Northern Ireland
By Larry Habegger | Permalink |
No Comments | June 25th, 2002 | Trackback
Protestant marching season is again igniting tensions in Northern Ireland, with clashes between Catholics and Protestants occurring in North Belfast last weekend after a march through predominantly Catholic areas. The biggest celebrations across Northern Ireland occur on July 12, the anniversary of a 17th century victory by Protestant forces and a source of deep resentment among Catholics. In recent years the worst July 12 conflict has occurred in Portadown. Follow local reports of planned parades and their routes and avoid any that will pass through Catholic neighborhoods.
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Northern Ireland
By Larry Habegger | Permalink |
No Comments | June 19th, 2002 | Trackback
A Catholic woman was killed by a bomb thrown into her house in Portadown June 5, increasing the likelihood of more trouble in the coming weeks as the dates for Protestant marches approach. Police blamed the attack on Protestant loyalist militants who are trying to destroy the peace process. The incident was so serious that David Trimble, First Minister of the Northern Ireland assembly, cancelled a trip to Israel on which he was to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Avoid Portadown through the middle of July.
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Northern Ireland
By Larry Habegger | Permalink |
No Comments | June 19th, 2002 | Trackback
Garvaghy Road in Portadown became a flashpoint of sectarian violence once again when youths from the Protestant Orange Order marched into a Catholic neighborhood May 29. Police attempting to keep the groups separated were hit by bricks from both sides but succeeded in keeping injuries to a minimum. Garvaghy Road has been the site of violence each of the last three years during the Protestant marching season, which is just beginning. Parades are scheduled to begin in early July and unrest is likely, despite efforts to reroute the marches away from Catholic areas. The stalled Northern Ireland peace settlement is approaching an “absolute” deadline of June 30 for the devolution of power from Britain to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The roadblock to a full convening of the government is disagreement over IRA disarming. Failure to come to agreement could create serious tensions, and combined with the heating up of marching season, could lead to unrest this summer.
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Northern Ireland
By Larry Habegger | Permalink |
No Comments | June 11th, 2002 | Trackback
Paramilitaries on both sides of the Northern Ireland conflict have been orchestrating recent unrest in East Belfast and other areas of the city, with outbreaks occurring along the “peace wall” in Short Strand and in South Belfast’s Donegall Pass area. The peace wall is designed to separate the Protestant loyalist community from Catholic areas, and is now being increased from 12 feet high to some 23 feet to prevent gasoline bombs and other missiles from being hurled over. British authorities are putting pressure on local leaders to curb the violence. Travel to these neighborhoods should be avoided, but other parts of the city are usually no more risky than other major European cities.
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