Top Issue 1-2024

4 February 1999 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

Inequality still the unionist aim

By Mary Maguire

As David Trimble persists in obstructing any progress, it is becoming more obvious that inequality is a pillar of his Agreement-stalling strategy. Despite the Good Friday Agreement and the historical opportunities it has brought, David Trimble and his allies have proved incapable of changing. In theory, the Agreement promised nationalists change. In practice, unionists are using the political process as a smokescreen to hide their unwillingness to treat nationalists as equals.

Various stalling tactics are being employed to redirect the media spotlight away from the century-old tradition of discrimination. While the political vacuum deepens, nationalist concerns are increasing. Both Downing Street and the Dublin Government have so far supported the denial of the Irish people's right to a voice in the Executive. More importantly, alarm bells are ringing as both governments, as well as certain elements of the SDLP, are giving their tacit backing to sectarian and bigoted actions that aim at alienating any remaining confidence in the political process.

This week, a number of events have illustrated the deepened unionist supremacist attitudes.

The action taken by the Belfast City Council is a boisterous reflection of the lack of will to treat nationalists as equals. The withdrawal of funding promised to the St. Patrick's Carnival Committee was taken on the grounds that allowing Irish people to fly tricolours on festival floats during St Patrick's Carnival would have been ``unreasonable and inappropriate''.

The message sent by loyalists and unionists and supported by certain elements of the SDLP was clear: expressions of Irish culture and identity are not welcome in Belfast. It is a blunt reminder that attitudes have not changed.

The Garvaghy Road residents' plight is the most obvious indication that the two governments are permitting loyalist protest - essentially protesting against the peace process - to be used to attack nationalists.

No action was taken against loyalist elements or the Orange Order when the Parades Commission's orders were violated. Since July, the systematic refusal of Tony Blair, Mo Mowlam, Ronnie Flanagan and the British Army securocrats to confront Orangemen and loyalist supporters has allowed the siege to degenerate into night intrusions, sectarian attacks and murders. In the next few days, there is no doubt that the absence of punitive action will help anti-Agreement elements to encourage David Trimble to boot out equality.

A recent statement of David Trimble, who is inviting the Human Rights watchdog Amnesty International to investigate ``massive human rights abuses'' is in reality indicative of his attempt to use such organisations to pursue his discriminatory agenda. (Incidentally, he invited Amnesty after they had already decided to come to the Six Counties.)

By demanding that Amnesty focus solely on punishment attacks, he is attempting to once again categorise victims and deny justice to the families of Robert Hamill, Peter McBride and other victims of state violence.

This discriminatory attitude towards nationalist victims is not new. Last week, the Loughgall families courageous move to face British minister Adam Ingram was slammed by unionists such as Ken Maginnis and Danny Kennedy.

Furthermore, as the meeting opened, the families quickly realised that they would not be treated with the same dignity and respect as other families.

The timid steps towards the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement have also directly suffered from the unionist politics of discrimination.

The consequences of the SDLP's ``solo-run'' in the run up to the December deal on Departments and All-Ireland bodies has produced chilling results.

The All-Ireland bodies, a priority for the nationalist people, were watered down. The absence of an Equality Department further angered nationalists as they were informed that the issue would come under the realm of David Trimble.

In this context, David Trimble's attempts to renegotiate the Agreement are proof that his agenda has not changed. He refuses to engage on an equal level. He refuses to acknowledge the right of Sinn Féin to take up ministerial positions. By promoting the old unionist agenda, he is effectively denying his commitment to an Agreement that was designed to put an end to inequality and discrimination.

Equality of rights should not have to be negotiated. David Trimble, and his allies have a responsibility to stand by their commitment. Tony Blair, Mo Mowlam and the Dublin government cannot continue to support discrimination and inequality. They must stand up to the Unionist's segregationist tactics. If a future as equals is truly envisaged, it is now that the pillar of unionist obstructionism must be smashed.

Equality in all its dimensions was a key to the peace process. It is upon the full respect of this principle that the eyes of the nationalist community now focus.

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland