[Kilsally]

http://www.theotherview.net/

Issue No.14 Autumn 2003


Racists are no Friends of the Union
By Billy Mitchell


"Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens ……...’ Exodus 22:21


Discrimination, intimidation and physical attacks on British citizens and foreign nationals living in Northern Ireland, because of their colour or ethnic background, are an affront to all who cherish the principles of civil and religious liberty and equal citizenship within the Union. Such racist activities are also an affront to all who sincerely believe in the core principles of the Protestant Reformation, which proclaims the love of God for all mankind regardless of race or ethnicity. Racism is based solely on hatred, the gospel is based on Love – the two are incompatible.


It is sad therefore to learn that racists, propagating the evils of ‘British’ nationalism and ‘white’ supremacy, are once again seeking to gain a foothold in working class Protestant communities in Belfast, Ballymena and Craigavon. Attacks on people of colour in Belfast followed the distribution of leaflets from an organisation calling itself the “British Nazi Party” while in Ballymena the homes of Filipino nurses were attacked following leaflet drops by a group calling itself “The White Nationalist Party”. Leaflets purporting to come from the same group have been circulating in the Craigavon area where members of the Muslim community have been the target of racial hatred.


Thankfully they are infinitesimally small in number, and it is clearly debatable whether such organisations actually exist other than as a flag of convenience for a few racists; but, as the saying goes, “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”. Protestants have a duty of care to their fellow British citizens and to foreign nationals living in their areas, regardless of ethnic background, to ensure that they live in peace and harmony. It was refreshing to see two senior loyalists, Tommy Kirkham and David Ervine, speaking out against racist attacks in Protestant areas.


Genuine Unionists will be aware that racism is subversive of both Protestantism and political Unionism. Political Unionism and Nationalism - be it ‘British’ nationalism, ‘Irish’ nationalism or ‘White’ nationalism - are wholly incompatible. Being British is about citizenship not nationality. The Liberal Unionist, Arthur Aughey, has rightly noted that –“The idea of the Union is the willing community of citizens united not by creed, colour or ethnicity but by the recognition of the authority of the Union”.


Principled political Unionism is thus able to facilitate pluralism whereas ‘British Nationalism’, so-called, which links citizenship to a single racial and ethnic identity, is inimical to Unionism. Citizenship within the United Kingdom has nothing to do with race, ethnicity or nationalism. It is about a political identity that is rooted in citizenship and in loyalty to the concept of the Union.


There is a British State, but there is no such a thing as a British Nation. Thus when racists talk about ‘British’ nationalism they are really talking about English Nationalism and in their arrogance they equate Britishness with Englishness. There is also the fond belief (delusion) that the English, because of their numerical superiority within the Union have a right to impose their way of life and culture on the other partners, and to speak as if they were the alpha and omega of the Union. Of course, Irish nationalists share that same mentality. Because there is a Gaelic-Catholic majority on the island of Ireland, who claim to be the true Irish, they insist on the Scotch-Irish (Ulster-Scots) and the Anglo-Irish being incorporated into an Irish Union that would be dominated by the politics and culture of a Gaelic-Catholic Nation. Why would any Unionist want to reject Irish Nationalism in order to embrace English Nationalism masquerading as British Nationalism?


The peoples who form the Unionist community come from a number of diverse cultures and traditions – Irish, Scottish, English, Welsh and some of Huguenot descent, as well as a goodly number of Commonwealth emigrants and their offspring. Principled political Unionism is about maintaining citizenship within a state that acknowledges and validates the identity, culture and traditions of those who make up the Union. Citizenship for the British subject is not about a single national identity or cultural exclusiveness. It is about sharing a political identity than transcends religion, culture, language and ethnicity. In short, it is about living in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic pluralist society rather than in a society where citizenship is based on a single national identity.


It is estimated that 30% of the world’s population belong to a Commonwealth country and the unionist community in Northern Ireland ought to be proud to be part of that international family. The Commonwealth is a multi-ethnic, multi-faith and multi-cultural association of free peoples. The one thing than binds them together simply is their shared history with the United Kingdom which is manifested in the fact that they all have a common working language and similar systems of law, public administration and education. This shared history has enabled them to develop a vibrant and growing association of states that, with a few exceptions, are in tune with the modern world.


Those within loyalism who have fallen victim to the poisoned words of ‘British’ nationalists need to ask – “How can I pledge loyalty to the Head of the Commonwealth while at the same time denying basic human rights and equal citizenship to those who have emigrated to this part of the U.K. from Commonwealth countries”? The United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, prospered under British Imperialism. It is only but fitting that people from Commonwealth countries should, if they so desire, seek to build a better life for themselves and their children in the Kingdom that once prospered at their expense. This generation of British citizens cannot right the wrongs of the past, but we can make things right for the future.


But what of those strangers to our shores who do not hail from Commonwealth countries? Do we not have a responsibility to welcome those who come seeking refuge from persecution and terror? The words of Moses the Hebrew lawgiver, are worthy of consideration – “Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt” (Exodus 22:21). This injunction was repeated time and time again. Because they were once aliens and strangers, the Hebrews were to love the aliens in their midst. (Ariel Sharon must have missed that wee bit of Hebrew wisdom). This Biblical injunction has relevance to both the Scotch-Irish and the Anglo-Irish for both were once aliens and strangers on this island. Many of our Presbyterian forbears also left this island, fleeing the penal laws, to seek refuge in America. Others left to seek a new life in places as far apart as Canada and Australia. Should the descendants of those who have a history of seeking refuge in strange lands and who experienced the hardships of being strangers and aliens not have some sympathy for those who come to our shores seeking refuge?


At a time when Irish nationalists are seeking by all means possible to give up their British citizenship, and to force non-nationalists to relinquish theirs, it is ironic that so-called ‘British’ nationalists are hell-bent on forcing existing British citizens out of Northern Ireland and preventing those who wish to take out citizenship from doing so. Racists have nothing whatever to offer the Protestant community and ‘British’ nationalism, so-called, has nothing to offer political Unionism. Those who believe that “An enemy of my enemy is my friend” believe a lie. ‘British’ nationalists may well be the enemy of Irish nationalists, but they are no friends of Ulster Protestants or Political Unionists either.

[UlsterScot]

I see the BNP have inspired UDA attacks on ethnic minorities in Belfast. What a surprise eh? the UDA will no doubt be putting up BNP election posters when they run here.

I hope nobody will be fooled about the true nature of the BNP and they will be given the same pitiiful level of support as the loyalist terrorist 'politacal parties' were given.

The BNP represent everything our forefathers went to war to defeat 60 odd years ago and I hope few will tarnish the memory of those who gave their lives to defeat nazism.

Personally I have more in common with our Bretheren in Togo and Ontario than I could ever have with BNP nazis like Nick Griffin and his ilk.

[Kilsally]

Irish News
13th Feb 2004
www.irishnews.com
Triads link in attacks on Chinese families

By Barry McCaffrey

MAFIA-TYPE triad gangs are linked to recent attacks on Chinese families in south Belfast, it was claimed yesterday. While elements of the UVF have been blamed for attacks on Chinese families in the Village area, loyalist sources last night said the paramilitaries may have been working for Chinese triad gangs operating in Northern Ireland.
It was claimed that attacks on Indian and Pakistani families living in south Belfast were part of an elaborate attempt to cover up the link to the triads.
The Irish News last week reported that the attacks may have been motivated by more than racism and were also an attempt by loyalist groups to prevent a witness giving evidence against one of their members.
A senior loyalist source last night also admitted that the UVF and UDA had a long-established relationship with Northern Ireland triads. Their main link to the triads for both organisations is a senior member of the UDA in south Belfast.
It is understood that the loyalist groups agree not to extort money from Chinese businesses, in exchange for which the triads employ loyalist paramilitaries as enforcers for their organisations.
The source claimed that recent racist attacks were carried out by individual UVF men working for the triad gangs.
Police are treating the south Belfast attacks as racist. At the same time, a senior police source confirmed that triads were operating in Northern Ireland. "There are triad gangs here. We believe there are five to 10 main individual personalities. We cannot estimate how many people are actually working for them," he said.
The police source said the triad leaders operated under an umbrella organisation known as the Wo Sing Wo, which primarily controls illegal gambling.
But while the source said the triad gangs did not routinely work with loyalist paramilitaries, he said there was evidence to suggest they had "an understanding".
Triad gangs are believed to have operated in Dublin, Galway and Cork for some time. In 1998 a Dublin triad member was jailed for a year for possession of martial arts weapons after a fight at a Galway restaurant. Gardai said the Wo Sing Wo triad had been attempting to establish protection rackets around the country.
UUP councillor Bob Stoker last night confirmed that he had heard speculation of triad links to the Belfast racial attacks.
"I have heard some talk about possible links with Chinese criminal gangs but I have no definite information to prove that this is the case. At the end of the day these attacks were wrong no matter what supposed reason there was for them."
A police spokeswoman last night confirmed that a senior south Belfast police officer travelled to London last week to meet officers from the Metropolitan Police 'Chinatown' section. She was unable to say if the officer was investigating possible links between triad gangs in London and the south Belfast attacks.
>? Racist attacks: prosecution
rates 'not good enough' - P4

[dubliner]

it was the arabs and the asian communities in Belfast. They are becoming more like the Roman Catholic/ Nationalists day by day. They will make good EU members.

[jredmond]

LOYALISTS/BNP/ JEAN LE PENN - Great Bedfellows.

it was the arabs and the asian communities in Belfast.  They are becoming more like the Roman Catholic/ Nationalists day by day. They will make good EU members.

[Admin-SI]

Racist are everywhere and for you to paint a whole community as racist is wholly erroneous and indictitive of your own prejudice. Being someone from the American South i know all about it.

And just to prove the point:-

sunday independent
Racial tensions spark fears of midlands ghetto


IT WAS a scene reminiscent of the darkest days of the Klu Klux Klan. But
this was not America's deep South - it was Longford on a Monday morning two
weeks ago.

Two men wearing balaclavas hung a life-size black doll from the railway
bridge on the Dublin Road at 5am on June 7. The doll had a paper bag over
its head and a sign around its neck saying: "Niggers go home - you'll never
be Irish."

The men videotaped themselves hanging the black effigy and when passers-by
stopped to take a look at the shocking scene, the men, estimated to be in
their mid-20s, threw stones at the on-lookers.

The men ran away when the Gardai arrived an hour later and removed the
figure. "This is the first time we have ever seen this type of thing in
Longford," a Garda spokesman said, "It is a very worrying development."

Days later, a black couple pulled their car in at the same bridge. They took
out a spray can and painted a huge image of the murdered gansta rapper Tupac
Shakur - a potent symbol of black power in America - beside the words:
"Tupac still I rise."

The graffiti was covered over last week, but local teenagers say the paint
cannot hide the racial tension they feel pervades the town. Some fear
Longford may become a ghettoised town with clear divisions between the black
and white populations.

Schoolgirl Samantha Riggs, 17, said: "The graffiti means, 'You can't get rid
of us'. This town is getting like the North. There is a backlash against
political correctness and a lot of disputes between white and foreign
people. There wasn't a single poster up in town calling for a No vote in the
referendum. Nobody campaigned for a No vote."

Little wonder then that Longford had the highest Yes vote in the country. An
incredible 84.37 per cent of Co Longford's population voted in favour of the
amendment to the constitution. The vote against the change was a mere 15.63
per cent. Of the 27,029 registered electorate 71.29 per cent turned out to
vote.

The country's highest No vote came from County Sligo where 26.64 per cent
voted against the change and 73.36 per cent voted in favour.

The Campaign Against Racist Referendum blames a lack of funds for the lack
of a No campaign presence in Longford. Rosanna Flynn said: "It's dreadful,
but I would have thought some of the political parties would have done
something. We are in debt and posters are very expensive. We put up posters
in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Kilkenny, but we didn't have anyone in
Longford."

The local Labour council candidate was unavailable for comment, but a
spokesman for the Labour party said: "Our organisation in Longford is very
minimal. There are just a handful of people. We did produce posters, but
they were concentrated in urban areas."

Despite exhaustive efforts, newly elected SF councillor Jimmy McDonnell
could not be contacted for a comment.

Some locals believe the real reason there was little evidence of a No
campaign in Longford is because of the racial tensions in the town.

Seventeen-year-old Gary Hughes said: "There were lots of Yes posters, but
not a single No poster because there wouldn't be any No votes around here.

"People feel they [the immigrants] get away with more, as, if they are
arrested or kicked out of a pub, they can just accuse everyone of being
racist."

Miss Riggs said: "I would have voted Yes. I have a lot of coloured friends
and I would like them to stay, but I think we will see real battles if more
move in. There are a lot of fights outside the nightclubs mostly about race.

"People's outlook depends on how they are brought up, but it's hard to
escape that over the past few years the immigrants seem to get houses, cars
and more money. They are out in expensive clothes all the time when the
citizens are scraping by. There is a feeling they have been dumped here."

There are, according to the 2002 census, 30,919 people living in Co
Longford. Of these, 28,667 are Irish, 58 are from another EU country and 158
are of another European origin. There are 85 Americans, 73 Asians and 202
Africans. Only 28 of the Africans in the county live outside Longford town.

Full-time mum Samantha Edwards, 26, voted No in the referendum, but even she
expressed a view that was common on the streets of Longford town last week.
"The big Yes vote was to cut down on the number of asylum seekers. I thought
it was a racist vote, but we are polluted with refugees. The Government has
been far too liberal giving them top-notch brand new things, money and
houses when local people want council houses."

By March 2004, asylum seekers made up 0.21 per cent of the population of Co
Longford. This compares with 0.04 per cent in Co Sligo - which recorded the
lowest Yes vote, and 0.52 percent in Co Westmeath - which had the second
highest Yes vote.

Eighteen-year-old Sabrina Maguire, a full-time mum, said: "I voted Yes. I
don't mind immigrants in the town, but they seem to be overrunning it. We
have to fight to get anything from the social, but they seem to get
everything a lot quicker. Some Irish people make smart comments when they
pass them in the street."

Despite this common perception, many of the black faces seen in Longford
town are not asylum seekers, but workers in nearby mushroom farms, meat
factories and engineering factories. And the feeling in the African Co-op on
Market Square towards the overwhelming vote in favour of the constitutional
changes was remarkably generous.

Sebenzile Omobude, 24, from Swaziland has been called a "nigger" by locals
and has endured dog-dirt being dumped into her garden, yet she gets on well
with the majority of her neighbours and college-mates and was surprised by
the referendum result.

She said: "This was a divisive issue and now the situation has been
clarified I think it will make Irish people feel more comfortable."

African Co-op manager Evelyn Murphy from Nigeria married an Irishman four
years ago and moved to Longford after running a similar shop in Dublin. Many
of her customers are white.

She said: "I am disappointed to learn Longford had the highest Yes vote. It
is a surprise, but I know everyone wants to protect their own country.
Longford is like a village. In Dublin people are more used to seeing lots of
different people. I have had no difficulties here, but then I expect
nothing."

The 57 asylum seekers in Richmond Court hostel in the town seem oblivious to
the political and racial storm brewing around them.

Somalian Saleh Gedi, 57, said: "The people who work here are very nice. I
have no problems in town, but I am not young and don't go to clubs."

Fellow Somalian Liiban Sharif has been in Longford for six months and says
he has never encountered any racism. "I don't know what is going on with the
Government here. I came here to save my life and the Irish people are very
welcoming," he said.

Hostel manager, and Fine Gael councillor, James Kehoe feels the referendum
was rushed through. He said: "We have short memories when you think of the
number of people who have gone abroad from Ireland. I found people a bit
negative when I was on the doorsteps, but they will come round in time.

"The young people tend not to be biased, but there are people in certain
areas who need to learn more about immigrants. It is now time for us to look
at the issue and try to get people to integrate more. We are not a racist
town, but some may be misinformed."

Lara Bradley

http://www.unison.ie...201815&issue_id
=11030

[Admin-SI]

note this ex Sinn Fein man`s opinion:-

"He shares Mr Barrett's strong Catholic convictions, Euro scepticism and likens a "deluge" of immigrants to the Protestant plantation of 300 years ago."




IRA man defects from SF to Euro hopeful Barrett

http://www.unison.ie...&issue_id=10911
EOGHAN WILLIAMS

THE anti-abortion European election candidate Justin Barrett is being backed by a convicted IRA gun-runner and former Sinn Fein national executive member.

Gerry McGeough, who has defected from Gerry Adams's party, joins disaffected former Fianna Fail and Fine Gael supporters who have also switched to the Barrett camp.

Mr McGeough, Sinn Fein's national organiser during the first Nice referendum, says he is fed up with the party's current leadership and the prevalence of "ceasefire soldiers".

He shares Mr Barrett's strong Catholic convictions, Euro scepticism and likens a "deluge" of immigrants to the Protestant plantation of 300 years ago.

If the Independent does well in next month's election, sources close to Mr Barrett say he will seek to form a political party with Mr McGeough and others whom he believes have become disillusioned with mainstream parties.

Mr Barrett, a former member of Young Fine Gael with a privileged upbringing, says he can see why people might think it strange that he has joined forces with McGeough.

"We are from totally different backgrounds but that doesn't mean we can't both see that a vast swathe of the Irish population feels disenfranchised and that the main parties are ignoring some of the biggest issues on the doorstep," Mr Barrett said.

Mr McGeough believes Sinn Fein is ignoring key issues from pro-life to anti-European sentiment. He says "well-placed republicans" in Waterford, Cork and Co Down have turned their back on the party in recent years.

"We believe that Sinn Fein doesn't stand for anything other than the latest politically-correct fad.

"I am still an Irish republican in that I believe the British should get out of Ireland. I'm also a practicing Catholic and I don't agree with Sinn Fein's pro-abortion policy. I find that the party is now dominated by radical gender feminists. No Irish patriot or nationalist could possibly work along with that or tolerate it in any shape or form.

"It's a party which doesn't want to know old-style republicans. If you've played your part in the military campaign, if you have been a prisoner of war, you are almost an embarrassment. We have nouveau Sinn Fein populated with ceasefire soldiers, political opportunists and rejects from other parties who are being fast-tracked to the top at the expense of countless old republicans," McGeough said.

Mr McGeough says he supports Mr Barrett's "Catholic patriotism".

On top of his own European election aspirations, Mr Barrett is campaigning for a 'Yes' vote in the citizenship referendum. He is critical of the way government and Fine Gael are fighting the referendum campaign, saying once-loyal FF and FG party workers are defecting to his side.

Mr Barrett believes Bertie Ahern's party is being dominated by Mary Harney's Progressive Democrats and in particular by Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

"The fact is the incentives for immigrants to come here are putting lives at risk. Pregnant immigrants are presenting in Irish hospitals at the last possible moment without medical histories.

"The fact is the PD tail is wagging the Fianna Fail dog and people are getting fed up with it," Mr Barrett said.

Mr McGeough also believes the Government parties are failing to tackle immigration.

The convicted IRA gun-runner, who spent four years in a German detention centre and three in various American prisons, said: "I have nothing against people moving to our country. I have travelled abroad quite a bit myself. I don't want to be labelled a racist. My wife is a foreign immigrant and I welcome new blood into the country but there's a difference between that and being deluged by scam-mongers."

Mr McGeough believes Irish patriotism may not be best served by large-scale immigration. A Trinity College history graduate, he was a vice-principal of Bruce College until last November when he was removed following a complaint from a parent about his IRA past.

[Admin-SI]

irish independent 12th November
Gardai probe painted hate slogans on Jewish centre and war memorial


THERE was outrage last night at the daubing of a Swastika on a Jewish centre and the throwing of paint and hate slogans written on a cross and altar at the National War Memorial gardens in Dublin.

As President McAleese spoke of bringing communities closer together during her inauguration address, and Remembrance Day ceremonies were held to commemorate the dead of two world wars, gardai were investigating the racist attacks which provoked angry reaction from political and church leaders.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said he "utterly condemned" what had happened. There was, he said, no place in Irish society for people with such views.

And Labour'sjustice spokesman Deputy Joe Costelloe described them as "unacceptable and shameful".

In the anti-Semitic attack, a black Swastika was painted on the front wall of the Irish Jewish Museum off South Circular Road, the first incident of its kind in the centre's 20-year history.

At the National War Memorial in Islandbridge the vandals sprayed yellow paint on the cross, altar, and memorials and wrote slogans including "Traitors", "Burn in Hell", and "Free Iraq".

Last night the Royal British Legion said that despite the damage it was going ahead with its Remembrance wreath-laying ceremony in the gardens tomorrow.

Reacting to the Nazi symbol on the museum, Chief Rabbi Dr Yaakov Pearlman said he was "shocked beyond words that a deplorable racist act like this" could take place here.

Frank Khan


http://www.unison.ie...&issue_id=11677

[Admin-SI]

'Irish nationalists' link to Nazi graffiti probed
http://www.unison.ie...&issue_id=11682


JIM CUSACK

GARDAI are investigating possible links between a small, right-wing "Irish nationalist" group of anti-Semites and the spraying of swastikas on Jewish sites in Dublin.

Graffiti was daubed on a Dublin synagogue and the Irish Jewish Museum while acts of desecration were carried out at a Jewish cemetery at the end of last week.

Chief Rabbi Jacov Pearlman, who also received a threatening and abusive phone call at his home on Thursday, yesterday said he deplored any act of racism against any minority group in Ireland.

The same black aerosol spray can was used to daub the museum in Portobello, the Progressive Synagogue in Rathfarnham and the cemetery at Dolphin's Barn and gardai believe all the incidents were connected.

The vandalism coincided with the defacing of the National War Memorial at Islandbridge which was daubed with slogans in yellow spray paint. No single suspect has yet emerged and there was no initial indication that the events were linked to any anti-Israeli reaction to the death of Yasser Arafat.

However, it coincides with the emergence of a racist group terming itself "Irish nationalist" with both anti-British and anti-Israeli views.

The group appears to favour some form of "racially pure" Ireland. Nothing is known about the size of the group and it may consist of only two or three people.

It does appear that a small number of people from Ireland, sharing extreme right-wing views, have been communicating with each other over the internet.

Messages from Ireland regularly appear on a bulletin board on the American-based right-wing Stromfront.org site which has dozens of Irish members.

Messages from Ireland include one from a man calling himself "Barry" which is headed "50 reasons why the Holocaust didn't happen".

"Barry" also urges the distribution of a leaflet, provided in printable form on the message board, which includes extreme anti-Semitic views and denies the mass killing of the Jews by the Nazis.

It claims: "About 74,000 people died in Auschwitz, mainly due to typhus at the end of the war. The Revisionists have assembled overwhelming evidence but your media does not allow you to hear about it. There is no pluralism of debate allowed. The six million figure never had any basis in fact. The fact is that the so-called 'Nazi gas chambers' (which serve as a pretext for the present system of tyranny) never existed."

Similar sentiments have emerged from other extreme underground groups associated with the vandalising of Jewish cemeteries and synagogues in other European countries.

Yesterday the curator of the Irish Jewish Museum, Raphael Siev, said: "The museum is now almost 20 years old and there has never been any graffiti of a negative nature on the walls. I feel very upset. It is very worrying. People must know that this an Irish Jewish museum portraying the lives and times of Jewish people over the past 150 years. It is very worrying that an Irish museum should be defaced in this way."

The former Irish diplomat said he discovered the swastika when he arrived on Thursday morning to give a guided tour of the museum, which contains an old synagogue on its first floor, to students from St Mary's Holy Faith school in Glasnevin. He said the students were appalled by the swastika.

Mr Siev said that since the museum was inaugurated in 1985 by the then Israeli President, Chaim Hertzog, whose father was chief rabbi of Ireland, he had never received any negative or abusive calls or letters.

[Loyalist FM]

Have to agree racist attacks on ethic minority does nothing for the unionist/ loyalist cause, It only damages are communities reputation both locally and world wide.