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I believe the Royal Irish march is divisive and sectarian
Monday, 27 October 2008
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In England there was a self imposed moratorium by the British Army on homecoming parades because of anti-war protests.
In Ireland the British Army is responsible for the use of lethal force, shoot-to-kill, the use of rubber and plastic bullets, collusion, internment and torture — all with official impunity.
In Belfast we do not have to look to Iraq or Afghanistan. We have Ballymurphy, Springhill, and New Lodge massacres among a litany of events that claimed several hundred lives across the city yet there is to be a march in Belfast. This defies all logic, given the last 40 years, including this past decade seeking to move beyond conflict — unless the objective is otherwise.
If we are real about having a shared future with genuine respect for the views of all citizens, then unionists need to reflect upon the real implications of what this march means beyond political point scoring, given the legacy of unresolved hurt. The irony — the clear contradiction and double standard — is that it was the same unionists who sponsored this motion who reacted most when Casement Park was used to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the hunger strike — an event in the heart of west Belfast that in no way infringed upon unionists, civic space or used ratepayers’ money.
This is not to deny that there exists a section of unionism that is genuine in their views concerning this event. Rather, it is the intention of a significant element that is more about the domination of nationalists, at the heart of which lies a campaign to thwart equality and rights in which extremism is intertwined and indistinguishable from.
A cabal of unionists, the same people who, on a regular basis, ridicule, belittle and undermine our Irish identity, culture and language, now want to parade through our city the British Army that unsuccessfully sought to subjugate us, killing our loved ones in the process. For them the primary objective is not about celebration but rather a guise for the continued attempt to humiliate. This is totally unacceptable.
Unionists need to fully understand the level of hurt and pain inflicted within the nationalist and republican community at the hands of the British Army which resonates deeply if they are to appreciate the import of this event. For the majority of Belfast citizens, and those bereaved by the British Army, the parade is crass and offensive. Is this the message unionism really wants to promote?
For example, would it be acceptable to unionists for former republican prisoners to march through the city centre, never mind receive a civic reception?
This issue goes to the heart of the truth about our past and the role the British Army played as we inclusively seek a way to address the actions of all actors to the conflict. The march is divisive and sectarian and will attract hangers-on who simply want to cheerlead in a triumphalist way. Those shops promoting loyalist paramilitary regalia across Belfast which during early summer were selling the Irish tricolour to be burned at Twelfth bonfires are now selling RIR welcome home union flags.
The relationship in particular between this regiment of the British Army, loyalist paramilitarism, collusion, sectarianism and criminality are well documented, which make this all the more unacceptable for the majority of citizens within Belfast who look on in horror at the antics of unionists in both putting forward this motion and those who supported it.
If it is the intention of those who sponsored the motion to maintain division and prevent change then they may succeed. If it is the will of those who genuinely want to foster better relations and understanding then they can find a better way of marking this event which is not contentious or provocative. The choice is theirs. They can put forward a motion suspending the parade and create a space where we can have positive dialogue about what is acceptable and unacceptable in celebrating such events. And which can contribute towards better understanding, assisting in dealing with our past constructively, and in creating a united city. However, they need to demonstrate leadership.
Last week the RUC George Cross Foundation held a service at St Anne’s Cathedral. This was a dignified and fitting event for all those involved without controversy and one which the overwhelming majority of citizens across the city would have no objection to. Surely this is the type of event those who genuinely want to celebrate the return of the RIR can participate in without provocation and to which others, especially those affected by the actions of the British Army, are not insulted or their views made irrelevant.
Unionists, particularly the Alliance Party, need to reflect and weigh up the overall view and not the failed agendas of sectarian politics at Halla na Cathair.
Tomorrow: Michael Copeland on the why Belfast should welcome the RIR
Mark Thompson is director of Relatives for Justice
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36 Comments
Unless I am mistaken Belfast in still in the United Kingdom and therefor the British Army and in particular a local regiment is entitled to march if so invited to do so. I am sure if the author was to check the religeon of the RIR he would find a substantial percentage of Irish Roman Catholics serving in the ranks, this is not only confined to the RIR but is common throughout the British Army. I also notice comment on the service in St Annes for the RUCGC. I am in no doubt if they had`wished to march to that service they to would have been castigated.While no sane person wishes the life of an innocent person to be taken Mr Thompson should expend some of his energy taking on the Republican movement who killed more innocent Roman Catholics during the troubles than anyone.
Posted by Dave C | 03.11.08, 17:26 GMT
how can you say the rir should parade in london. this is where they come from. do people forget that they were amalgamated with the udr and royal irish rangers. if my grandfather was still here he would be disgusted that they are opoosing this parade he served this country for 25 years in udr
Posted by crimson | 02.11.08, 00:25 GMT
When it comes the British Armed Forces in Northern Ireland, the fact is that Belfast or any town/city in NI for that matter is not, and cannot be treated like any other city or town in the UK.
Not just because of what happened over the past 40 odd years and the controversial role the British Army played in it, but because of the very fact up 45% of the population of NI are nationalist and do not see themselves as British! A sizable majority of this group would go as far as saying it is an occupying force in Northern Ireland.
So of course they are going to take issue with them parading after coming home form a recent campaign of war.
Try to think like them, see it from their point of view.
I come form a unionist background, but try to see both view points. NI is not just orange, but also green. We must respect the opinions and traditions of both communities.
In this case, I feel a civic reception and service would have been the answer. This parade spells trouble.
Posted by William | 01.11.08, 10:49 GMT
GI Jacques, Musa Qala was given to 'local tribal elders' by the British. The Taliban then returned. It was retaken by the British, NOT the US, last December. The British army is overstretched and does not have the numbers or resources, as the US does, to sustain continuous military assaults all over the world. It punches above its weight, as the rising number of casualties in Helmand shows.The lack of help from other European countries is not appreciated. As for Basra, British presence on the streets was seen as inflaming the situation, thus a withdrawal. The SAS (the best military regiment in the world, hands down) are still operating all over Iraq, attacking Al-Qaeda leaders, guided mostly by American electronic intelligence. I do not see any shame in that.
Posted by bhamilton | 30.10.08, 19:00 GMT
This really disappoints me as a young person in northern ireland with hope that we'd put all this rubbish behind us! These boys who are mostly young men who have never even lived in teh 'troubles' and who have fought in a country that is nothing to do with northern ireland - let them have their glory for bbeing brave - any other country would be proud of such men - only in northern ireland would you have men (who are being paid for doing nothing at the minute) cause an uproar about something so stupid - grow up and move on.
Posted by Rachel | 30.10.08, 13:09 GMT
Lots of "History" lessons below, so i thought i would add to the debate about Irish men in the British Army. Since 1689 there have been countless thousands of Irish men in the British Army. Does Reggie know that for every Republican volunteer in the 1916 Rising there were sixteen Republican volunteers serving in the trenches of Flanders? Redmonds Irish National Volunteers in the British Army! oh the shame! Of course what Reggie will not know, is that many of the soldiers on parade will be killing themselves laughing at our comments because they are loyalist and nationalist on parade together. They really don,t care what you say! So if I agree not to go out of my way to be offended by attending the widely reported one sided/biased film 'Hunger' , then stay at home on Sunday Reggie and watch GAA or practise your Irish lingo.
Posted by Jimmy P | 30.10.08, 12:44 GMT
The RIR are part and parcel of the British army and if they want to celebrate what they done for there masters then do it in London not occupied Ireland.
Posted by Reggie Ballycastle | 29.10.08, 23:24 GMT
Brian,
when the IRA come to take you to a field in S. Armagh and bury you because you spilt a pint over the girlfriend of the local commander or forgot to doff your cap to the local hood - will you still feel the same about your rise of Gaels and United Ireland. Get a life. For Ireland to be United requires Northern Ireland to be united first. Borders may disappear but the people remain divided and the Southern government don not want to take that on.
Posted by Paedar | 29.10.08, 10:48 GMT
"In Ireland the British Army is responsible for the use of lethal force, shoot-to-kill, the use of rubber and plastic bullets, collusion, internment and torture — all with official impunity.
In Belfast we do not have to look to Iraq or Afghanistan. We have Ballymurphy, Springhill, and New Lodge massacres among a litany of events that claimed several hundred lives across the city yet there is to be a march in Belfast. This defies all logic, given the last 40 years, including this past decade seeking to move beyond conflict — unless the objective is otherwise".
Mark, why do you intentionally try to inflame things with this statement? I've never heard of these massacres, bloody Sunday was a massacre but these others you refer to? You also seem to suggest that the British army has murdered several hundred across the city, I think you should re-consider your position as Director of R of J and allow a more cross-community minded person to officiate.
Posted by Norman | 29.10.08, 10:14 GMT
Hypocritically Mark has conveniently blanked out this other parade and has failed to mention the cowardly attacks on security forces and their families, the Enniskillen massacre.the shankill massacre, the omagh massacre and a host of other attrocities. The other protest is not about Iraq or afghanastan frankly they dont care, all they are interested in is drip feeding the persecution fix
Posted by jackie h | 29.10.08, 09:19 GMT
I'm northern irish and I know my history and culture, i know my great grandfather was seriously wounded in WW2, as was my Grandfathers brother. that is why i wear a poppy that is why im glad the soldiers are coming back to THEIR HOMES saftely.
Tom your history is filled with cowards who colluded with the most oppressive group of the 20th Century with 6 million jewish murders to their name. I'm sure you're proud
Posted by Proud | 29.10.08, 09:18 GMT
This article is absolutely unbelievable. Maybe the writer could take of his rose tinted glasses, and write a piece on how, many many widows, and children from both sides of the community, feel every time then turn on the television, and see IRA members in government. But then, that's a different story, as Sinn Fein keep telling us, all these things were in the past, and we have to move on. So it has to work both ways, if IRA members can serve in Government, because they were elected by a democratic process. Then the RIR have every right to a home coming parade, with a democratic vote passed by Belfast City Council. Sinn Fein's bleat about unionist's having to move on, and stop saying no, suits them, until something comes along that doesn't suit their agenda. The answer is quite simple, I took my family to one of the first Saint Patrick's Parade in Belfast City Centre, and got abused by thugs waving tricolors. I didn't go the next year and start a protest, I just stayed at home.
Posted by James Reid | 29.10.08, 09:12 GMT
Tom, you are clearly ignorant of your history. What exactly is native Irish people? - no such thing as inter-breeding between Scots, Welsh, English, Spanish, French has been going on for centuries on these islands - you really talk some nonsense.
And to think you would be living under a Nazi government if De Valera had his way - you're such a credit to Irish opinion everywhere.
Posted by Paedar | 29.10.08, 08:38 GMT
How twisted is Mark Thompson? He is consumed by hatred and is to be pitied. We are moving on to a peaceful, prosperous society for the next generation to enjoy. Young people are already mixing freely in most areas with little or no thought for the past. Sinn Fein have shot themselves in the foot by organising this protest. They are showing that they havent moved on, as they have been leading the people of Northern Ireland to believe. I am so dissapointed at their reaction to this homecoming parade, just when I was beginning to think they had something to offer the people of this province.
Posted by Carol C | 28.10.08, 21:42 GMT
Lets all spare a thought for Mark and all those republicans who will have to get up on a Sunnday morning to trapes to town to be offended by this parade. I didnt see any demonstrations held when the republican murders killed over 2100 people during their glorious "struggle" They were very silent on their shoot to kill policy, how many rubber or plastic bullets did they fire. Mark talks of Massacres is his memory so clouded, what about Omagh, Enniskillen, Lamon, Oxford St, Abercorn, Darkley, Shankill Rd Warrenpoint, were these not crass and offensive acts. Or is it just war when republicans kill, but murder when its anyone else. Someone please put Mark's dummy back into his pram, to ease his hurt and pain.
Posted by gary | 28.10.08, 21:35 GMT
Given that all the parties other than Sinn Fein would be in the majority on Belfast City Council, Mark Thompson, you do not speak for the majority in Belfast unless this is a joint SF/SDLP counter demo - I think not or I wont be voting SDLP again. As for the war in Iraq - these troops are returning from Afghanistan - a war sanctioned by the UN of which the Republic of Ireland is a part. Do Sinn Fein condemn the Irish government for their involvement in Lebanon? Would Mark Thompson welcome Al Qaeda to Belfast? Or will the 'glorious' IRA defend us if Ireland was to suffer a 9/11 or 7/7? They'd be too busy killing their own like they did for the last 30 years.
Posted by Paulo | 28.10.08, 20:36 GMT
i thought there was peace in n.ireland,but it seems only if it suits sinn fein,i also think mark thompson views were bigotted and because of people like him there will never be true peace here.these soldiers are our real heroes.
Posted by I.P | 28.10.08, 20:22 GMT
Unionists are all in massive denial. They can't face the truth. Read all the blind name calling below if you don't believe me. But the truth is that a People's Army defended the north of Ireland from the invading British forces this upcoming parade wishes to celebrate. Period. Unionists will never admit the truth of their failed pogrom based government. They can't because the overwhelming truth is that they have abused and murdered Catholics for centuries. That is a plain fact. Run your parade but don't be surprised to find that you have sown the seeds of a rebirth of the Gael. Then perhaps you will reap a new whirlwind that ends with a united Ireland.
Posted by Brian | 28.10.08, 17:48 GMT
UDR, RIR, Black and Tans, who cares what they are called...the point is that it is the SAME British Army that has historically been the agressor and oppressor of the native Irish people on this island.
If you call yourself British, then fine, this is your army, go to Iraq, have fun! But calling yourself Irish and participating in this outfit, you are a mercenary and you do not understand your history or your culture
Posted by Tom | 28.10.08, 11:13 GMT
Mark calls City Hall 'Halla na Cathair'. Why do people use Irish in this tokenistic way, and always totally wrongly? Say 'Halla na Cathrach' for City Hall or don't say anything.
Posted by Tired with tokenism | 28.10.08, 10:39 GMT
36 Comments