Roots of riots in Northern Ireland

Rather than oppose the Orange Order, the Nationalist party Sinn Fein wants to accommodate it within “community politics”. In the past, Sinn Fein organised protests against Orange marches.

Today it labels those protesting against the marches as “Republican dissidents” or “hoods”.

The history of Irish Republicanism shows that those who promote the armed struggle will tend to become establishment politicians by the end of their careers. All the dissidents offer is a re-run of that dead-end strategy.

But the roots of the riots are not dissident Republicans but poverty and sectarianism.

Some 90 percent of social housing estates in Northern Ireland are segregated. The peace process has done nothing to change this.

The number of “peace lines” (a euphemism for segregation walls) and “interface areas” (neighbourhoods where sectarian tensions and violence are high) has grown since 1998. Some 40 “peace lines” now separate communities.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein will not address the question of sectarianism because they are wedded to communalism on both sides. As the Tory cuts are implemented, they will play both communities against each other.

But there is also the possibility of united fights against cuts and sectarianism.

That’s why Sinn Fein and the bigots of the DUP are proposing the Public Assemblies Bill legislation on parades. It will require anyone planning a demonstration of more than 50 people to give 37 days notice, with failure to comply potentially leading to a prison sentence.

It won’t stop Orange marches but it is an attempt to stop protests against poverty.

Still clearing through my Instapaper backlog, so I’ve only just got to this great piece by Simon Basketter.

(via Instapaper)