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Upcoming Events
VIRTUAL APRIL DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING TUE 4/13 7p
ZOOM LINK
POLITICAL EDUCATION UPDATE
from State Political Education Chair Bill Halpin
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On January 13 and March 16 divisions were encouraged to write letters to Senator Tim Kaine voicing the importance of expediting the appointment of a U.S. Special Envoy to the north of Ireland. The need for a U.S. voice in Irish affairs may be as critical today as in was in 1997-98 when George Mitchell chaired negotiations resulting in the Good Friday Agreement.
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On March 4h and 16th, division were advised that Ulster loyalist paramilitaries (the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando) had withdrawn support for the GFA and opposed the BREXIT Northern Irish Protocol. BREXIT may have ruined the Good Friday Agreements as “loyalist groupings are herewith withdrawing their support for the Belfast Agreement … please do not underestimate the strength of feeling on this issue right across the unionist family”.
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We know support for a united Ireland is on the rise. Some sources estimate that 60% of the people residing in the six counties have Republic of Ireland passports. To loyalist mindset, this is a worst case scenario. So they need reasons to stem the flow:
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- BREXIT imposed the Irish Sea border is cited growing loyalist tension. But that’s a London/EU issue and pretty much a “done deal”.
- Closer to home an excuse is the announcement that deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill and 23 Sinn Fein members will not be prosecuted for allegedly breaking coronavirus restrictions at the June 2020 funeral for former senior IRA officer Bobby Storey. Arlene Foster/DUP called for responsible police chief to resign. Is it illegal to ignore a COVID mask protocol?
- Many analysts point to the recent police crackdown on drug gangs and criminal activity run by Loyalist paramilitary forces. Most of the unrest has been concentrated in areas where criminals linked to loyalist paramilitaries and involved in organised crime are in control.
- Growing evidence suggests breakaway factions from the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Ulster Volunteer Force may be encouraging the unrest to continue.
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This is my analysis knitted together from multiple media reports:
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As flimsy as it is an association of Protestant, Unionist, Loyalist (PUL) groups are citing the COVID mask issue as reason to spread violence across the north. Riots are in a predominately unionist controlled areas of Derry, Belfast’s Shankill Road, Sandy Row and Tiger’s Bay and the loyalist strongholds in Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Newtonabbey.
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Last week the police reported “some entity” is organizing the violence. However, they “feel” the people connected to “proscribed organizations” (loyalist paramilitaries) seen at the riots are not orchestrating the violence. Ironically, PUL groups were asked to postpone “protests” until after the royal family’s period of mourning. Go figure!
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There is genuine concern on both sides of the Atlantic (London is quiet). Taoiseach Micheál Martin said, “political leaders must not allow Northern Ireland to spiral back to that dark place of sectarian murders and political discord”. This statement was followed by State Department spokesperson Ned Price’s warning that the “GFA must not become a casualty of Brexit."
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Could it be PUL groups have an objective of creating a situation in which the DUP can request the reintroduction of the English military “to restore/maintain order”. I hope not – because if that happens, it will be “déjà vu all over again”.
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