Abstract

The Coming Winter of Discontent

In Northern Ireland elections are held and yet Northern Ireland is not a democracy. Northern Ireland law bans republican organizations, probably because the Republicans are the most militant opponents of the Unionist Party. Political censorship, exercised under the Special Powers Act curtails the publication of Republican views. The possession of any banned Republican newspaper, leaflet or placard is an offense punishable by imprisonment. The Minister of Home Affairs has the authority under the Special Powers Act, the Public Order Act and the Flags and Emblems (Display) Act to ban meetings, parades and demonstrations, to imprison political suspects without trial, to suspend habeas corpus, abolish inquests, seize property and enter private premises at any hour of the day or night.