Thursday 30 October 2014

THE BATTLE OF LLANHILLETH 2 MAY 1822 BY GETHIN AP GRUFFYDD.

 

Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr says these events in Welsh Working Class History are buried has are the events of 1935 in Blaina.
The History Commission of the Yr Aflondwwch Mawr will is working on a People's History of Wales to be published in June 2015 at the Welsh Socialist Republican Congress.



In 1822 matters in the Southern Iron and Coal Mining districts became such of much discontent, as rife as 1816 amongst the workers none more so than in Gwent where the Tarw Scotch had arisen again to organise a radical struggle in the interest of the Iron and Colliery workers and their familes. This struggle none so violent as in the early months of 1822 after Iron Masters reduced the price of cut coal, effectivelly an huge cut in wages, this began a thirteen week strike that was to conclude in defeat with leaders  imprisoned. But not with out a major confrontation in area of Llanhilleth referred to at the time as a battle between the striking workers and soldiers, Chepstow Yeomanry and Scotch Greys Dragoons sent to occupy the area between Crumlin and the Ebbw Valley Iron  Works. Obviously word of Tarw Scotch plans had been devulged to the authorities by informers, a plan where by militant workers would attempt to stop Coal reaching the Iron Works from the Crumlin Wharf of the Monmouth Canal, loaded on to horse drawn railway trams for the military escorted journey northward. A 10 mile route both ends of which had been occupied by the military whilst other military were ordered ahead along the rail track to prevent it's destruction, they were less than a mile into their advance when they were ambushed by workers throwing rocks down upon them. A bugle call signalled a short retreat untill the military vanguard was joined by acompany of Yeomanry guarding the trams arrived, another attempt was made to advance but before doing so a magistrate read the Riot Act. 



Who won? most certainly the workers did not entirely lose as that night up untill 9th May, the 'Herds' of the Tarw Scotch roamed this area and other localities of their 'Black Domain' carrying out what could be described as 'Guerrilla Warfare' with continued attacks on coal Trams, up to 30 in number were destroyed that night. Trams were pushed into the Monmouthshire Canal and others set alight, at Llanhilleth an huge bonfire was made of trams which still burned three days later. Other than this rail traks were rippped up, the Sirhowy Tramway was all but completly ripped up and thrown int the river. The Cambrian News of 8 May 1822 reported that the destruction through out the 'Black Domain' was with out parallel in the Southern Coal Fields, not least the struggle was far from over as the Scotch Cattle were to continue to rule in the Black Domain up to 1835. There after it appears this 'Workers Underground Resistence Movement' were to merge with the Chartist militants and no doubt marched with the Chartist Army in the Newport Rising of 4 November 1839. The Tarw Scotch were to reappear again in Welsh History in the 1850's but this time over in the Aberdare Valley of North Glamorgan, I shall research more in time.

What an inspirational story and fitting I include it in my I'r Gad Battlefield Campaign blog for two reasons; the one being fact that there is no marker or memorial to this battle which should and could be placed at Llanhilleth, why not? Neither is it annually commemorated and again why not? Perhaps this 2 May it could be launched in a small event at Llanhilleth to discuss my suggestions and place floral tributes in memory of this battle and possibility of workers having been killed? I am quite happy for a 'bona fide' left wing body/person or local Gwent History Group to adopt this Initiative. Something sound and sensible as 'Radical Wales', 'Everyones Favourite Comrade' maybe? or even 'My Little Republic' which is Gwent based, there is a great need to give the Tarw Scotch struggle more attention and promotion. 

They are as the Revolutionary workers leader and the Five Roads Radical Rebecites the forgotten heroes of Welsh History and history of popular struggle, forgotten for political and dare I say it Welsh pacifist reasons. I shall certainly return to LLanhilleth as this time around I was only on a flying visit of the 'Black Domain', to Blackwood, Tredegar and Mynydd Llangynider. The whole area is loaded with Workers/Peoples history and is quite a beautifull region, not a 'Post Industrial Wasteland, well deserves my other a weekend 'holiday' there.



Martyrs and militants - some background history : MerthyrRising


17 Oct 2005... I find it very interesting that Rebeccites could ...
merthyrrising.blogspirit.com/.../martyrs-and-militants-some-background-history.html - Cached

 




Before Rebecca: Popular Protests in Wales, 1793-1835: Amazon.co.uk ...


Before Rebecca: Popular Protests in Wales, 1793-1835 ... David J. V.Jones. Discover books, learn about writers, and more. ...
www.amazon.co.uk › Books › History - Cached

Other Information of useful Interest:


  1. Scotch Cattle - workers' secret organisation in Monmouthshire and South Wales valleys.
    www.sirhowy.com/scotchcattle.html - Cached - Similar


  2. CHAPT 4 - Welcome to the homepage of Huw Cole

     - 09:28
    The Bull's head was a warning sign that the '' Scotch Cattle '' would strike. .... until he reached the Coach and Horses in Llanhilleth at 1:30pm on Sunday ...
    www.huwcole.com/nantCh4.html - Cached - Similar


  3. Nantyglo Round Towers, Nantyglo, Wales

     - 09:36
    One of the first attempts at an organisation by the workers to protect their trades was the infamous Scotch Cattle who first appeared in Nantyglo in 1822. ...
    www.thomasgenweb.com/nantyglo_round_towers.html -Cached - Similar

  4. The Thomas Lewis Line

     - 09:31
    26 Dec 2010 ... David moved to Llanhilleth, to work for the Union Foundry, ... David may well have been a member of the Scotch Cattle, as the Lewis men ...
    www.thomaslewisroughcollier.freeservers.com

    BACKGROUND: 



    File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick ViewEighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Wales was full of riotous gatherings with ..... Edward Pugh, writing in 1816, recalled 'scenes of barbarity ..... Denbigh continued to be a centre for discontent: in April 1795, serious rioting ...earlymodernweb.org/archive/riotous_community.pdf
  1. [PDF] 

    Beginnings of Radicalism


    File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
    by GA Williams - Cited by 4 - Related articles
    that Welsh book production accelerates from the 1770s; the number of... democratic élite of People's Remembrancers to a nation reborn in liberty. Jac ...... of Denbigh during the widespread riots, crowd actions and rebellions ...
    openlearn.open.ac.uk/file.php/3805/.../beginningsofradicalism.pdf -Similar

    NOT LEAST SEE:


    ADFYWIAD GOCH CYMRU: HANES CYMRU GOCH: 6 APRIL 1835 EXECUTION OF ...

    5 Apr 2011 ... RED REMEMBRANCER. - 54 visits - 30 Mar. 1 Apr 2011 ... Then there isEdward Morgan and the Scotch Cattle Insurrection - particularly of the ...adfywiadgoch.blogspot.com/.../hanes-cymru-goch-6-april-1835-execution.html

14 May 2007 ... RED REMEMBRANCER. A Welsh Radical PLatform: containing information .... All a far cry from Rhyfel y Sais Bach and the struggle against Land ...redremembrancer.blogspot.com/.../rural-revolt-is-not-just-about-rebecca.html - Cached

In Passing Web Searching the below will also interest you:

10 Jan 2011 ... Discontent continued for years, most famously evidenced in the events that concluded with the Peterloo ... The unlucky five were hanged just outside Ely on June 28 1816. ... West Wales · Ireland Northern Ireland: ...





Monday 27 October 2014

Mountain Turks or Kurds ? Mountain British or Welsh ?

Kurdish Mountains


Mountain Turks or Kurds ? Mountain British or Welsh ?

Statement from the Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr calling for Plaid Cymru to speak up and organise support for the Kurdish Struggle for National Independence and Socialism.

Asking the question above shows the unity between the Welsh struggle for National and Social Liberation and the Kurdish Peoples Liberation struggle.

The Kurds and Welsh have had to wage a struggle against their falsified history - their battle for the past and present - is to ensure they both have a national future.

The historic and heroic struggle in Kobane in West Kurdistan by our Kurdish brothers and sisters should be enthusiastically supported by all Welsh Patriots.

We call on Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales to issue a new statement in support of the Kurdish Peoples Struggle similar to the one issued at Brecon Conference in view of current situation in Kobane in West Kurdistan.

To also call for a renewed call for the release of our brother in struggle Abdullah Ocalan of the Kurdish Workers Party a demand already supported by Plaid Cymru.

Protests in support of our Kurdish brothers and sisters in Wales similar to those organised in other European countries should also be supported.

We have much to learn about National Struggle's from our Kurdish brothers and sisters not least by their heroic practice but also from their theoretical developments.

In particular from the writings of Ibrahim Kayappaka and Abdullah Ocalan on the national question and socialism.

Long Live solidarity between the Welsh and Kurdish Struggle's for national Independence and socialism.

Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr

26th October 2014
 
 

 

Thursday 23 October 2014

Ideological Foundations of the Nation-State by Abdullah Ocalan

 
 


1. Nationalism
 
If we were to compare the nation-state to a living god then nationalism would be the correspondent religion. In spite of some seemingly positivist elements, nation-state and nationalism show metaphysical characteristics. In this context, capitalist profit and the accumulation of capital appear as categories shrouded in mystery. There is a network of contradictory relations behind these terms that is based on force and exploitation. Their hegemonic strive for power serves the maximization of profits. In this sense, nationalism appears as a quasi-religious justification. Its true mission, however, is its service to the virtually divine nation-state and its ideological vision which pervades all areas of society. Arts, science, and social awareness: none of them is independent. A true intellectual enlightenment therefore requires a fundamental analysis of these elements of modernity.
 
2. Positivist Science
 
The paradigm of a positivist or descriptive science forms an ideological pillar of the nation-state. It fuels nationalist ideology but also laicism which has taken the form of a new religion. On the other hand it is one of the ideological foundations of modernity and its dogmata have influenced the social sciences sustainably. Positivism can be circumscribed as a philosophical approach that is strictly confined to the appearance of things, which it equates with reality itself. Since in positivism appearance is reality, nothing that has no appearance can be part of reality. We know from quantum physics, astronomy, some fields of biology and even the gist of thought itself that reality occurs in worlds that are beyond observable events. The truth, in the relationship between the observed and the observer, has mystified itself to the extent that it no longer fits any physical scale or definition. Positivism denies this and thus, to an extent, resembles the idol worshipping of ancient times, where the idol constitutes the image of reality.
 
3. Sexism
 
Another ideological pillar of the nation-state is the sexism that pervades the entirety of society. Many civilized systems have employed sexism in order to preserve their own power. They enforced women’s exploitation and used them as a valuable reservoir of cheap labour. Women are also regarded as a valuable resource in so far as they produce offspring and provide the reproduction of men. Thus, woman is both a sexual object and a commodity. She is a tool for the preservation of male power and can at best advance to become an accessory of patriarchal male society. On the one hand, the sexism of the society of the nation-state strengthens the power of men; on the other hand the nation-state turns its society into a colony by the exploitation of women. In this respect women can also be regarded as an exploited nation. In the course of the history of civilization patriarchy consolidated the traditional framework of hierarchies, which in the nation-state is fuelled by sexism. Socially rooted sexism is -just like nationalism- an ideological product of the nation-state and of power. Socially rooted sexism is not less dangerous than capitalism. Patriarchy, however, tries to hide these facts at any rate. This is understandable with a view to the fact that all power relations and state ideologies are fuelled by sexist concepts and behaviour. Without the repression of women the repression of entire society is inconceivable. Sexism within the nation-state society while on the one hand gives the male maximum power on the other hand turns society through the woman into the worst colony of all. Hence women are historical-society’s colony nation which has reached its worst position within the nation-state. All power and state ideologies stem from sexist attitudes and behaviour. Woman’s slavery is the most profound and disguised social area where all types of slavery, oppression and colonization are realized. Capitalism and the nation-state act in full awareness of this. Without woman’s slavery none of the other types of slavery can exist, let alone develop. Capitalism and the nation-state denote the most institutionalized dominant male. More boldly and openly spoken, capitalism and the nation-state are the monopolism of the despotic and exploitative male.
 
4. Religiousness
 
Even if it acts seemingly like a secular state, the nation-state does not shy away from using a mélange of nationalism and religion for its purposes. The reason is simple: religion still plays an important part in some societies or parts of them. In particular Islam is very agile in this respect. However, religion in the age of modernity does no longer play its traditional role. Whether it is a radical or a moderate belief, religion in the nation-state does no longer have a mission in the society. It can only do what it is permitted by the nation-state. It’s still existing influence and functionality, which can be misused for the promotion of nationalism, are interesting aspects for the nation-state. In some cases religion even takes on the part of nationalism. The Shi’a of Iran is one of the most powerful ideological weapons of the Iranian state. In Turkey the Sunni ideology plays a similar but more limited role.

Source: http://www.pkkonline.com/en/index.php?sys=article&artID=205
 

Wednesday 22 October 2014

Self Management in West Kurdistan - Report by Zaher Baher




Zaher Baher of the Kurdistan Anarchists Forum spoke at the 2014 London Anarchist Bookfair about the two weeks he spent in Syrian Kurdistan in May 2014, looking at the experiences of self-management in the region, experiments that have become more widely discussed as the result of the defense of Kobane against ISIS.


Zaher also wrote at length about his experiences in 'The experiment of West Kurdistan (Syrian Kurdistan) has proved that people can make changes' which you can read at

http://www.wsm.ie/c/experiment-west-k...

Thursday 16 October 2014

Wales supports the Mapuche - Chile stop the Repression



The Aflonyddwch Mawr protests the repression of the Mapuche by the Chilean Government


Santiago: Thousands of people gathered  in the Plaza Italia to march through the Alameda in support of the Mapuche resistance.
The march also coincided with the anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in Chile – a day that indigenous communities do not think should be celebrated as a holiday.
The march ended in a violent police repression.

The demonstration was called by leaders of groups in conflict zones such as Maule, Arauco and Osorno. The main demands of the marchers were the end to the militarization of their territory, to stop the criminalization of the Mapuche movement and freedom of Mapuche political prisoners.


The Welsh Socialist Republican Congress - Forward to June 2015 Congress for the Renewal and Reinvigoration of Welsh Independence Movement

 
See Also:
 
 
 
 

Wednesday 8 October 2014

Gethin Ap Gruffydd calls for Welsh Patriots to support Kurdish Patriots




ON THE BACK SHELF OF WELSH HISTORY - 'NATS' HAD THEIR CHANCE TO DEFEND 'CAPEL CELYN' TO THE LAST HOUSE BUT CHOSE TO OCCUPY A BRIDGE NOT A VILLAGE - THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT 'WELSH PACIFIST CULTURAL NATIONALISM'.  

COULD NOT EVEN RESIST AS AIM  'NATIVE AMERICANS' HAVE DONE CONSTANTLY FROM ALCATRAZ ISLAND TO GRAND DAM PLUS! NO ONE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED 'WELSH NATS' TO DO AS MUCH AS THE IRISH OR THE KURDS TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM THOUGH WE TRIED BUT FAILED IN THE 'SIXTIES' OR AS TODAY THE KURDS DEFEND THEIR HOMELANDS AND RESIST THE 'ISIL ISLAMIC FASCIST RELIGIOUS FANATICS' NOT LEAST IN THE 'BATTLE OF KOBANE'.

NOW AS KURDISH PEOPLES AND THEIR SUPPORTERS PROTEST THROUGHOUT TURKEY AND EUROPE FOR TURKEY TO OPEN IT'S BORDERS WITH SYRIAN KURDISTAN TO ALLOW PKK AND KURDISH PESHMERGA REINFORCEMENTS IN TO SUPPORT COURAGEOUS KURDISH RESISTANCE IN DEFENSE OF KOBANE WHILST THE WEST APPEARS OBLIVIOUS TO THE KURDISH CALLS FOR BETTER MORE MODERN ARMS AND BOMBING STRIKES AGAINST ISIL POSITIONS.

SO TIME 'WELSH NATS' GOT OFF THEIR 'USUAL SUSPECT BLEEDING HEART PACIFIST PLATFORMS' AND CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THE KURDS AND THEIR COMMITTED DEFENCE OF KOBANE NOW - WITH PROTEST PICKETS AT LEAST IN AS MANY WELSH TOWNS AS POSSIBLE AND NOT LEAST A MARCH IN CAERDYDD TO THE 'WELSH ASSEMBLY' OR WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE GREAT CRISIS NOW FACING THE KURDISH HOMELANDS.

THIS IS AIMED AT PLAID CYMRU MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR WHO WITH CYIG WERE QUICK TO USE KURDISH LANGUAGE AND RESERVOIR ISSUES IN THEIR OWN INTEREST OVER THE YEARS.

PLUS THE 'PATRIOTIC FRINGE' TIME YOU WERE NOT SUCH A 'PATHETIC FRINGE' OF PLAID CYMRU CULTURAL NATIONALIST PACIFIST CAMP FOLLOWERS LIKE KEITH PARRY ET AL AND STOOD UP IN SUPPORT OF THE KURDS.

MAY I SUGGEST THAT THOSE OF YOU THAT WILL BE GOING TO THE CAERNARFON COMMEMORATION AND CONFRONTATION WITH COLONIALISM ON 2 TACHWEDD 2014 TAKE LOADS OF KURDISH FLAGS TO FLY ALONG SIDE 'BANERI GLYNDWR' AND THE 'GOLDEN DRAGON WAR BANNER OF WELSH NATIONAL LIBERATION STRUGGLE TO RESTORE 

'SENEDD GLYNDWR' - 'CENEDL CYMRU RYDD'.

 
 


THINK WELL AHEAD WHICH IS IT TO BE 'PEACE IN OUR  TIME' CYMRIC CRAP OR BE REAL STAND UP AND BE COUNTED RADICAL NATIONALISTS AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE KURDS ON TWT HILL AND AT RALI CILMERI?

 
 
 
 

Monday 6 October 2014

Kobane Bloody Battle - Kids verses ISIS - Welsh Solidarity with Kurdish Struggle: Arin Mirkan "Nobody Helps Us"




The key Syria-Turkey border town of Kobane might fall to Islamic State (IS) fighters soon, an official there has told the BBC.

A flag of Islamic State has been seen flying over a building on the eastern edge of Kobane.

The official, Idriss Nassan, confirmed IS was now in control of Mistenur, the strategic hill above the town.

Kobane has seen intense fighting over the past three days as Syrian Kurds try to defend the town




"WELSH PATRIOTS NOT BE AS 'ANGLO - CAMBRO - BRIT' QUISLING COLLABORATING CONTAMINATORS BE AS THE IRISH PATRIOTS INDEPENDENTLY MINDED AND SUPPORT THE KURDS AND C'MON 'CYMRY CAERDYDD' LETS SEE A MARCH IN SUPPORT OF THE KURDS. YES"

GETHIN AP GRUFFYDD


Remembering Seamus Costello : Of all the politicians and political people with whom I have had conversations, and who called themselves followers of Connolly, he was the only one who truly understood what James Connolly meant when he spoke of his vision of the freedom of the Irish people.



Today we remember Seamus Costello, the legendary 'Boy General' from Bray, County Wicklow. Costello was a veteran of the Border Campaign and a dedicated socialis...t republican who played a key role in the republican movements decision to move to the political left in the 1960's.

Elected as a Wicklow County Councillor, like James Connolly, Costello believed in the unity of the class and national struggle in Ireland and was a towering figure of revolutionary republicanism.

On October 5 1977 Seamus Costello was murdered by counter revolutionary forces as he sat in his car on the North Strand Road in Dublin.

Speaking about Seamus, Nora Connolly O' Brien (daughter of James Connolly) said, 'I had so much hope in him. To me, he expressed himself so much on my father's line of thought that it was evident that he had been a thorough reader of all James Connolly's writings.

He seemed to be the leader who would bring about an organisation such as my father wished to bring about. Of all the politicians and political people with whom I have had conversations, and who called themselves followers of Connolly, he was the only one who truly understood what James Connolly meant when he spoke of his vision of the freedom of the Irish people. In him, I had hoped at last after all these years, a true leader had come, who could and would build an organisation such as James Connolly tried to do.'

Source Eirigi