British upgrade Divis Tower
By Roisín Mac Greevy
Divis Tower residents contacted An Phoblacht to express their
anger at a night-time military operation by the British Army.
At 9pm on Tuesday two jeeps and a lorry arrived at Divis Tower to
begin work refortifying and upgrading surveillance equipment at
the British Army base which occupies the whole top floor of the
Tower. The British Army continued its construction work through
the night, only stopping in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The increased surveillance equipment will be capable of surveying
even more of the district.
Between 150-200 residents were disturbed through the night and
complained that when they tried to talk with British Army
representatives they were ignored. During the operation the lift
was broken.
The chairperson for Divis Tower Residents Association, John
Leatham expressed his anger, he said: `` We are part of the
community, the rights of the residents have not been taken into
consideration, at a time when demilitarisation is such an issue
why then is the British army refortifying Divis Tower?''
There are currently 20-30 British Army and RUC personnel based in
Divis Tower and at no time since the tower was built in 1969 has
therebeen dialogue between the residents and the British Army.
In the past the British Army has been known to harass residents
by throwing eggs and golf balls off the roof.
Local councillor Fra McCann has repeatedly been in contact with
the Housing Executive regarding the matter and feels that now is
the ``time for greater liaisons and progress on demilitarisation.''
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein assembly member for Newry and Armagh and
spokesperson on demilitarisation, Mr Pat Mc Namee, said, `` there
are 16,000 members of the British Army and over 13,000 armed RUC
personnel operating in the Six Counties, the British Government
should stop rebuilding and fortifying its military apparatus.''
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