Crowd urges disbanding of RUC.
From THE IRISH NEWS November 5th, 1998
By Jonathan Turner
CHRIS PATTEN'S independent commission into policing heard last night that
there was no other option but to disband the RUC in Northern Ireland. At
a public meeting in the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education
on the Whiterock Road Mr Patten and his fellow commissioners heard submissions
from people from throughout west Belfast. Mr Patten described policing as
one of the "most crucial issues" to the future peace of the community: "We know that we are touching on issues which cause real pain and real hurt to people." "It seemed to us impossible to do our work properly without giving the community the opportunity to express those pains," he said. He urged everyone to come forward and say what they felt. The meeting then watched
a brief video chronicling a number of public order incidents where the RUC
have clashed with nationalists. Danny Power, manager of the Frank Gillen
Centre, told Mr Patten that the RUC must be disbanded. "The RUC's role since its inception, particularly over the past 30 years, places it beyond redemption in the eyes of this community," he said. "The resentment and indeed hatred of the RUC runs long and deep in this community, leaving many scars and wounds." He added that the west Belfast community had been opposed to the
RUC since the 1920s. "In fact when the RUC was formed in 1922, it was used to underpin the northern state, was inextricably linked to unionism, was sectarian in nature, and used its force ruthlessly on the people of west Belfast and elsewhere to uphold the state." The meeting also heard submissions on public marches and funerals, the experiences of young people in the area
and those who have lost relatives through the actions of police. After hearing
some emotional submissions from the floor, Mr Patten sparked an angry reaction
when he said he was happy to listen to any further grievances - but asked
if anyone had any "positive suggestions". Some people shouted 'you're not
listening' at the panel. One man said the implication of Mr Patten's comments
was that the submissions had not been positive already. Another said that
when the commission had finished their work, they would leave Northern Ireland.
To applause and cheers, he added: "We'll still be here, but the RUC won't." |
