The Workers' Party has called for an overwhelming Yes vote in the North and South referendums on the Belfast Agreement.
Delegates at the party's reconvened ardfheis in Dublin at the weekend voted unanimously in favour of a motion welcoming the agreement "as a realisation of the hopes of the people of Northern Ireland".
"We believe it represents an opportunity to advance the long-standing and consistent Workers' Party programme of anti-sectarianism, peace, work, democracy and class politics," the motion said.
Delegates welcomed in particular the "recognition of the value of a local assembly" for the North, the introduction of a bill of rights, the creation of "mutually beneficial" North-South institutions and the acceptance of constitutional change by the Irish and British governments to reflect the principle of consent.
The party president, Mr Tom French, later said he had expected at least 70 per cent backing for the agreement in the North vote.
He said there had been a large number of applications to vote from people who were too ill to attend a polling station or would be abroad on May 22nd, which reflected a high level of interest in the referendum outcome. "We expect a very high turnout and we would read that as favourable for the Yes campaign." Mr French said the No lobby, despite its high-profile campaign start, was drawing much smaller crowds than expected. "I think calls by organisations for people to vote one way or another won't necessarily be heeded. People are making up their own minds."
Asked about the party's views on decommissioning, Mr French said the important thing was for the guns to remain out of use. "If decommissioning can happen, we think it would be a good thing . . . but if at the end of the day those guns are left rotting in the ground, they're decommissioned anyway."
Mr John Lowry, chairman of the party's Belfast region, said it was important that all parties campaigning for a Yes vote work closely together to stress the mutual benefits of the agreement. "Supporting the agreement is not enough, it requires active endorsement at the polls. That is the immediate task of all those who seek a peaceful, progressive and prosperous society," he said.
Mr Lowry told delegates that the price of failure in the past had been costly. "However the principles of this agreement prioritise peace, work and democracy - the demands of democrats for over 30 years.
"It is on that basis that this agreement gets our support and why it is important that it is endorsed by an overwhelming majority of our citizens in the referendum."
The party's press officer, Mr Brendan Burns, said a combination of extreme groups, ranging from Republican Sinn Fein and dissident IRA elements to the LVF, were telling the people of Northern Ireland that they could not have peace. "They're saying No to the people of Northern Ireland who this time are demanding peace and political progress."
The ardfheis also instructed the party to contest next month's elections to the Northern assembly. Mr French was "hopeful" it could win seats.
