LOYALIST STATEMENT GREETED WITH SCEPTICISM, CAUTION
Date: 3rd Sept '02
Name: RM Irish news article
LOYALIST STATEMENT GREETED WITH SCEPTICISM, CAUTION
Nationalists last night reacted with scepticism to the latest
statement by the Loyalist Commission pledging to do all it can to
encourage a "period of calm" at troubled interfaces. However,
fresh dialogue may be possible following a cautious response by
Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly.
The Loyalist Commission is made up of representatives of the
loyalist paramilitary UDA and UVF and "Red Hand Commando". They
admitted being involved in ongoing violence but claimed it was
"only in a defensive capacity".
"A period of calm entered into honestly and transparently can be
of enormous relief and benefit to civic society," the loyalists
said.
"However, republican reciprocation requires more than hollow
soundbites. It has to be experienced, practised and sustained by
everyone to enable both sides to agree how best they can tolerate
each other."
The statement came as loyalist attacks intensified outside
Belfast but diminished within Belfast. The summer has been marked
by almost daily attacks by loyalists at flash point areas in
north and east Belfast.
Loyalist statements have proved uniformly hollow over the past
number of years, most having no perceptible impact on the
situation. Indeed, a recent statement from the Loyalist
Commission indicating a 'no first strike' policy was immediately
found to be worthless.
But Loyalist representive, PUP leader David Ervine welcomed the
statement, which he said "must be afforded the attention it
deserves".
"The current spate of interface violence is totally
counterproductive and must be stopped," he said.
"I would especially urge the republican leadership to give both
initiatives consideration and respond with positivity. We must
take steps to reverse the current trend towards violence and
destruction on our streets. This statement has the potential to
begin this much-needed move."
Gerry Kelly, Sinn Fein assembly member for north Belfast did not
reject the latest statement.
"Sinn Fein said at the beginning of the summer that sectarian
violence was the biggest threat to the peace process," said a
cautious Mr Kelly. "This summer has indeed been very difficult
for nationalists in the Short Strand, North Belfast and other
isolated nationalist communities throughout the Six Counties.
"Unfortunately nationalists will greet this latest statement with
great scepticism based on the actions of loyalist paramilitary
groups over the summer. Word and deed are equally important. What
we must have is calm within which dialogue can take place.
"Nationalist residents and their political representatives have
made it clear time and time again that they will talk with anyone
to try and bring the violence to a halt. They have been and
continue to be active on the ground trying to prevent
confrontation.
"Indeed despite the fact that the overwhelming number of attacks
have emanated from loyalists, community representatives and
republican political leaders have instigated dialogue to achieve
a solution to the violence."
UDA DOUBLE MURDER BID
As the statement was being made, two Catholic men in their thirties
escaped almost certain death after a UDA gunman tried to shoot
them on Sunday.
The sectarian attack happened at around 3.30pm at an alley way in
Coleraine, County Derry. The men were sitting on a bench when the
masked loyalist approached them and pulled a small black machine
gun from under his coat.
According to a friend of the men, who had spoken to them just
minutes before the failed attack, the loyalist pointed his weapon
at them but it jammed as he was about to open fire. According to
this man the loyalist pulled the trigger twice and when the gun
failed to fire the gunman ran off into the predominately loyalist
Winston Way area.
The friend said that he had been speaking to the two men just a
few minutes before the incident. "The two men were very badly
shaken by this sectarian attack. We could have been getting ready
for two funerals if the gun had not jammed. Everybody is in no
doubt that this was a UDA murder bid on Catholics".
This attempted killing is only the latest in a series of UDA
attacks in the County Derry town. Last week a family had a lucky
escape when a UDA gang fired two shots through their front door.
These latest attacks are thought to be related to a new mural, to
commemorate UDA man William Campbell, which was recently
unveiled. Campbell died when the bomb he was handling went off in
Winston Way just yards from this latest attack.
In addition, two hooded men wearing boiler suits were spotted in
the nationalist town of Kilrea at around midnight on Sunday. The
former nationalist mayor of Coleraine John Dallat was the
reported target of the suspected loyalist murder gang.
Sectarian attacks against Catholics living in the east
Derry/north Antrim quadrangle of Coleraine, Larne, Antrim and
Carrickfergus had rocketed over the last 12 months.
Official police figures show that loyalists have been
responsible for up to 46 shootings in the four towns in the last
nine months, 11 pipe-bomb attacks, and 26 petrol-bomb attacks.
These figures are thought to be only a fraction of the full
number when unreported attacks are included.
CATHOLIC CHURCH TARGETED
Parish priest Father Sean Rogan has said that sectarian attacks
on churches is now a regular occurrence after Saint Patrick's
Church in Lisburn was attacked in the early hours of Sunday
morning.
Two stained glass windows and ornamental lights were smashed and
plants in the garden around the church were pulled out of the
ground and scattered around the building.
"These were no children who carried out this attack as it was
basalt boulders pulled from the ground which were thrown at the
Church. It is an anti-Catholic element in Lisburn who is carrying
out these attacks", said the priest.
Fr Rigan went on to say that nearly every Sunday morning he has
to clean up broken glass from bottles thrown at the chapel the
night before. And he said that all four Catholic churches in the
Lisburn area have been burned down in the past and only six weeks
ago Saint Joseph's had sectarian graffiti daubed on it.
Sinn Fein councillor for Lisburn Paul Butler said that the attack
"is only the latest in the ongoing anti-Catholic campaign of
violence being waged by loyalaists against Catholics in the
Lisburn area".
He said Sinn Fein was compiling a report of sectarian attacks
carried out against Catholics in the Lisburn area and would be
submitting it to the Irish government.
ARMAGH FANS ATTACKED
Armagh Gaelic football fans' jubilant journey home on Sunday
night ended in terror and injury for some as supporters' trains
and a bus came under attack in their home county.
Supporters celebrating a significant win over Dublin to secure a
place in the All-Ireland football final dived to the floor for
safety after a rock was hurled through a train carriage window
just outside Portadown station.
Passengers, including children, were showered with shards of
glass. One passenger suffered cuts and bruises.
Armagh supporters on a second train reported that burning pallets
had been placed across the railway line, with a gang of youths
armed with sticks waiting to attack if it slowed.
Meanwhile, a bus carrying jubilant Armagh supporters home from
Dublin came under attack outside Markethill. Two teenagers were
injured and windows and the windscreen of the bus were broken.
VIGIL, RALLY FOR ANTRIM BOY
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old Catholic boy remains in a critical
condition in hospital following a savage hatchet attack in
Antrim.
Michael Craig, from the Greystone Road area of the town, was hit
on the head with an axe near his home at around 11.30pm on Friday
by a gang of loyalist youths. One has since appeared in court on
charges of attempted murder.
Last night a rally was held at the spot where the teenager was
attacked. His parents remained at his bedside in Belfast's Royal
Victoria Hospital following an anxious 48-hours.
Sinn Fein councillor Martin Meehan called on unionist groups in
Antrim to "exert their fullest influence" to bring such attacks
to an end.
LOYALISTS STAY AWAY FROM HOLY CROSS GIRLS
The first day of term for Holy Cross Catholic girls' school in
north Belfast has not seen a re-run of the loyalist intimidation
of last year.
Girls in pigtails and new uniforms walked quietly to class
through the morning sunshine. RUC/PSNI police also kept their
distance in a good day for all concerned.
Fr Troy, chair of the Holy Cross board of governors, described
the incident-free morning and afternoon runs as the "answer to
all my prayers".
"I went round every class with the principal, Anne Tanney, and it
was just wonderful to see smiling and happy faces again," he
said.
"It's not a normal scene yet, but it is so much better and so
much more positive.
"I'm also happy the focus is moving away from the residents - its
been a win-win day for everybody."
However, the effects of last year's protest were still felt. The
number of new pupils was down a third yesterday, and some other
pupils have also been withdrawn.
Many children are also still in therapy, and many others on
medication to ease nightmares.
Loyalist protestor and former Lollipop lady Amanda Johnston
bitterly accused parents of "milking" the first day for
"publicity".
But although she claimed residents were still coming under attack
from nationalists, she said the protest would not be resumed. "It
was just playing into their hands. We're not going to do that any
more."
c. RM Distribution and others. Articles may be reprinted with credit.
RM Distribution
Irish Republican News and Information
http://irlnet.com/rmlist/
PO Box 160, Galway, Ireland Phone/Fax: (353)1-6335113
PO Box 8630, Austin TX 78713, USA mailto:rmlist-reply@irlnet.com
Back to discussion page RA home page