NORTHERN IRELAND: "LAST WEEK'S VIOLENCE WAS NOT ABOUT DEPRIVATION"

FROM SINN FEIN NEWS:

British Direct Ruler Peter Hain today said unionist paramilitaries will not be allowed to terrorise their own communities. In response to rioting in unionist areas, he warned paramilitaries they faced the full force of the law if they did not abandon violence.

He said: "The choice for loyalist paramilitaries is clear: play the political role that you claim as your motive, or face the rigour of the law as the Mafia organisations into which you seem to be degenerated.

Recent rioting, "as well as wasting public money" had shaken international confidence in the North he said.

But Mr Hain seemed to suggest that unionist violence was a response to deprivation instead of sectarianism. He then announced a new plan to co-ordinate efforts in loyalist areas, involving intensive talks with elected representatives and civil leaders from the Protestant community.

Responding to Mr Hain's remarks, Sinn Féin Assembly member for South Belfast Alex Maskey said:

"Of course there is deep disadvantage across the north of Ireland, including in some loyalist communities Sinn Fein has consistently argued that discrimination and deprivation needs to be energetically tackled wherever it occurs.

"But I cannot see how deprivation can be tackled by forcing a sectarian parade along the nationalist Springfield Road. Last weeks violence was not about deprivation it was about a failure to force a sectarian Orange march through a Catholic area.

"The reality is that there is a failure of leadership within unionism. The DUP and the UUP ignore the real needs of their constituents and instead focus on out-dated expressions of sectarian triumphalism. If unionist communities are voiceless then they really need to look at the quality and performance of those they have elected to represent them.

"Sinn Fein will continue to demand action to tackle inequality and disadvantage whether it occurs on the Shankill, the Falls or elsewhere", he said.

Several days of violent rioting erupted in Belfast with unionist and Orange Order members attacked the PSNI with petrol bombs, blast bombs and other missiles. Dozens of vehicles were also hijacked and set on fire.

More than 60 PSNI and civilians were injured in the riots. Last week, unionists blockaded roads in Belfast causing severe traffic disruption during rush hour.