Republican News · Thursday 9 January 1996

Unionists slammed for attitude to death squads

Sinn Féin has hit out at the attitude of Unionist politicians towards loyalist violence.

On Sunday it was revealed in the Sunday World that a letter from David Trimble's office described loyalist violence as different because ``they bomb, shoot and murder people to see democracy restored.''

Then on Radio Ulster on Wednesday Unionist Councillor Jim Rodgers, in demanding more repression against republicans, said that if their calls had been heeded in the early 70s, ``there would have been no need for the UDA and the UVF''.

Sinn Féin North Belfast Councillor Joe Austin called the comments ``deeply offensive to nationalists, particularly in North Belfast which has seen more Catholics killed by loyalist death squads than anywhere else''.

Austin called the letter from Trimble's office ``further evidence of unionist hypocrisy and double-speak.''

Commenting on the unionist calls for more repression, Councillor Austin said, ``When will unionist politicians learn that repression is not the answer? How often must unionists revisit the past before they recognise the truth that this is a political problem. It requires a political solution, a negotiated settlement.''

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