Distretto NordInterviste

Martin og Meehan: la nostra lotta è legittima

Martin og Meehan: Our struggle is legitimate

by Aine Ni Shionnaigh for Les Enfants Terribles

How has RNU been effective in dealing with issues that arise from contentious Parades like the “Tour of the North” ?
RNU are very active within the GARC residents Collective in Ardoyne and their influence carries considerable weight. On the six Contentious marches that go through the Ardoyne community, RNU Activists are on the ground for the duration of the unwelcome march to monitor the entire situation. They do so to ensure that the Nationalist population have effective representation throughout.

The Parades Commission has stated it has “restricted two feeder parades for the Orange Order’s Tour of the North from passing part of the Ardoyne area.” Will this decision elevate tensions in the wider community?
As you now know community tensions significantly increased after the Parades Commission banned the two feeder marches. This lead to the Unionist/Protestant and Loyalist community blocking two major roads preventing access by everyone. This was done on two successive nights and also led to  serious rioting against the RUC/PSNI who enforced the P/C’s determination. Four members of the RUC/PSNI were injured in the clashes although no plastic bullets or water cannon were used to quell the disturbances.

Does RNU believe that peaceful protest in the Ardoyne area has been successful in the past and will you endorse it in the future?
RNU fully support the right of local residents to engage in legitimate peaceful protests to oppose these sectarian and unwelcome marches now or in the future. Our Network also endorse the alternative route proposed by GARC in 2009 but which has been ignored by most Politicians including Sinn Fein and the SDLP.

Is there, in the future, a time when you can see the annual marching season not being a dividing force within communities in the North ?
The only time I/we can see a period when PUL marches won’t be a problem for the Nationalist communities in the North will be when the Loyal Orders listen to common sense and stop insisting upon marching clearly where they are not welcome. Republican and Nationalist parades are always held in areas where residents are not offended and RNU ask that all Loyal Orders do likewise.

What is your view on the continuing and escalating brutality, harassment and arrests of Irish Republicans? Will this have a knock on effect if communities subsequently feel under siege by Orange Order Marches.
RNU view the increase of brutality and harassment against Irish Republicans by the British Political Police as nothing new.  However, the Internment of Marian Price is a worrying development and one which needs strongly challenged by those who believe that Republicans have a right to politically oppose British rule in Ireland.

RNU are realists and we know from past experience that the forces of British imperialism will stop at nothing to smear, slander, intimidate and stop political resistance. Our struggle is legitimate and will continue so long as Britain continues to occupy six Irish Counties. If their struggle escalates against our Network, our Activists are quite determined to face them down and continue until a 32 County Socialist Irish Republic can be created.
Gerry Kelly, TC e Martin og Meehan | © Andrea Aska Varacalli

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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