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.
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