Rallies call for end to sectarian violence
All paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland must disband and the problem of sectarianism be deplored, thousands of people attending trade union peace rallies in Northern Ireland were told today.
A resolution read at protests staged by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions against recent loyalist death threats to postal workers and Catholic teachers affirmed ‘‘total opposition of all sectarian activity of whatever nature.
‘‘No-one has the right to engage in this activity or claim it to be on behalf of any section of our community or in defence of its rights,’’ it said.
The statement affirmed in rallies staged in Belfast, Derry, Omagh, Enniskillen, Newry, Cookstown and Strabane expressed revulsion ‘‘at any form of bigotry or sectarianism which has led to murder, violence or acts of intimidation.
‘‘We have suffered from these evil characteristics for more than three decades now.
‘‘Therefore, we call on all those engaged in acts of sectarianism or paramilitary activity to stop. In particular, we call on paramilitary organisations to disband now.
‘‘The end of sectarianism combined with the dissolution of paramilitary organisations will allow all of us to pursue the goals of an equal, peaceful society linked to prosperity and jobs wherein dignity and respect are shown to all and shared by all, irrespective of political or religious differences.’’
Thousands of people braved the winter rain to attend the rally in Belfast city centre.
Banners representing the ICTU and demanding an end to sectarianism and paramilitary threats against workers were unfurled outside Belfast City Hall.
The rally was attended by political and religious leaders in a show of solidarity for postal workers and Catholic schoolteachers who were threatened by loyalist paramilitaries in the past week following the murder of postman Daniel McColgan.
Among those in the crowd were the chairman of the Board of Governors at Holy Cross primary school Father Aiden Troy and former West Belfast MP Lord Fitt.
In an address to the rally the ICTU’s Peter Bunting said the purpose of the demonstration and half-day stoppages across Northern Ireland was simple.
‘‘Violence doesn’t work. Sectarianism is evil - a theme which has the support of the vast majority of Northern Ireland citizens irrespective of political or religious affiliations,’’ he said.
‘‘Today we demonstrate our revulsion and abhorrence of all murders in Northern Ireland over the past 32 years.’’
He claimed the rally had been called not just because of Mr McColgan’s murder but as a result of action by the trades unions to combat sectarianism.
He acknowledged that religious bigotry was ‘‘deeply embedded in the culture of Northern Ireland’’ and pervaded all classes, religions and political persuasions.
He said there was a consciousness of the ‘‘heightening sectarian nature of our society and the death of so many young people recently, allied to the attacks on Catholic and Protestant schoolchildren and the designation of schools as legitimate targets for attack because it would appear that the evil purveyors of bigotry have declared war on the young.’’
‘‘Fomenting hatred among our youth is designed to ensure the continuity of a hatred - which thrives in all communities and contributes to anti-social behaviour illustrated in all too well-documented attacks on public sector workers such as fire and ambulance crews, public transport workers, the providers of accident and emergency hospital services and civil servants in public offices.’’
Mr Bunting said the ICTU welcomed the withdrawal of the recent threats by the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name often used by the Ulster Defence Association.
But he said that welcome was ‘‘based within the context of weaning all paramilitaries away from the gun and bomb as a means of achieving any political end’’.
