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As each day passes the full extent of the fall-out for Unionism
from the Belfast Agreement becomes clearer. As the catalogue
of Government concessions to Sinn Fein/I.R.A. continues, more
Unionists have become persuaded to the majority view in their
community that this is a political process which is not in
the best interests of safeguarding the Union and preserving
democracy and law and order.
Throughout this one-sided process, the agendas of pan-nationalism
and the violent extremes in Northern Ireland society have
been greatly advanced at the expense of the pro-Union population.
The major concessions made to Irish republicans by an administration
which tragically goes under the name of Her Majesty's Government
are aimed at considerably weakening Northern Ireland as part
of the United Kingdom, yet the sad thing is that some unionists
have not yet woken up to that fact.
Unionists, who voted in favour of the Belfast Agreement in
the referendum of May, 1998, should closely study the disastrous
results of their endorsement of this document:
- Terrorist prisoners, republican and loyalists, convicted
of the most heinous crimes against innocent people have
been released after serving only a few years of their sentences.
- A Northern Ireland Assembly executive has been set
up on a 50-50 unionist-nationalist ratio, conveniently ignoring
the fact that unionists account for 60 per cent of the total
Assembly membership.
- Sinn Fein members have been installed into Government
ministerial positions without any decommissioning of the
I.R.A.'s illegal weaponry.
- The R.U.C. has been emasculated and effectively disbanded,
with plans to recruit officers to a new force on a 50-50
Protestant-Roman Catholic basis, in clear breach of fair
employment legislation.
- Vital security installations have been scaled down
in areas where active republican paramilitaries still hold
considerable sway.
- North-South institutions have been set up which legitimise
the influence of the Republic of Ireland in the day-to-day
affairs of Northern Ireland.
- The Union Flag has been hauled down from Government
department offices at Stormont, on the direct instructions
of Sinn Fein ministers.
- Bilingualism has been introduced in Northern Ireland
government departments with the Irish language, alien to
the majority of people in the Province, given parity alongside
the English language.
- Northern Ireland has been droppoed from the title of
education and health departments in the Province.
The alarming drift in favour of pan-nationalism must be halted,
but this can only be done if Unionists of all shades unite
to take a firm and resolute stand in defence of their rights
as citizens of the United Kingdom.
The coming days, weeks and months are crucial to the cause
of Unionism and the Ulster Unionist Council has an ideal opportunity
on Saturday, February 12, to act decisively on behalf of the
greater number of people in this Province.
The ideal that a peaceful and stable Northern Ireland
will emerge from a train of political concessions to republicans
is a fallacy and mainstream Unionist politicians must show
the leadership and moral qualities which the present Westminster
government sadly lacks.
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