British Nationalist Group Set To Visit Fountain
Derry Journal - Feb 24 2004
THE BRITISH Ulster Alliance, a group formed in October 1999 by what was described as 'loyalists, patriots and British nationalists on the mainland,' will be visiting the Fountain in Derry at the end of this week as part of what they call an ' educational visit.'
The group, which is vehemently opposed to the peace process, said they are coming here as part of their annual visit where they visit loyalists areas "to witness life in British communities adjacent to republican strongholds and who face the constant threat of violence from the IRA and its supporters."
On its website the right wing British nationalist group said: "This year, for the first time, we will also be visiting the small and besieged Fountain Estate in Londonderry.
"The Fountain is the only Protestant housing estate on the west bank of the River Foyle. Previous Loyalist communities have all been forcefully ejected from the west of Londonderry due to a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing by Irish republicans."
The British Ulster Alliance added: "The BUA's visit to this brave community will hopefully reassure the residents of the Fountain that they are not forgotten about and that, as fellow British citizens, we offer them our full support."
The British Ulster Alliance claim their visit is part of what they call a new initiative called 'Interface Action' which they say will be focused on the plight of Loyalist communities in Ulster that face threats, intimidation and violence from adjacent republican strongholds.'
The group said they will be visiting Loyalist interface communities and offer financial, political and moral support. The British Ulster Alliance was officially formed in October 1999 by loyalists, patriots and British nationalists in England.
The group said: "From its inception the Alliance has vehemently opposed the 'Peace Process', viewing it as an addition to the 'Anglo-Irish Agreement' and other similar pro-'united Ireland' initiatives introduced by successive British governments.
Their website goes on to say: "The Alliance sincerely believes that the surrender of loyalist weapons would rapidly accelerate the sell-out of Ulster.
"Loyalist communities cannot trust the present government to defend them from those who still advocate the policy of 'Brits out'. Until the time when a British government emerges whose loyalty lies with the people it is meant to represent, loyalists must be prepared to defend themselves."
AFA Letter to Derry Journal
26th February 2004
Dear Sir/Madam
On February 24th the Derry Journal published an article entitled ‘British Nationalist Group Set To Visit Fountain’. While the Derry Journal was correct to alert people to the impending presence of the ‘British Ulster Alliance’ in the city, the article itself seems to have been written after a quick glance at the BUA website, with no other background information about the group or it’s activities. The BUA defines itself as a group of ‘loyalists, patriots and British Nationalists’, but in fact the majority of members are long time fascists operating under a new name.
The British Ulster Alliance is a UDA front group led by a man called Frank Portinari. In the early 1990's Portinari was head of the London branch of the UDA and recruited many fascists to the organisation. In 1993 he was jailed for 5 years for running guns to the UDA. The BUA, allied with football hooligans and fascist gangs, have attacked Irish events in London.
In October 2002 the BUA organised a ‘Free Johnny Adair’ picket at 10 Downing Street. There were UFF banners on the protest and it was attended by members of Combat 18, the National Front and other British fascists. These included Andrew Frain, a notorious football hooligan with the Chelsea ‘Headhunters’ who was jailed in December 2000 for attacking people on the Bloody Sunday commemoration march in London.
The Downing Street protest was part of a BUA 'day of action', which mustered around 100 neo-nazis, many dressed in wannabe loyalist regalia and waving paramilitary flags. Many of the ‘protestors’ were so drunk they were barely able to stand upright and they screamed sectarian abuse at anti-fascists and human rights groups opposing their protest.
In November 2002 a BUA delegation visited the Village area of South Belfast. At the time the area was covered with Israeli flags, but the UDA ordered their removal for fear of offending the visiting fascists.
Members of the BUA were also involved in setting up a website called 'Support Cluan Place' which claimed to represent the views of residents in Cluan Place in East Belfast. Cluan Place is a small cul-de-sac from which large number of non-local loyalists, many from the UDA and UVF, carried out sectarian attacks on the nationalist Clandeboye estate in Short Strand throughout 2002.
A message board on the Cluan Place site has statements of support from a loyalists and fascists from all over Britain as well as Orange lodges and Rangers supporters clubs in America. Also weighing in with support was Andy McLorie of the Ulster BNP and the 'Concerned Residents of Upper Ardoyne', the group which held protests against children attending school at Holy Cross. Many of the messages used racist language, describing catholics as 'scumbags', 'bastards', 'vermin' and 'filthy, lazy layabouts' who have "have polluted our country for 30 years". Many posters sign off with the slogan 'K.A.T.' ('Kill All Taigs').
The BUA average about two visits per year to Ireland and always carefully chooses areas where they can rant on about ‘ethnic cleansing of loyalists’, while never mentioning sectarian attacks on nationalists. The purpose of the visits is to maintain and develop links with the UDA and get some favourable press coverage for the BUA’s ‘pro-British’ statements. In reality they are just the same old fascists operating under a new umbrella.
Yours,
Anti-Fascist Action, Ireland
C/o PO Box 3355
Dublin 7
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