unionist violence past and present not recognised

Saturday October 19, 2002 14:18

by sean o pleamonn

the total focus on IRA violence is not acceptable given continuing violence against catholics. It may be that power sharing will have to be put on the long finger and alternatives found in the interim

The DUP's claim to be true democrats cannot be taken seriously. Let's not forget that thousands were prepared to follow Ian Paisley into Ulster Resistance in order to defend N. Ireland "by force if necessary ''. Ian Paisley took journalists to County Antrim to see for themselves the creation of a "Third Force" of men willing to fight and, if necessary, to prevent by 'force' a 'British sell-out' of Northern Ireland. These groups were not formed for any purpose other than to do violence. Ulster Resistance today have a large arsenal of illegal weapons - why are there no demands for these weapons to be decommissioned? Ian Paisley and his party members references to Catholics as 'popeheads', Catholic women as 'incubators for Rome' and Irish politicians as ' leprechauns in pin-stripped suits' show the raw sectarianism and racism of the DUP. There are few Catholics in N.Ireland who believes the D.U.P are willing to treat them as equals. Their instinct to discriminate and dominate their Catholic neighbours will not certainly not triumph. They must realise that their dangerous and inflammatory language has the effect of heightening fear and hatred in society with tragic consequences. I cannot understand how these same people also expect to be taken seriously when they claim to be bible-believing Christians. If you look at the history of Unionism in the north you realise that there has been a long history of association with loyalist paramilitaries. The Ulster Workers Council received the complete support of loyalist paramilitary groups and its strike in May 1974 which brought down the first power-sharing Executive government of Northern Ireland was successful because of this support. There was and has never been any condemnation of this by so-called constitutional Unionist politicians. The Ulster Vanguard movement is a movement many nationalists remember also. William Craig who led Vanguard said: "we must build up the dossiers on the men and women who are a menace to this country, because one day, ladies and gentlemen, if the politicians fail, it will be our duty to liquidate the enemy " - March 1972. It had among its members the 'Rev'. Martin Smyth , David Trimble and Reg Empey. LAW(Loyalist Association of Workers) and the Ulster Protestant Volunteers are other dangerous organisations that Unionists have associated with. At times we have seen Unionists adopt a very ambiguous attitude towards loyalist violence. John Taylor said a number of years ago in relation to the role of the loyalist paramilitaries: "The loyalist paramilitaries achieved something which perhaps the security forces would never have achieved, and that was they were a significant contribution to the IRA finally accepting that they could not win."

It is wrong, hypocritical and unjustifiable that Unionists concentrate exclusively on IRA weapons given the role that loyalist paramilitarism played in the foundation and maintenance of the N.Ireland state. The deep-seated anti-Catholicism of many within the Unionist body politic must also be addressed. Anti -Catholic feelings and attitudes do lead to attacks on the Catholic community and often its most vulnerable members. It is also totally unacceptable that the British media establishment talk of tit-for-tat attacks when the vast bulk of the violence is coming from within loyalism. What is happening in N.Ireland is an orchestrated murder campaign by loyalists against Catholics. The relentless attacks on Catholic homes that have taken place over recent years have no equal on the other side. Many Catholics believe that even if the IRA does disband Unionists will set up further obstacles and create other excuses not to share power. If that happens I believe the onus is then on the two governments through the British -Irish inter-governmental conference to exercise control on an all-Ireland basis. Nationalists could then concentrate their energies on the potential this offers to bring about a united Ireland. Suspension should not prevent progress being made on equality issues and the present unacceptable policing structures of the PSNI. Suspension will not prevent the dynamic and necessity for change.