Over a hundred Romanians have left their homes due to harassment or fear of harassment in South Belfast’s university area. The racist violence appears to be the work of residents from adjacent loyalist areas, and there’s talk of links with both paramilitary groups and Combat 18, the former rather more likely I would say. A demonstration in support of the families was attacked last night.So are racist attacks a worse problem in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK? I would say there are clearly some special features gained from over a century’s experience of sectarian harassment and violence: a more rapid escalation, the use of firearms, and of course links with organised gangs i.e. paramilitary groups. There’s also a question of the basic motive. In GB this might be a fear of difference, or a wish to drive out a group that’s competing for jobs. Here in NI, these may well apply but will be supplemented by a territorial imperative. Generations of trying to keep your area ‘safe’ from encroachment by themmuns isn’t going to make you inclined to welcome another group, as you are likely to treat all outsiders with suspicion.
There’s an important structural point to be made about where the harassment is taking place. In this case, the area would be seen as ‘mixed’ in terms of religious occupancy. But many cases of racial harassment in Belfast take place in ‘Protestant’ areas, where the population is declining both due to lower rates of household formation and younger generations moving out to the suburbs. Empty houses are bought up by private landlords and let to minority ethnic newcomers. Pressure on housing in ‘Catholic’ areas is greater and this means fewer, if any, empty houses. Therefore it remains unknown whether republican communities (and paramilitary groups) would behave in the same way if faced with a similar situation.
Combining racism with a history of violent responses to sectarianism creates a volatile mix which requires particularly strong condemnation from Northern Ireland’s politicians and community leaders, as well as decisive action from the PSNI. So far, action and reaction have been patchy to say the least. That’s what’s most worrying for the future.
8 comments:
Welcome to your nice new blog, Jenny!
I hadn't heard of the Romanian Exodus, this is very disturbing. On many levels.
Studies have shown that the most marginalized and condemned of societies will, given the opportunity, inflict the same on those they deem their 'lessers'.
Sadly true.
XO
WWW
Thank you www, and welcome back yourself after your travels.
Yes, it's true that those doing the harassing are not from the higher echelons of socity, but they can be manipulated by those who are.
Am totally disgusted about these sick attacks and hope these decent people get all the support and help they need.
As a Republican Socialist, they are quite welcome to come and live in my local community!
Ardoyne Republican - thanks for this, and I'm sure there are plenty of people in republican communities who would make newcomers welcome, same as there are in loyalist areas.
But my question is - how widely would this view be shared? We just don't know. In fact, given the greater pressure on housing in nationalist areas, is it possible that some politicians and community workers might make a stronger case for 'outsiders' to leave? - although not violently, of course.
The racist thugs who carried out these attacks are conspicuous by their silence. They don't have the nerve to reveal their identities or their reasons for wanting the Romanians to leave their area. So we have no idea what their motives actually are and can't discuss them or refute them.
Nick, you are right, but I wonder whether these young men are being manipulated by paramilitary groups who do have a very clear agenda although they don't choose to make it public. I find it very hard to believe the PSNI line that there's no paramilitary involvement.
Jenny, in my street alone there R two Portugese families living here and R quite happy.
Luckily, we have a residents Committee and everyone is treated as equals.
Regards the issue of the severe lack of housing in republican areas, particularly in North Belfast. What is needed is a shared, agreed and progressive plan that threatens no one community. Where everyone can share space and areas without the Protestant community feeling threatened by Nationalist and Republicans.
Finally, its so sad that so many families actually leave the country over this.
Ardoyne Republican - What you say is the way forward for NI, most particularly addressing the housing need in a way that makes it plain that building housing isn't about taking over trerritory but about providing homes for people who need them.
Also I agree, a shame people have left, see my new post on Irish Left Review.
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