Unity

From Unity, 8 October 2005

Communists condemn violence

by Lynda Walker

Last Monday night [3 October] saw unity within the Belfast City Council. In a debate that was described as heated and acrimonious, a motion was passed (an unrecorded vote) in opposition to the recent loyalist violence. This is to be welcomed. The DUP put forward an amendment calling for an investigation into the police response to the rioting; however, this was unsuccessful.
    The fact that the “City Fathers and Mothers”—members of the Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Féin, Ulster Unionist Party, Progressive Unionist Party, SDLP, and Alliance Party—were able to discuss the issue is a measure of progress in itself. This is part of the process that we need, being able to express political views without the fear of being shot.
    Sectarianism was very evident last Sunday [2 October] when loyalist threats were made at the Blessing of the Graves ceremony, when Catholic prayers were said in Carnmoney Cemetery. Loyalist protesters threatened to “dig up the dead and urinate on the graves,” holding posters that said No Catholic blessing of Protestant graves. These provided an illustration of a shocking outburst of sectarianism. Several hundred people blocked the road in protest against the graves ceremony. Loyalist politicians said that the protests “could not be justified”; however, Tommy Kirkham of the Ulster Political Research Group said, “There are frustrations in the community about the prayer service”—really just excusing such behaviour.
    The hammering out of sectarian attitudes will be a long, hard struggle, but for the sake of our children and our children’s children it is a struggle that we must push to the forefront.
    At the council meeting the DUP’s motion called for an investigation into the police response to the rioting, thus echoing the Shankill Mirror, which this week published photographs of what they alleged were police brutality. As communists we have always condemned the violence of the state and are prepared to do so again; however, some of the vivid illustrations of mob violence would give the police the right to say that they were only defending themselves. This remains to be seen. In the civil rights days the police never acted impartially against demonstrators, and there is no reason to believe that they have changed their colours.
    It is not the first time that loyalists have experienced the heavy hand of the law, but the changes in the RUC are being taken far out of proportion. The notion that it could be a Catholic hand that is swinging the baton is just too unpalatable for some. In fact the DUP “wish list” is described as wanting an “end to bias in police recruiting”—an end to 50-50 recruitment. Michael Ancram unwittingly spoke the minds of the right-wing unionists when he said that “the unionists have lost the RUC, their regiments are now under threat.”
    There is no going back to “a Protestant state for a Protestant people.” Rather, we should learn to live and work together, to struggle for better living conditions for the many, not the few. The DUP’s “wish list” sent to Blair ahead of the impending talks is pandering to this atmosphere of hate. Among other things they call for a “massive cash injection for inner city loyalist areas.” We as communists would welcome real economic measures to end poverty in all areas of the community. The DUP do not represent our working-class people: in actual reality they represent the very wealthy in our society. A look at their policy on education tells you that.
    Finally to be condemned is the killing of Jim Gray on Tuesday night [4 October]. It is a stark reminder of the gangsterism that is on our streets. Gray, described on “Spotlight” (4 October) as a cocaine user and drug dealer, was out on bail for money-laundering. Deposed from his role as a UDA leader, he himself said that he was a “businessman, not a loyalist.” The murder calls into question the fact that he was let out on bail in such circumstances.
    On the same programme the Orangeman Billy Mawhinney advocated the use of violence, stating that the IRA had won their demands using violence—hardly the case: the IRA aims and objectives are for a united Ireland. Is Mr Mawhinney advocating that his sons and granddaughters take part in the never-ending spiral of violence, death and imprisonment that the loyalist command rejected in their ceasefires in 1994?

Home page > Publications > Unity > 2005 > Communists condemn violence

Baile > Foilseacháin > Unity > 2005 > Communists condemn violence