Republican News · Thursday 17 September 1998

[An Phoblacht]

I would not have believed what is being done to the Catholics of Portadown had I not seen it for myself... The people in the [loyalist] mob were throwing stones and bottles and hurling abuse at the Catholics still in Woodhouse Street. I could hear them shout Robert Hamill's name. I could see naked sectarian hatred...

John Gormley, an observer from Belfast's Lower Ormeau on continuing loyalist violence in Portadown.

 

Give us bulldozers and we'll deal with the Garvaghy Road residents. We'll return the place to the rose farm it was before they moved in... They're nothing but rats and parasites living down there.

Orangeman quoted in Ireland On Sunday on the continuing siege of Catholics Druncree.

 

Can you imagine the story if two republican bombs had exploded on the eve of Clinton's visit? It would have been headlines across the world. but because they were loyalist attacks on Catholic businesses, no one gave a damn.

Breandán Mac Cionnaith after the blast bombing of Catholic-owned businesses in Portadown. Ireland On Sunday, 13 September.

 

These new institutions must have an early and radical impact on a wide range of social, economic and cultural issues, in particular the entire equality agenda must be effectively addressed. We need to develop meaningful departments which can deliver a creative and radical programme.

Bairbe De Bruin on the new Assembly and creation of the Executive.

 

I think we have to have a vested interest in the future. Dr Paisley has a great future... it is behind him.

Gerry Adams.

 

The Unionists have to realise this is not a decommissioning process. It is a conflict resolution process.

Martin McGuinness

 

In reality that means making life hell for [asylum seekers] by setting them up for racial abuse and by not allowing them to work, thereby condemning them to welfare dependency... They are starting to realise the government wants to deport as many of them as possible and the `heads down' approach isn't working. Some of the legislation that Minister O'Donoghue, despite the denials, is considering includes vouchers instead of welfare, keeping people in army barracks and changes in citizenship laws. [It] will cause the refugee community to become more assertive.

Dublin-based Anti-Racist Co-ordinator Pat Guerin on proposals for a national campaign to combat racism in Ireland. Sunday Tribune, 13 September.

 

The withdrawal of British soldiers must signal a start to the withdrawal of all British military personnel from the North and the withdrawal of the RUC from nationalist areas pending the creation of a new policing service. The implementation of the British government's signing up to the dismantling of security installations including barracks, forts, spy posts and permanent checkpoints and the removal of emergency powers is also required as a matter of urgency as part of an overall demilitarisation package.

Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin on the withdrawal of British Army foot patrols from the streets of Belfast last week.

 

The centre is concerned that the government will not go far enough in their attempts to bring about the kind of police service that is required and it is obvious the RUC do not have, will not have, and cannot regain, the confidence of the nationalist people. The CHR recommends that the RUC be disbanded...

Submission by The Centre for Human Rights, Belfast to the Patten Commission on Policing.


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