ n " l i ^ r * ! * " r f s ^ e r n ^ *"> Pn' -r.^rin w e r e ^e i n g r a p e d and c h i l d r e n m o l e s t e d .

I c o u l d ne**er l i ' e i n p e a c e - cnl*-* c u i e t — t h e k i n d *"ou nd i n c e m e t e r i e s .

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Even t h o u g h I know t h a t D f e w m i l i t a n t d i r e c t a c t i o n s w o u l d n o t na^e t h e r e v o l u t i o n o r s t o p t h e s e p r o j e c t s , I b e l i e v e d i t was n e c e s s a r y t o b e g i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f an u n d e r g r o u n d r e s i s t a n c e movement t h a t was c a p a b l e o f s a b o t a g e ?nd e x p r o p r i a t i o n s and c o u l d w o r k f r e e f r o m p o l i c e surveillance.

The d e v e l o p m e n t o f an e f f e c t i v e r e s i s t a n c e movement i s n o t an o v e r n i g h t a f f a i r - i t t a k e s d e c o d e s o f e * o l \ j t i o n . I t has t o s t a r t somewhere i n s m a l l numbers and. w h e t h e r o r n o t i t g r o w s , becomes e f f e c t i v e a n d s u c c e s s f u l , w i l l depend on w h e t h e r o r n o t wo make i t h a p p e n . " T

On J u n e 2 1 , 8 4 , Doug made a s h o r t r n d p o i n t e d s t a t e m e n t , w h i c h e x p l a i n e d t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l p e r s p e c t i v e o f D i r e c t A c t i o n and t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e Cheekeye-Dunsmuir bombing.

I n p a r t he s a i d : "The r e a s o n I d i d t h a t (bombed t h e C h e e k e y e - D u n s m u i r power s u b s t a t i o n ) i s t h a t t h e Cheekeye-Dunsmuir p r o j e c t i s g o i n g t o i n f l i c t l a r g e - s c a l e , s e v e r e damage on t h e e n v i r o n m e n t o f B.C., and I c o n s i d e r t h a t r e p r e h e n s i b l e and i n t o l e r a b l e . "

"The d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e w o r l d ' s e n v i r o n m e n t i s a d i r e c t consequence o f modern i n d u s t r i a l i s m , b u t i t a l s o s p r i n g s from c e r t a i n fundamental p e r s p e c t i v e s o f our c u l t u r e .

Host p e o p l e i n o u r s o c i e t y , and c e r t a i n l y t h o s e w i t h t h e w e a l t h a n d power a r e o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e Earth, b e l o n g s t o u s , t h a t i t e x i s t s o n l y f o r o u r u s e , and i t i s o f v a l u e o n l y t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t we v a l u e i t . I t ' s t a k e n f o r g r a n t ed t h a t we have a n a t u r a l b i r t h r i g h t t o m a n i p u l a t e t h e e n t i r e w o r l d ' s ecology f o r our ends.

T h a t i s n o t how I s e e i t . I n my o p i n i o n a l l l i f e on e a r t h has a r i g h t t o b e , a n d i s o f w o r t h a n d i m p o r t a n c e i n a n d o f itself.

The n a t u r a l w o r l d i s a home t h a t we s h a r e w i t h t h e t r e e s and t h e b i r d s , a n d w h i c h we s h o u l d t r e a t r e s p e c t f u l l y and g e n t l y , and n o t as s o m e t h i n g t o r u t h l e s s l y l a y t o waste."

F i n a l l y , on J u n e 25, 8 4 , B r e n t was s e n t e n c e d and made h i s s e n t e n c i n g statement. A b r i e f p o r t i o n f o l l o w s : "My p u r p o s e i n s p e a k i n g t o d a y i s s i m p l y t o r e a f f i r m my committment t o t h e b a s i c v a l u e s and i d e a l s w h i c h m o t i v a t e d me t o s t r u g g l e .

I b e l i e v e t h a t b o t h t h e i d e a l s , and t h e s t r u g g l e , a r e j u s t and t h a t t h e y h o l d t h e p r o m i s e o f a better future.

I continue t o desire t h e c r e a t i o n o f soc i e t i e s based upon f e m i n i s t , h u m a n i s t , c o - o p e r a t i v e , ecol o g i c a l and n o n - a u t h o r i t a r i a n principles.

Illegal a c t i v i t i e s w e r e one p a r t o f my a c t i v i s m i n t h e s t r u g g l e , a g a i n s t t h e i n j u s t i c e s and t h r e a t s t o l i f e mani-

f e s t i n modern i n d u s t r i a l c i v i l i z a t i o n , and the p o l i t i c a l and economic s y s t e m of i m p e r i a l i s m .

The o v e r a l l purpose of any i l l e g a l a c t i v i t y I was i n v o l v e d i n was t o f u r t h e r d e v e l o p the s t r u g g l e and t h e r e b y c o n t r i b u t e t o the p o s s i b i l i t y of a b e t t e r w o r l d - one i n w h i c h a l l p e o p l e can f i n a l l y l i v e i n freedom and i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n i t y .

Even i f t h i s does not come about i n my l i f e t i m e , i t i s my hope t h a t one day our f u t u r e r e l a t i v e s w i l l l i v e i n such a w o r l d . " The s e n t e n c i n g s t a t e m e n t s were p o w e r f u l p o l i t i c a l s t a t e m e n t s and were r e c e i v e d as s u c h .

As good as the s e n t e n c i n g s t a t e m e n t s were, coming as they d i d , a t t h e end of a long and i n t e n s e p r o c e s s , they d i d n o t s e r v e as a r a l l y i n g p o i n t f o r a d i s c u s s i o n . Had s u c h s t a t e m e n t s come e a r l y i n the l e g a l p r o c e s s and had t h e d e f e n s e / s u p p o r t committees c h o s e n t o s t r e s s the p o l i t i c s i n h e r e n t i n the a c t i o n s and accompanyi n g communiques and i n t h e s e n t e n c i n g s t a t e m e n t s , r a t h e r than o r g a n i z i n g around t h e demand f o r the " r i g h t t o a f a i r t r i a l " , t h e p o l i t i c a l p o t e n t i a l of t h e t r i a l s m i g h t have b e e n r e a l i z e d .

As i t was t h e p o l i t i c a l i s s u e s , q u i t e s i m p l y , came t o t h e f o r e too l a t e .

The

Appeals

As s e r i o u s a p o l i t i c a l s e t b a c k a s t h e i n j u r i e s a t L i t t o n and t h e p o l i t i c a l mismanagement of t h e t r i a l s w e r e , the r e a l blow t o the 5 and t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s was J u l i e ' s d e c i s i o n t o break, w i t h h e r former comr a d e s and r e c a n t .

I n an e m o t i o n a l l y c h a r g e d p e r f o r m a n c e J u l i e u s e d h e r s e n t e n c e a p p e a l t o f o c u s the b u l k of t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r D i r e c t A c t i o n and Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e a c t i o n s on Ann and B r e n t , p a r t i c u l a r i l y B r e n t , whom she i d e n t i f i e d v a r i o u s l y as t h e l e a d e r and t h e p l a n n e r .

She c l a i m e d t o have been h a r a s s e d i n t o t h e group, t o h a v e been young and i m p r e s s i o n a b l e , a s t a t e s h e d e s c r i b e d a s a d o l e s c e n t c r i s i s , and t o have been worn down and molded by c o n s t a n t p r e s s u r e and a b u s e .

She c l a i m s t h a t h e r seeming v i g o u r f o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i v i t y on t h e w i r e t a p s and bugs was not r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of h e r t r u e f e e l i n g s , b u t p a r t of an e f f o r t t o a p p e a r tough i n o r d e r t o ward o f f the c o n s t a n t c r i t i c i s m she was a v i c t i m o f .

She e v e n went as f a r as t o s u g g e s t she would have l e f t t h e group, c l a i m i n g she f e a r e d t o do s o a f t e r r e a d i n g M a r i g h e l l a ' s "Mini-Manual of t h e Urban G u e r i l l a " , where s h e c l a i m e d M a r i g h e l l a s a i d anyone l e a v i n g t h e g u e r i l l a must be l i q u i d ated.

I t i s important to note i n p a s s i n g t h a t M a r i g h e l l a d i d n ' t say What he, i n f a c t , s a i d r e g a r d i n g l e a v i n g t h e g u e r i l l a was:

this.

When he ( a g u e r i l l a ) c a n n o t f a c e t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s , or knows t h a t he l a c k s t h e p a t i e n c e t o w a i t , i t i s b e t t e r t o r e l e n q u i s h h i s r o l e b e f o r e he b e t r a y s h i s p l e d g e , f o r he c l e a r l y l a c k s the b a s i c q u a l i t i e s n e c e s s a r y t o be a g u e r i l l a . " W h i l e t h e p u r p o s e of J u l i e ' s p a t c h w o r k s t o r y of l i e s , d i s t o r t i o n , and p a r a n o i a was c l e a r l y t o s a v e h e r own a s s , t h e q u a l i t y of h e r

s t o r y , the degree t o v;hich i t f i t s i n t o the s t a n d a r d S t a t e l i n e on g u e r i l l a p o l i t i c s , the d e g r e e to w h i c h i t i s t a i l o r e d f o r c o u n t e r i n s u r g e n c y , i n d i c a t e t h a t she must h a v e f a l l e n v i c t i m t o f a i r l y i n t e n s e p o l i c e p r e s s u r e , t h a t she had become a pawn i n t h e l a r g e r p o l i c e s t r a t e g y . The l o n g s e n t e n c e t h a t J u l i e was g i v e n was d o u b t l e s s p a r t of a s t r a t e g y t o b r e a k h e r s p i r i t so t h a t s h e would be open t o a p p r o a c h e s from t h e S t a t e . Towards t h e end of h a v i n g t h i s e x c e s s i v e s e n t e n c e reduced, J u l i e was w i l l i n g t o engage i n w h a t e v e r g r o v e l l i n g was r e q u i r e d and to p o r t r a y h e r former comrades, p a r t i c u l a r i l y Ann and B r e n t , both of whom had s e n t e n c e a p p e a l s f o r t h c o m i n g , a s d e r a n g e d and i r r e s p o n s i b l e , i f not out and out r e m o r s e l e s s l y e v i l .

The outcome was p r e d i c t a b l e . Ann and B r e n t had t h e i r s e n t e n c e appeals denied.

J u l i e , f o r her p a r t , r e c e i v e d a 5 y e a r r e d u c t i o n from 20 y e a r s t o 15 f o r h e r propaganda r o l e i n t h e S t a t e ' s a t t a c k on Ann and B r e n t i n p a r t i c u l a r , and t h e g u e r i l l a i n g e n e r a l .

Prison w i t h t h e end of the a p p e a l s came t h e end of t h e V a n c o u v e r 5 a s a publ i c i s s u e and the comrades w i t h d r e w from t h e p u b l i c eye t o s e r v e t h e i r sentences.

I n Ann's c a s e l i f e , i n B r e n t ' s 22 y e a r s , f o r G e r r y 10, and Doug 6.

As was the c a s e w i t h t h e t r i a l s , t h e comrades h a v e n o t u s e d t h e i r p r i s o n time or the r e p r e s s i o n t h e y f a c e t h e r e a s a s p r i n g b o a r d f o r a d i s c u s s i o n of g u e r i l l a r e s i s t a n c e .

R a t h e r than a s s e r t i n g t h e m s e l v e s as p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n e r s i n an ongoing way, t h e y h a v e a s s i m i l a t e d thems e l v e s i n t o t h e anonymity of t h e p r i s o n m i l i e u . T h i s h a s l e d t o a situation where t h e i r c o u r a g e o u s a c t s of r e s i s t a n c e and t h e i r e n t i r e s t r a t e g y as e n u n c i a t e d i n t h e communiques and t h e s e n t e n c i n g s t a t e ments have been a l l but f o r g o t t e n by a l l s a v e a few t i n y , i s o l a t e d p o c k e t s of s u p p o r t e r s .

Conclusion To sum u p t h e 5 and t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s have t h u s f a r f a i l e d t o p l a y t h e i r p o t e n t i a l r o l e i n a d v a n c i n g an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of armed s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e C a n a d i a n S t a t e . T h i s l a c k i s due t o s e r i o u s s h o r t c o m i n g s i n our p o l i t i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e e l e m e n t s a t p l a y .

We f a i l e d t o r e c o g n i z e and u t i l i z e t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r a d v a n c i n g t h e s t r a t e g y of armed s t r u g g l e a v a i l a b l e i n t h e t r i a l p r o c e s s .

I n s o d o i n g t h e opp o r t u n i t i e s opened up by t h e a c t i o n s of D i r e c t A c t i o n and t h e Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e were l o s t , b e i n g r e p l a c e d by t h e m y s t i f y i n g demand of the " r i g h t t o a f a i r t r i a l " , a demand w h i c h c o u l d l e a d nowhere p o s i t i v e and s e r v e d t o l i q u i d a t e t h e key i s s u e of armed r e s i s t a n c e i n Canada. A l t h o u g h t h e h i s t o r y of D i r e c t A c t i o n and t h e Wimmin's F i r e B r i g a d e has d o u b t l e s s l e f t i t s mark on t h e C a n a d i a n l e f t , a l t h o u g h t h e c o n c e p t of armed r e s i s t a n c e h a s b e e n put on t h e agenda i n a p r a c t i c a l way so t h a t i t w i l l n e v e r a g a i n be t h e noni s s u e i t was p r i o r t o t h i s e x p e r i e n c e , t o d a t e we h a v e not r e a l l y overcome t h e p a c i f y i n g e f f e c t s of t h e p o l i t i c a l e r r o r s we h a v e made.

I t seems t h a t b o t h the 5 and t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s , h a v i n g s u f f e r e d t h i s f

defeat, have turned away from the discussion of armed struggle to focus their energy elsewhere.

If we are to overcome the errors we have made, we must critically examine these errors, we must critically examine the events surrounding Direct Action, the Wimmin's Fire Brigade and the Vancouver Five. As painful as it may be we must pinpoint the errors and shortcomings of both the prisoners and their supporters and deal with them honestly. We can learn by studying the national liberation struggles of Third and Fourth World peoples in the Third World, Western Europe and the USA, as well as by examining the history and current practice of the urban guerrilla movements in the USA and Western Europe. And, of course, we must face the responsibility of developing our own practice in Canada.

We have written the above not as an attack on the prisoners or their support community. We extend our love and solidarity to the imprisoned comrades who have contributed so much of themselves towards the realization of armed struggle in Canada. We also extend our love and solidarity to all who have worked to support the imprisoned comrades, and to all those who struggle for revolutionary change.

We cannot see any way to avoid certain criticisms given the current situation on the Canadian left. However, we have offered the above criticisms not as a personal attack on anyone, nor to create further divisions in the movement, but in the hope of creating a genuine discussion about the experiences of armed resistance and in the hope of pushing the struggle forward.

"It is better to err acting than to do nothing for fear of erring. Without initiative there is no guerrilla warfare." Carlos Marighella