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Knowing Northern Ireland means knowing the Jargon June, 1999, Northern Ireland To understand this deeply troubled land it helps to understand something of the language they use. Take the sign above. CIRA stands for 'Continuity Irish Republican Army,' which means this group has factioned off from the IRA and refuses to engage in the current peace negotiations. They're going to continue the fight until they've unified with the Republic of Ireland (which is a completely separate nation from the United Kingdom). Not a bullet means not giving back any of their arms, and not an ounce means not giving back any of their explosives. (There are also Loyalist splinter groups just as radical and violent.)
All over Belfast the murals attest to peoples political sympathies. These murals and graffiti are taken with the highest seriousness here. At the risk of over-simplifying the armed conflict, there are basically two extreme militarist camps feeding the troubles: those who want to be part of the UK (of Protestant origin) and those that want to be part of the Republic of Ireland (of Catholic origin). However, the vast majority of people here are moderate. This sometimes 'silent majority' returned a resounding 74% "yes" vote in the Belfast Agreement referendum, which technically removed the old Dublin rule versus London rule issue. This means that the people of Northern Ireland alone now control their future, and if there is to be a United Ireland in the future, and a break from British rule, it must be decided by another such referendum.
What follows is a rough treatment of the militarist extremes in the conflict. This DOES NOT cover the majority of the people in Northern Ireland. But these are the groups which add fuel to "The Troubles."
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 Off the Ormeau Road, Belfast |
 Whiterock Road, West Belfast |
Loyalists: Religion: Protestant Objective: To remain part of the United Kingdom Extreme Political Party/Primary Leader: UDP (Ulster Democratic Party)/Gary McMichel, PUP (Progressive Unionist Party)/David Ervine. Paramilitary
Groups (associated with the Loyalist political parties
above): UFF (Ulster Freedom Fighters), UDA (Ulster
Defense Association), UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force), LVF
(Loyalist Volunteer Force). |
Republicans: Religion: Catholic Objective: To unify with the Irish Republic Extreme Political Party/Primary Leader: Sinn Fein/Gerry Adams Paramilitary Groups aligned with this cause: IRA (Irish Republican Army), and the INLA (Irish Nationalist Liberation Army) There
are now splinter groups of the IRA that are no longer in
alliance with the IRA, i.e. CIRA (Continuity IRA). |
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"Troubles" really took root after 1971 at
"Bloody Sunday" in Londonderry/Derry, Northern
Ireland, although the housing issue that gave rise to the
riots had been bubbling up in Derry since the late 60's.
As riots erupted, British troops were sent in to try and
keep order. Initially they were received well all across
the board, in time though the nationalist areas lost
confidence in the British Army. In the last few years, the
British military presence has been dramatically reduced
as a result of the current peace talks.
In recent years some of these marches and bonfires have become sectarian symbols and violence has ensued. Thousands (from both sides) leave Northern Ireland to avoid the tension and atmosphere. Drumcree has become a crucible for the tensions. It's where Catholics have refused to let the Orangemen march through their community. Many have told us this is such a sore spot they fear it may spark civil war.
Preparations for massive bonfires were already evident all over Belfast when we were there a month before the 12th. Back to Belfast
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Generalizations are both
hard and easy to make. Being a Catholic doesn't
necessarily mean one is a 'republican' who wants unity
with the Republic of Ireland. And being a Protestant
doesn't equate to being a 'loyalist' who will take up
arms to remain in the United Kingdom as a British
citizen. However, in the modern situation, those that are
republicans are typically Catholic and those that are
loyalists are typically Protestants.
Over the last few years,
tensions have been rising to a fever pitch around the
12th of July. This celebrates the Battle of Boyne in 1690
when the Protestant King William (of Orange, Holland)
defeated the British Catholic King James. Bonfires and
marching by the Orange Order are traditional means of
marking the day. For generations these celebrations have
been peaceful and positive expressions of people's
culture but, like many aspects of life, language &
culture in Northern Ireland, recently they have become
politicized.