Ireland plunged back into violence

Belfast, N. Ireland

The recent incidents of violence in the long history of conflict in Northern Ireland prompted MCC workers in Ireland to reflect:

"In this place of great hatred and little room, it depends, as all the big questions do, on which side is speaking."

How often we have felt this to be true as we have tried to understand the depth of feelings on both sides of the long-standing conflict here in Northern Ireland.

Although it is far too simplistic to talk about the conflict here as between Roman Catholics and Protestants, it is one way to discuss the issues.

But a fuller "reading" of what happened here last week with the Orange Order marches--events that tore asunder Ireland's fragile peace process--requires some understanding of the many sub-groups and their histories.

Some background

The Orange Order, founded more than 200 years ago not far from Portadown, has been an integral part of many Protestants' lives. Protestants formed it in an attempt to protect themselves at a time when they felt under great threat by Catholics.

Today, the order's parades represent a way of expressing the members' "Britishness", their identity and determination that Northern Ireland remain a part of the United Kingdom and not become a part of a United Ireland. About 3,500 marches take place annually, most of them in July, a time when Protestants celebrate their military victory over Catholics in 1690.

But demographics have changed over the last 25 years of "The Troubles", with some communities now either a majority Catholic or a majority Protestant. Thus, some of the marches' traditional routes now pass through majority Catholic communities, setting up contentious flash-points.

Catholics are increasingly objecting to the marches: They see the Orangemen as triumphalist; ugly incidents frequently occur during the marches; and their communities are essentially closed off while hundreds of marchers pass through when, they believe, the marchers could easily take alternate routes to avoid confrontation.

Currently the Royal Ulster Constabulary (the police) are in the unenviable position of making decisions about the marches' routes. But this year, after the police told the Orangemen they could not march down Garvaghy Road in a Catholic community, widespread violence broke out--rioting, looting, burning, blocking roadways, including roads to the airport and the docks. This intimidated Catholics, many of whom felt forced to leave their homes. After a five-day confrontation with some 15,000 Orangemen, the police reversed its decision. About 1,300 Orangemen from the Portadown district were allowed to march down Garvaghy Road without restrictions.

Catholics felt betrayed. Again, it seemed they could not trust the police and British government to treat them equally. And, as could have been anticipated, Catholics also began venting their frustration and anger.

Dangerous, discouraging times

The ensuing days and nights of riots--petrol bombs, wanton destruction, shooting, helicopters using spotlights--have resulted in a drift toward a new cycle of violence.

The current situation is extremely dark, dangerous, often described as the worst in 26 years of troubles.

Last year Mennonite Central Committee/Mennonite Board of Missions worker Joe Campbell and his colleague Brendan McAllister of the Mediation Network for Northern Ireland had mediated an acceptable accommodation to both marchers and residents. Local Orangemen paraded silently down Garvaghy, no drums or bands, and police assured Catholic residents the 1995 march would be the last.

Following the march, however, some Protestant political leaders made a grand display of triumphalism and later denied they had made any compromise.

This year, after repeated, difficult and often dangerous attempts at mediation, Joe and Brendan became aware of the Catholic residents' depth of mistrust. They also found the Orangemen unwilling to seriously negotiate alternatives other than marching down the Garvaghy. A group of church leaders attempted to bring the opposing groups together, and failed.

Protestant political leader and pastor Ian Paisley commented he was glad the ecumenical group did not succeed, because it would have been surrender. "The war with Dublin and the IRA must still be waged," he declared.

A plea for forgiveness

At a Sunday morning Catholic mass, an elderly priest read a prayer appealing for peace and reconciliation written by a Protestant. He gave a sermon urging the congregation to continue to work for peace in spite of all that had happened that week. He used the illustration of the Catholic father whose son was killed this past week, likely a sectarian killing.

The priest quoted the father standing at the grave site with a message to the world. "I forgive the ones who did the horrible killing of my son, and I plead with the community not to retaliate." He called for calm and forgiveness.

John M. and Naomi Lederach, MCC Ireland. The Lederachs work in counselling and mediation in Northern Ireland.

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