Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Purge of ‘The Foreigners’ continues unabated in South Belfast
BBC Newsline is reporting tonight that more than 100 Romanians have fled their homes in south Belfast following yet another series of racist attacks in the area (earlier attacks were reported here and here on Slugger.) One family home had been attacked five times in the past eight months and twice in the previous 24 hours. A public rally organised last night, in the aftermath of a number of attacks on homes occupied by Romanians, was attacked by a gang of local youths chanting racist slogans. Update: The 115 Romanians have been put up for the night in a church in the city, with a five-day old child amongst their number.
Chris Donnelly @ 07:01 PM
Where is the “best police force in the world” during this ? Best police farce more like
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 08:21 PMThis is ridiculous. Where are the PSNI? Is this all happening on one street? Where are the 6 MLAs, standing shoulder to shoulder outside the houses of the victims?
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 08:30 PMThey are trying to jump the housing queue. I was in south Belfast all evening, and it was very quiet. Media hype has done this. Once they are homeless they’ll get a house from the council quicker than having to pay more money to landlords.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 08:30 PMThis demostrates the uselessness of the Socialist Party and Worker’s Solidarity Movement calling rallies and claiming to speak for communities.
About time some real leadership was shown to counter-act these racists elements instead of leaving it to tiny sects.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 08:32 PMIts not the marching season is it?
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 08:33 PMAch, sure they’re only Romanians. Presumably that’s why cops and many others don’t seem to be bothered. Much bigger issues than violent racism to riff on, I expect.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 08:35 PMI’m sure there’ll be a unionist along shortly to tell us whose fault it isn’t.
Shocking that this is going on, sadly predictable following the protests yesterday.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 08:39 PMIt’s time for both governments, Unionism and the Northern media to cut the bullshit, piss & wind and confront reality here. NOTHING like this happens in South Belfast WITHOUT the say so OR knowledge of the UDA & it’s supreme commander there. These attacks and dozens of baseball capped youths DON’T just appear from nowhere without someone of influence within Loyalism knowing. There is a campaign of total denial going on as undoubtedly elements of the UDA and maybe to a lesser extent the UVF are carrying these attacks out. ANYONE who says otherwise is talking shite. Hugh Orde and his force have informers at high levels within these organisations and must now stop treating us all like fools. After Coleraine and now this maybe the Irish President Mary McAleese should now stop hiding and tell us how she & her husband can justify their huggy huggy luvvy luvvy contacts with Jackie McDonald and his UDA henchmen? It is shameful, totally shameful!
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 08:43 PMThat the police have described the attacks as unorchestrated seems beyond belief. Who are they there to protect?
You can find an analysis of ani-racism action (or the lack thereof) here:
http://belfasttobrussels.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/racism-in-northern-ireland/
I’m with Mark here, this issue urgently needs leadership. The Policing Board, and South Belfast DPP, could also ask for an explanation from Mr Murdie.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 08:50 PMDisgusting, there appear to be thugs at work here whose political philosophy is ‘ourselves’, or ‘ourselves alone’. All this ‘Poles Out’, ‘Brits Out’,etc bigotry needs to be condemned and the PSNI given Army back up if necessary to stop these bigots.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:00 PMDamian,
You may agree with me on that but you probably won’t agree with me on this.
I don’t think this has any loyalist under-currents. I’ve lived in Ulsterville Ave and there has long been a tradition of young hoods from within the Village area coming up the road to bait, harass, bully and assault ‘outsiders’.
It used to be students that got their houses ransacked, now it’s Romanians.
This isn’t a true racism problem; its an insular, underclass problem.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:00 PMYes Damian it needs leadership BUT it also requires common sense, reality and the finger of blame as to who’s doing it. It isn’t rocket science, as I said NOTHING like this happens in South Belfast without the UDA supreme commander directing, agreeing or knowing who’s responsible. The PSNI also have well established contacts and informants within Loyalism/Unionism so I would bet they know the names of EVERYONE involved. The real question is indeed WHO are they protecting and why? Mount Vernon & the UVF AND Micheal Stone & the UDA show that the PSNI & Security Services know EVERYTHING going on with militant Loyalism. STOP FOOLING US FOR F**KS SAKE WE HAVE SEEN IT ALL BEFORE!!!!!
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:04 PMI don’t think its true racism either. Youths hanging about with nothing to do, getting up to no good, if they weren’t throwing bricks at these people, they’d do it to someone else.
What is needed is for the youngsters from the village and surrounding areas to be given resources and access to education. I don’t think there is a policing soloution to this, no one could get security 24/7, target the youth from the areas involved, like the village and give them some resources and the problem will go away imv.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:06 PMSorry to disturb the liberal consensus but I don’t want Romanian Gypsies living next to me. The UK and Irish governments could easily have adopted tougher immigration policies with regards Romania but chose not to. I’m not endorsing bricks through windows but they shouldn’t be allowed to come here in the first place, just my view, call me what you like!
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:12 PMHold on a second folks. The facist above did have a point.
115 people were not driven out of their homes tonight. No purge took place. Some impoverished and probably scared people decided to leave after attacks on two homes - not theirs.
The mass and possibly cooridinated exodus does looked almost better planned than the attacks.
Sorry - spade is a spade. The fascist called it right imho.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:15 PMMark, LURIG,
I couldn’t possibly say whether there are loyalists involved, or at what level that could be, I just don’t know. I take your point Mark, though there is definitely a pattern here (which strongly suggests racism as the motive), and there is a precendent as well. Equally, if there weren’t, it would be foolish to completely separate the racist attacks and the problems you mention. Lurig, I see your point too, but I prefer a police force that works on evidence and shares that evidence. Not that this excuses Mr Murdie’s potentially reckless comments.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:20 PMThe UDA are up to their necks in it and I demand the 2 governments make a statement, the Assembly has a debate AND the spineless Northern media grow a pair of balls. I know many journalists read Slugger so could some of you invertebrates tell the truth as to who’s doing it? LOYALIST PARAMILITARIES are doing it AND your compliant cowardice in not reporting that is shameful and disgusting.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:23 PMMark,
A coordinated action seeking refuge from potentially being firebombed, particularly in the case of parents with young children, is hardly something to be treated with suspicion.
To suggest that people are leaving homes to get a home is not the brightest idea I’ve heard. That other residents have not fled suggests racism is the motive.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:28 PMShock and horror as filthy loyalist sub-human scum do what filthy loyalist sub-human scum do best…..
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:29 PMMark why don’t you just get it off your chest and call me a Nazi. Racism and fascism ain’t the same thing. Much as the nice chaps from the SDLP youth would like to think otherwise, the reality is that a very large number of people in this country share my view but are too polite to say so.
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:33 PMWhere is the evidence that this is loyalists?
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:34 PMOk it’s “filthy loyalist sub-human scum” now, brilliant!
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:34 PM“Disgusting, there appear to be thugs at work here whose political philosophy is ‘ourselves’, or ‘ourselves alone’. All this ‘Poles Out’, ‘Brits Out’,etc bigotry needs to be condemned and the PSNI given Army back up if necessary to stop these bigots.”
Indeed, I agree Driftwood, as you’ve mentioned the negativity toward all foreign nationals in Northern Ireland is appalling.
The BNP in Britain is an obnoxious manifestation too of this racism that seems to be becoming more popular in the UK. I’m sure you agree with that too.
Racism is a cancer!
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:35 PMVillager,
Perhaps you could explain exactly why you wouldn’t accept a Romanian neighbour?
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:36 PMIsn’t this a pogrom?
Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 @ 09:36 PM
