IRSP: British Attack Short Strand Residents

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 15 May 2002

Irish Republican Socialist Party

British Attack Short Strand Residents

The Belfast IRSP are calling for an immediate emergency meeting of
nationalist residents who live alongside all Belfast interfaces to
discuss the way forward following last night's vicious attack on the
Short Strand by the British military forces.

IRSP spokesperson Paul Little said:

"Ever since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement nationalist
communities across Belfast and further afield have been coming under
attack from militant loyalism and when these attacks are repelled by
local communities the forces of the British military machine attempt
to complete the attacks begun by loyalist forces. Whether it is the
facilitating the loyalist protesters at Glenbryn or the nightly
attacks on North Queen Street, Limestone Road, Westland Road,
Duncairn Gardens, Carlisle Circus and the Whitewell Road, the British
invariably use these attacks as an excuse to attack the nationalist
community in Belfast.

"The IRSP believe that attempts by the British state to represent
these attacks as localised disputes mask the true intent of British
loyalism - the total segregation of the working class communities in
the city. These attacks are not localised, but part of a wider agenda
to erect walls and permanent division between communities for all
time, thus maintaining British rule through the age old ruse of
divide and conquer."

In conclusion the IRSP representative said:

"No one is denying that there are divisions across Belfast, but these
divisions have their roots in British policy in Ireland over decades.
British occupation may be at the root of current division, but the
recent attacks on nationalist communities are firmly based on today's
political agenda. Unionism and loyalism have difficulty in coming to
terms with the realities of the 'Peace Process'. Their complete
failure over the past eight years to engage in any meaningful way
with the nationalist community exposes their apartheid agenda for all
to see. That this agenda is being facilitated by the British, exposes
Britain's true intentions in regards to the new Ireland of the
future. A  meeting of all nationalist communities affected by these
ongoing attacks is necessary to insure that there is a uniform
response. The IRSP wish to see a peaceful response to these
attacks, but that will only happen if there is discussion and
dialogue both in singular communities and inter-community."

###

Republican Socialist Publicity Bureau
392 Falls Road, Belfast, BT48 6DH, Ireland
Tel: 028 90 321024   Fax: 028 90 330786
Email: irsp@hotmail.com

IRSM Website: http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html
IRSM Statements: http://www.irsm.org/statements/
 
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nytire-05.18.02-22:01:48-21337