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Shocking calls to picket foreign homes as 46 are forced to flee
Thursday, 9 April 2009
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More than 40 foreign nationals have been intimidated out of loyalist parts of Belfast over the past two weeks, the Polish Association has claimed.
The dramatic upsurge follows violent clashes between Northern Ireland and Polish football fans almost a fortnight ago.
Eleven police officers were injured and a substantial amount of damage caused when gangs of Polish supporters went on the rampage before and after the World Cup qualifier on March 28.
Police said those involved in the violence do not live in Belfast but had travelled from Dublin and Scotland intent on trouble.
Since the match intimidation of Slovakians, Hungarians, Lithuanians and Polish people living and working in south and east Belfast has escalated.
A stormy public meeting to discuss the tensions in the Village heard repeated calls from the audience for foreign residents to be removed. There were even suggestions of pickets to force them out.
According to the Polish Association, which held an advice clinic for ethnic minorities forced out earlier this week, 46 people have fled the Village and Albertbridge Road areas because of physical abuse and attacks on property.
It is understood a number of those who left loyalist areas have presented themselves as homeless to the Housing Executive while others have sought refuge with friends.
Maciek Bator, from the Northern Ireland Polish Association, said at least five people had left Northern Ireland.
“In south Belfast the majority of people who have been attacked have decided to leave, especially those with children. They have left the Village area. There have also been a couple of attacks in east Belfast.”
Mr Bator believes young people were behind the damage and urged locals to see ethnic minorities as part of the community.
“Some people really want rid of the Poles from loyalist areas. They should not be looking at Poles as trouble makers. It is important to realise that they are beneficial for the local community, they are spending money in the local shops and are occupying the houses in the area.”
Ulster Unionist councillor Bobby Stoker disputed the figures put forward by the Polish Association.
“I think the numbers have been exaggerated. I understand the Housing Executive have six people looking for new homes. But as far as the community is concerned we don’t want to see anyone leave their houses. We are totally opposed to any sorts of abuse, attacks or intimidation. We have lived with it for over 30 years in the Village,” he said.
A PSNI spokeswoman said patrols have been stepped up in the Village and east Belfast in a bid to ease tensions.
The Housing Executive said: “Eight people have presented themselves as homeless in south Belfast and have cited trouble in the Village as the reason.”
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Actually this has been going on for a lot longer than this past few weeks! , just because the media mentions something now doesnt mean feelings havent been running high for a while , for example a certain big name company was laying off Belfast staff but keeping on Foreign Nationals , no harm to you but is that not in itself Racism ? .
Posted by Phil | 09.04.09, 23:23 GMT
"They should not be looking at Poles as trouble makers."
After the way the Polish National anthem was loudly booed at Windsor Park it has become obvious that they want the poles out, not because they might be trouble makers, but because more than likely they are Catholics. And they can't have Catholic workers living in a Loyalist area.
Posted by Spot_On | 09.04.09, 23:10 GMT
"Scratch a Loyalist, find a racist."
I think you might want to examine your own prejudices Patrick. You seem quite happy to judge a section of society based on your own views.
Posted by Ross | 09.04.09, 21:59 GMT
Who are these idiots, what sort of mindless thugs cannot differentiate between football hooligans visiting Belfast to cause trouble and foriegn nationals who have settled in Belfast and wish to call it home?
This has to stop now, it is wrong and the police, politicians and the communities of the village and east Belfast (of which I am part of) have to do something about it. No one can defend these attacks, I'd love to hear someone justify why these people are being intimidated out of their homes?
No doubt the hard men guilty of intimidating venerable minorities do so in a big gang in the late evenings, because they are really just a bunch of cowards. You do not represent me and to the very best of my knowledge, you do not represent anyone else in east Belfast when you carry out these attacks, so pease think about what you are doing and stop it.
Posted by Steven 73 | 09.04.09, 16:55 GMT
What benefit was there in Bobby Stoker disputing the figures put forward by the Polish Association, as if they were false. Polish people who feel intimidated may not always go to the PSNI or local groups, they are going to go somewhere where they feel safe. Just don't see the point in why he said that, almost looks quite intolerant just to say that.
Posted by BT | 09.04.09, 16:01 GMT
Here's an idea. Why don't we flush some money down the toilet and send some loyalists over to Poland on a fact finding mission or what ever you want to call it.
Oh, apparently the Assembly have already thought of that one. This story kind of defeats the purpose for that. Why not kick everyone out, put a 20 foot wall around the relevant areas and let the neanderthals vegetate in peace.
Ok, here's a better one. Why don't we send the bigotted rascists on an exchange programme with Poland. Get rid of them for 6 months and I'm sure the areas will be alot more peaceful. They may even get a taste of their own medicine in Poland.
Posted by PC | 09.04.09, 14:56 GMT
God, I'd be really, really cheesed off if someone forced me out of my house and gave a reason of me being French, Italian or British.
I reckon most of these morons have never seen a map, not that it matter to them. The obviously don't want anyone who isn't a WASP living in "their" area......
Posted by Bren | 09.04.09, 14:03 GMT
Yeah billy of course, except last week when i stepped out my fron door in the village i counted 9 landrovers passing my house inside about 3 minutes. Except nobody was doing anything...if they had been doing something, they would have been arrested. But that sounds like a swamping to me. they swamp nationalist areas to arrest murders, as proven by the recent charges brought against the arrested. And how do you know the people doing the intimidating are the same people dealing drugs or are in paramilitaries?? I forgot the nationalist areas had no drug or terrorist problems.So your idea is pretty stupid since you cant arrest someone without due cause eg suspected murder?? There is no excuse for putting foreigners out of their houses when they dont cause any trouble. The local thugs you suspect have better things to do such as deal drugs and drink so why would they bother??
Posted by bart | 09.04.09, 12:55 GMT
Phil it appears that you may actually be an apologist for racism and intimidation. Can it be? People who use the words 'unfortunate situation' usually condone actions, now where have I heard that before. Oh yes that's right, when Republican Sinn Fein used the same term in response to the murders of the police and army a few weeks ago. I presume you would have been indignant about the use of this term then? If so how is this term justified now?
"you can understand the fustration of working class people in belfast"
Really? I'm willing to bet that the people who want them out were out of work long before the Polish, Lithuanians etc were ensconsed in the Village area. A bit strange that this escalated after the WC qualifier. And it's no surprise to me that these ill educated ill informed people who are doing such a thing cant distinguish between a Pole or a Lithuanian.
It's a convenient excuse to blame this behaviour on economic reasons rather than blind racism.
Shame on you.
Posted by Barry | 09.04.09, 12:55 GMT
Scratch a Loyalist, find a racist. When you are raised on bigotry against one people then you usually have plenty left for others. Shame on the dinosaurs
Posted by patrick | 09.04.09, 12:49 GMT
Dead on Billy, while terrorising foreign nationals is undoubtedly wrong, you are trying to compare it with the murder of 2 soldiers an a police man. Making a bit of a fool of yourself while trying to score petty points
Posted by Mr Parker | 09.04.09, 12:28 GMT
Oh, now I understand why loyalists terrorists, thugs and drugdealers are going to be given my hardearned tax money. So that they stop intimadating these poor unfortunate people. I have a better idea. Why not simply arrest them ? The cops weren't too long in swapming nationalists' areas of Lurgan, last week, so why not swamp loyalists area and arrest the thugs? One law for loyalists, another law for the nationalists, it would seem.
Posted by billy for the truth | 09.04.09, 10:55 GMT