Frustrations
Frustration is experienced on the part of victims of terrorism here in Northern Ireland, when we see how similar acts of terror and violence are treated and resisted in other parts of the world, even by the same people.
Consider our position, where terrorists and their supporters are welcomed into the corridors of power, and installed in the Executive of Northern Ireland (while it was in operation). Those who murdered, intimidated, and harassed the law-abiding people of Northern Ireland are those who are now in authority over the law-abiding. The law-breakers have become the lawmakers.
Is this what we see across the world, when the world powers seek to act against worldwide terrorism? Thankfully, for the rest of the world, but unfortunately for us, our scenario is not repeated.
Consider Osama Bin Laden. He is the leader of Al Qaida, the terror organisation behind the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers. US President, George Bush, and British Prime Minister, Tony Blair immediately launched a ‘war on terrorism’, where they invaded Afghanistan, the country that had harboured Osama Bin Laden and his allies. To date, Bin Laden has not been captured. If captured, would he be welcomed into the new government of Afghanistan? Would we see him installed as Minister for Education in Afghanistan? Or better still, would he be elected as Mayor in New York, or placed on the Education Authority of the city?
Yet that is what has happened here in Northern Ireland. Martin McGuinness, as he admitted himself, was the Second-In-Command of the Provisional IRA in Londonderry at the time of Bloody Sunday, yet was welcomed into the Northern Ireland Executive as Minister of Education. Similarly, Alex Maskey, a colleague of Mr McGuinness in Sinn Fein, was elected the Lord Mayor of Belfast in 2002.
Last year, part of America was terrorised by ‘the Washington Sniper’, a man who fired sniper rounds at people going about their ordinary business, such as filling their cars at petrol stations, etc. He killed 13 people, and wounded another 6. It emerged, finally, when caught, that two men had been behind the attacks. One man, John Allen Muhammad, was convicted of the killings on 17th October 2003, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and faced the death penalty on two counts- having taken part in multiple murders, and the other terrorising the population.
In Virginia, part of the USA, terrorists were thus facing the death penalty, while the USA urged Northern Ireland to allow them into the government, for the sake of the peace process. We are not condoning his actions, but using his case to make a point about how we are treated in this part of the world.
Or consider Saddam Hussein. He governed Iraq under a brutal regime for many years, so that Bush and Blair invaded. He went into hiding during the war, but was recently discovered in a ‘spider hole’ and arrested. Will there be an amnesty for him? Or early release? Or what about a place in the new Iraqi Executive? Somehow we don’t think so. But why are terrorists in Northern Ireland granted all these concessions, and more?
Loyalty Counts for Nothing
Another frustration that some unionists and members of the security forces in Northern Ireland feel is that our years of loyalty and fidelity to Britain have benefited us in no way. We are treated as outcasts, while the terrorists, the enemies of the state, are welcomed into government, while holding on to their arms and weapons.
“I speak- I can hardly speak- for all those who, relying on British honour and British justice, have in giving their best to the service of the State seen themselves deserted and cast aside without one single line of recollection or recognition in the whole of what you call peace terms for Ireland. Why is all this attack made upon Ulster? What has Ulster done? I will tell you. She has stuck too well to you, and you believe because she is loyal you can kick her as you like.’’
These words are not new. They are an extract from the maiden speech of Sir Edward Carson (Ulster Unionist Leader) to the UK House of Lords in 1921. They show the depth of unionist feeling at the deal between the British government, and the IRA, while the law-abiding, loyal population were forgotten and abused. Later in his speech, Carson quoted one of the British ministers, who said:
‘It is a British characteristic, though not an amiable one, that once we are beaten we go over in a body to a successful enemy, and too often abandon and cold-shoulder and snub, both in action and in writing, the suffering few who adhere to our cause in evil and difficult times.’
How prophetic these words were! More than eighty years later, we in Northern Ireland still see them being fulfilled. Those who through the thirty-plus years of terror and conflict, who served on the police or army regiments, as well as those law-abiding subjects, who had adhered to the cause of loyalty and maintaining the rule of law in very evil and extremely difficult times, were snubbed, and cold-shouldered, and abandoned.
What do you say? The Royal Ulster Constabulary (George Cross) was disbanded. Gone were the proud history, the symbol and name. Why? Republicans said so. Further, the army has been engaged in a process of withdrawal, and the Royal Irish Regiment, part of which is manned by part-time soldiers patrolling, appears to be next on the list of disbandment.
Can you see a pattern? Those who are the most loyal to the British, and wish to remain within the protection and security of the United Kingdom are the same people whom the government seems intent on pushing out of the union. But don’t just ask us. Ask the people of Gibraltar, who have time and again stated that they wish to remain British. Yet Mr Blair seems intent on cutting all ties with Gibraltar, and negotiating over their heads with the government of Spain. We await to see what will happen, but fear the worst for Gibraltar, not because of their unquestioned loyalty, but because of our experience of the British government repaying and rewarding loyalty.
bravenet.com