Republican Network for Unity Reject Provisional Sinn Fein Claims
Statement from Ronan Moyne Ard Runai, the Republican Network for Unity.
Republican Network for Unity activists were present at the Ardoyne shops and Brompton Park from early in the day of the 13th of July and immediately attempted, in support of Ardoyne residents, to initiate a peaceful protest at the first sign of the massed ranks of armed RUC/PSNI. At the same time our activists were also remonstrating with the local youth who were beginning to respond to this paramilitary provocation.
Republican Network for Unity members attempted to engage with the youths who were clearly becoming extremely agitated at such aggressive RUC/PSNI actions. We spoke with them, not in the style that they have came to expect from Provisional Sinn Fein, that is to berate and intimidate them into submission, instead we encouraged them to consider the most constructive way that they could focus their anger and urged them to be mindful of the negative impact this could have in being able to actually prevent the Orange Orders march of hate through their community.
There is ample eye witness evidence along with photographic and film footage which can verify that the Republican Network for Unity along with other republican activists tried to reason with the youths, as well as linking arms in an attempt to peacefully prevent the PSNI from advancing. This resulted in a number of people having to avoid incoming stones whilst at the same time they were being beaten during one of the many RUC/PSNI baton charges.
The media interviews following on from this by Gerry Kelly (clearly co-ordinated with the DUPs Nelson Mc Causland, UPRGs Frankie Gallagher and the RUC/PSNI press office) bare little if any truth reflecting the day’s events….other in that there was a sustained riot. Gerry Kelly blamed every Republican grouping his mind could recollect at the time. He later went onto name and blame individual Republicans in a very underhand, unsubstantiated and sinister fashion.
It is difficult to understand how Gerry Kelly either could say that the trouble was orchestrated by ‘Dissidents bussed into the area’ or come to identify the gunperson and his/her alleged affiliation to the “RIRA” as he himself was cocooned, along with a sizeable number of his West Belfast colleagues, at a buffet in the Crumlin Star social club as these events were unfolding on the streets – only venturing out when he was made aware of a reporter or camera crew.
The simple fact is that there were no ‘bogey men’ no ‘paramilitary godfathers’ encouraging, orchestrating or facilitating the youth of Ardoyne to riot. These youths were incensed at the encroachment of the PSNI/RUC and the imminent arrival of the Orange order – and responded, through their anger and frustration, by attempting to force the RUC/PSNI out of their community. If they felt this way, which they clearly did, then the Republican Network for Unity believes that they were right to resist. Gerry Kelly needs to come down from the world of a British junior minister in Stormont, once more get in touch with the real base of Republican youth and sentiment on the ground in economically deprived and oppressed areas such as Ardoyne.
Until such time as these youth are engaged with in a meaningful fashion….not demonised, until such time that we have Nationalist communities free from triumphalist, supremacist marches and a British paramilitary ‘police’ force we will have scenes such as those witnessed not only in Ardoyne but throughout the six counties over the past two nights. Contentious Orange marches forced through Nationalist communities show a complete disregard for any form of ‘parity of esteem’, this is the underlying reason for the trouble – regardless of Gerry Kelly’s predictably opportunistic and self serving media utterances.
