Moochin Photoman
Writings in East Belfast
Just a few thoughts on the curent situation here in Northern Ireland.
The top quote from Edward Carson has to my knowledge been up on a wall off the Castlereagh Rd for a couple of years now. It is beside a UVF Memorial. As quotes go it's a good one and says alot about how the current situation has been rumbling along for a couple of years. The problem that working class Protestant communities have is that they feel left behind in the peace process.
Ignoring the large orange and purple UVF mural for the moment the other 3 photographs have all appeared in the last week in and around East Belfast. In this area there is a leader of the UVF who is at odds with the overall leadership of the proscribed(illegal) organisation. I won't name the man but he is known to be stirring things up and giving tacit approval to street violence when he sees fit. It only takes a few nods and winks and trouble can flair. The growing discontent within the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist (PUL) community is a concern for sure and from my experience limited as it is, boils down to wanting a financial dividend. The perception is that the Nationalist community who have good (elected) leadeship have run rings around the PUL community. I have in the past worked within the PUL community and to a man when asked about this all agree that this is the case. Leadership is lacking in the community. The elected MLA's do not have the confidence of the PUL community as they are seen to be lining their own pockets as they work up at Stormount.
I find it worrying that the forces of law and order are now being warned not by the Nationalist community as has been the case in the past but by the loyalist community. Trust me when i say this this sort of scrawl does not appear without some sort of sanction so must be seen as a message from the leadership in the area.
As for the large UVF mural i find it significant that the colours used are those of the Orange Order. There are thousands of marches every year which pass off peacefully but the few that pass through areas that are not wanted are the ones that bring about the violence that gets beamed across the world. There is a constant denial that the Orange Order and the UVF are working together and by and large i accept that. However there are undoubtably links between the 2 organisations and a crossover of membership.
How these difficulties will be resolved is beyond me.There are all party talks coming up to be chaired by Richard Haas an American Envoy but they are time limited and will, i fear, ultimatley end up as a talking shop with little or no resolution.
In the meantime i think that we will see an escalation of protests (with possible violence which is self defeating).
What a fecken country!
Discuss.......
Writings in East Belfast
Just a few thoughts on the curent situation here in Northern Ireland.
The top quote from Edward Carson has to my knowledge been up on a wall off the Castlereagh Rd for a couple of years now. It is beside a UVF Memorial. As quotes go it's a good one and says alot about how the current situation has been rumbling along for a couple of years. The problem that working class Protestant communities have is that they feel left behind in the peace process.
Ignoring the large orange and purple UVF mural for the moment the other 3 photographs have all appeared in the last week in and around East Belfast. In this area there is a leader of the UVF who is at odds with the overall leadership of the proscribed(illegal) organisation. I won't name the man but he is known to be stirring things up and giving tacit approval to street violence when he sees fit. It only takes a few nods and winks and trouble can flair. The growing discontent within the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist (PUL) community is a concern for sure and from my experience limited as it is, boils down to wanting a financial dividend. The perception is that the Nationalist community who have good (elected) leadeship have run rings around the PUL community. I have in the past worked within the PUL community and to a man when asked about this all agree that this is the case. Leadership is lacking in the community. The elected MLA's do not have the confidence of the PUL community as they are seen to be lining their own pockets as they work up at Stormount.
I find it worrying that the forces of law and order are now being warned not by the Nationalist community as has been the case in the past but by the loyalist community. Trust me when i say this this sort of scrawl does not appear without some sort of sanction so must be seen as a message from the leadership in the area.
As for the large UVF mural i find it significant that the colours used are those of the Orange Order. There are thousands of marches every year which pass off peacefully but the few that pass through areas that are not wanted are the ones that bring about the violence that gets beamed across the world. There is a constant denial that the Orange Order and the UVF are working together and by and large i accept that. However there are undoubtably links between the 2 organisations and a crossover of membership.
How these difficulties will be resolved is beyond me.There are all party talks coming up to be chaired by Richard Haas an American Envoy but they are time limited and will, i fear, ultimatley end up as a talking shop with little or no resolution.
In the meantime i think that we will see an escalation of protests (with possible violence which is self defeating).
What a fecken country!
Discuss.......