VoyForums

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 02:50:58am Ireland Time [ VoyUser Login optional ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, [7], 8, 9, 10 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 09:30:43 07/25/04 Sun GMT
Author: Lynn
Subject: Marching season pits Irish past against future (Boston Herald)

Marching season pits Irish past against future
By Paul Murphy
Monday, July 19, 2004


In the United States as in so many other countries, the summer is associated with relaxation - a season to unwind and release the year's stress. Not so in parts of Northern Ireland, where the summer can bring heightened tensions and open old wounds.
     July is known as the ``marching season'' in Northern Ireland, a time when some Protestant unionists commemorate centuries-old military victories with parades. Most pass without controversy in small villages across every county. But in a few communities the marches lead to bitterness and sometimes violence, as happened in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast a week ago.
     Those Protestants who take part - and many do not - argue the parades are a traditional celebration of their culture and history. Protesting Catholics see them as triumphalist and intimidating intrusions.
     The marching season is a barometer for the wider political process. Since the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland's summers have gradually become more settled. Last year we enjoyed the most peaceful July since before the Troubles began. The independent Parades Commission - appointed to arbitrate on marches in difficult areas where community relations have been strained for decades, if not centuries - diffused many of the worst cases.
     That this year's trouble broke out in North Belfast is not surprising. A disproportionate number of killings during the Troubles took place around here, and community tensions are still raw. If anywhere crystallizes the pain, suffering and bitter hatreds of the past, it is this small part of the city.
     But despite glimpses of past violence seen last Monday, strong grounds for hope remain. Sinn Fein and nationalist leaders tried to restrain stone-throwing youths, and unionist leaders were equally active in attempting to control crowds. Both wanted a peaceful summer.
     Even the violence itself may serve as a useful reminder of how much is at stake in the wider political process. As one police officer said, ``There is no policing solution to these parades.'' They can only be solved by communities talking to each other and coming to agreement. Once again, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, under its Chief Constable Hugh Orde, found itself where it would rather not be - trying to keep warring factions apart. They bore the brunt of the violence - 25 officers injured - and criticism afterward. As always, no one could suggest what they should have done differently without risking far greater public disorder. Armchair policing is all too easy.
     Those political leaders involved in last week's events will now look forward to the talks which begin in September. Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern have made clear that this must be decision time for the parties.
     In London last week, Bill Clinton summed up the problem when he said The Good Friday Agreement is suffering from ``buyer's remorse.'' People are having second thoughts not about the agreement's vision, which they still overwhelmingly support, but about its implementation. Unionists believed that six years after the agreement, paramilitary organizations, republican and loyalist, would have disappeared. They have not. Nationalists believed that we would have enjoyed six years of unbroken power-sharing institutions. These are currently suspended.
     As I visit Irish-American friends in Washington and Boston, I recognize a great reservoir of U.S. good will for all trying to tackle these problems. I have every confidence Northern Ireland's politicians will.
     
( Paul Murphy is a member of the British Parliament and secretary of state for Northern Ireland. )

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]
[ VoyUser Login ] Not required to post.
Post a public reply to this message | Go post a new public message
 * Notice: Posting problems? [ Click here ]
 * HTML allowed in marked fields.
* Message subject (required):

* Name (required):

  Expression (Optional mood/title along with your name) Examples: (happy, sad, The Joyful, etc.) help)

  E-mail address (required):

* Type your message here:

Choose Message Icon: [ View Emoticons ]

Notice: Copies of your message may remain on this and other systems on internet. Please be respectful.

[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 2.94, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2008 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.