Northern Ireland politician Anna Lo warns of racist threats by loyalist far-right groups
MLA says letters warned of bomb threat against premises
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
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A Hong Kong-born politician who champions the causes of ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland has been warned she is under threat of attack.
The Alliance Party’s Anna Lo, who has lived in Belfast for nearly 35 years, is the only member of the Northern Ireland Assembly who is from an ethnic minority background.
Yesterday, as Assembly members discussed a spate of racist and sectarian attacks in the region, she revealed she had been warned by police of a threat to attack her.
Ms Lo later said she also knew of threatening letters sent to Polish and Islamic centres in Belfast by loyalist far-right groups threatening to bomb at least one of the premises.
“People from ethnic minority communities are very frightened,” she said.
Ms Lo represents the south Belfast area where a series of attacks on Romanian families forced more than 100 people from their homes with most eventually leaving Northern Ireland.
It emerged last week that Ms Lo received threats in two letters and two emails but yesterday she told the Assembly she had now been warned by police of further threats.
“Myself and a large number of ethnic minority people this weekend and today have received serious threats upon our safety,” she said.
“I have never seen ethnic minorities so fearful in Northern Ireland.”
She appealed for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to speed up efforts to agree a new government strategy to tackle racism and sectarianism.
Last night, Ms Lo said she was visited by police and told they had received a threat to attack her home.
She said police were told that a Chinese business, which has been targeted in the past, would also be attacked.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it could not comment on individual cases.
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38 Comments
graem the reason why the 12th isnt seen as sectariam in the republic is because down there they dont have to put up with the sectarian marches year in year out, the flying of loyalist flags, the painting of kerb stones red white and blue ets. if this is culture then get me out of here
Posted by sean | 02.07.09, 12:15 GMT
Ni hao Chinese people. I just want to say that we are not all wild savages living here. Most of us are ok and we welcome Chinese people. I have found all Chinese people I have met here to be friendly and hard working. They are good for our community. If only some of these scumbags would work as hard or work at all. We also need to spread the gene pool as clearly years of inbreeding has produced some real numbskulls. We should be encouraging more people to come here for that reason alone!
Posted by Wilma | 01.07.09, 06:49 GMT
DA said: "As the local Minorities (so called racists) have a feeling of not having their vioces (sic) heard over the problems of the ethnic minorities." Loyalists are not a 'local minority' in Northern Ireland. What utter rubbish.
Posted by BS | 01.07.09, 06:42 GMT
Its a disgrace that she isbeing targeted, bunch of idiots. I also think certain individuals are amking this discussion sectarian, to the gentleman who states that England is our homeland, well you arent too bright are you, the majority of protestants came from Scotland so your omment doesnt hold weigh. Secondly the 12th isnt considered sectarian in the republic, i suggest that you are in fact the bigot. Please tell me where we belong as you state that we dont belong here, in short you are stupid.
Posted by Graem | 30.06.09, 18:24 GMT
DA I do not think your comment is out of line. Your comments have been expressed by your politicians many times. The Problem is these louts do not know how to express themselves without violence.
The Press portrayal is not that far off. Look at the Demographics. Violence is all over the map. These are contentious times that are being overshadowed by racist thugs bent on threatening to kill vulnerable people instead of political confrontation. These problems, like violence in many forms, have been said and have been brewing for a while. DA look at Keven McDaids case, Look at the conviction notice ages and relation.
I thought “Violence was a thing of the past” not just a mantra to make you feel safer until the same problems come forward when culture and violence meet, back comes’ violence. Ulster men with weak constitutions??? I think the problem is Cuchulain had muscles but no brains.
Posted by Talon | 30.06.09, 17:47 GMT
Firstly,i would like to say its a disgrace that narrow minded
bullies should treaten someone as hard working and doing
so much for the people of Belfast and N.Ireland.
I am N.Irish, however,i have lived in London and abroad for
more than 25 years,and predicted that at the time of the cease
fire,that this would happen,that when the two sides stop fighting
each other, they would pick on outsiders !
looks like we have lots of racists on here & too thick to know it
Posted by tom | 30.06.09, 17:29 GMT
Absolute disgrace!!!Annahas lived here for 35 years. Asian people are extremely hardworking and there businesses are scattered accross NI and make a massive positive impact on our economy
How ironic that so called loyalists with their 'protestant' work ethic can't recognise that. Wonder where they will all go for late night takeaways when they stagger out of their drinking cesspits every night
Plenty of people of Chinese descent born and raised here - they are as Nothern Irish as the rest of us
Posted by Andrew | 30.06.09, 16:27 GMT
loyalists rapresent culutural and religious freedom for all?????
i saw pigs flying
Posted by Andy | 30.06.09, 16:17 GMT
Ian is correct: "In any country around the world you go to, one of the first things you tend to stumble upon is an Irish/British pub staffed by Irish/British people, yet people from other countries are hounded out of ours?"
How many reading this have a relative overseas living in peace and well respected? Just who do we think we are sometimes?
Posted by annoyed | 30.06.09, 15:54 GMT
SteveW : the first step to recovering from being a extremest, is to actually admit to yourself that you have a problem and to internalise that. It is a long road for those who do it, but the rewards of being a normal person are huge...good luck...one day at a time remember...
Posted by Pate | 30.06.09, 15:41 GMT
Pate - "bigoted, sectarian, terrorist-supporting, lager-lout who can barely read or write any more than an sms message"
I think this description could be used for more than simply what the media term as Loyalist don't you think?
No one in West Belfast or South Armagh fit that description?
Sounds like you could be a racist without knowing it.
If nationalist/catholics/ where discrimiated against in the past does it make it ok to hate and discrimited against everything unionist/loyalist related?
Posted by John | 30.06.09, 15:18 GMT
"True Loyalist represent cultural and religous freedom for all." - That is the funniest thing I have read in years. Maybe that works so long as you're a Norn Iron protestant John. Or were the likes of Lenny Murphy, Billy Wright et al not loyalists? I'm really confused now because this is the first time I've ever heard this argument.
Posted by Keetz | 30.06.09, 14:56 GMT
The true story here is clearly how oppressed and vilified the poor Protestants of Norn Iron are. Sure, everyone is out to get us. Wise up my Protestant brothers and sisters. Whatever we are we are not oppressed.
It's a bit like saying the white male is the last oppressed minority who it's OK to vilify. i.e. patently not true
Posted by Yip | 30.06.09, 14:43 GMT
Jack, it is not the comments made that are demonising protestants but the actions a few with in the community.
If Loyalism is to not be equated with rascism permanently then it is up to the loyalists to join with everyone in NI to put up a united front against bigots.
If acts of rascism are more prevelant in one section of the community, a concerted effort needs to be made to stamp it out or a new stereotype will arise to tar that community.
Enough of the Taig against Prod mentality.
Posted by Ulysses31 | 30.06.09, 14:37 GMT
There never seems to be a day that some type of hatred,or bigotry is published in the BT. Sociologists would,and possibly do ,have a field day examining the society called Northern Ireland.There are many paths to bringing 'true peace' to N.I. one being; good people not standing by while bad things are going on! I tried this approach while living in N.I. and it was interesting to listen to people, one on one, agree that something needed to be done,in a group they went with 'group think'.
Posted by RMS | 30.06.09, 14:29 GMT
I think you're reading too deeply into what the journo is saying here folks, by using the term 'Loyalist Racists' I don't think they are for a second suggesting that all loyalists are racist, or even that this is being done in the name of loyalism. It's just being noted that the thugs are both loyalist and racist.
Posted by Ryan | 30.06.09, 14:29 GMT
these attacks are mainly happening in protestant areas,lets be honest?i live in one such area where bnp signs are starting to pop up everyehere,the younger generation have no hopes dreams or ambitions all they want to do is go out and cause havoc,i really dont think they understand the consequences of their actions its about teaching them but our m.ps would rather spend my taxes on themselves community groups need to be given more money to bring people together.
Posted by oliver | 30.06.09, 14:24 GMT
Pate,
'the reality is a bigoted, sectarian, terrorist-supporting, lager-lout who can barely read or write any more than an sms message'
Sectarianism? Bigotry? Looks like I just found some.
Don't tell mer you drink lager as well. You might live up to your own definition.
Posted by SteveW | 30.06.09, 14:22 GMT
People, by writing some of these comments you are showing yourselves to be narrow-minded bigots similar to these racists. You cannot brand the whole unionist/Protestant community as racists, making sweeping generalistaions/assumptions about a whole community that is different from your own is exactly what these thugs are doing (but they don't know how to put it into words, they use violence!)
In response to "Annoyed's comment - how dare you criticise hard-working ordinary NI people's home!
Posted by Fed up | 30.06.09, 14:21 GMT
Why do commentators from the Protestant tradition find it difficult to admit that these idiots are from their community? It’s rather like being an alcoholic and not being able to admit it.
Posted by Sean | 30.06.09, 14:05 GMT
38 Comments