Recent Racist Attacks in the North
Irish News 7th July 2003
Call to blow lid off racism after attack
By Aeneas Bonner
People in Craigavon have been called on to stand shoulder to shoulder against racism after a mob attacked the home of a mixed-race Muslim family and forced them to flee the area.
In the latest attack on a Muslim family, between eight and ten men armed with baseball bats and iron bars threatened to burn them out of the predominantly loyalist Enniskeen area early on Saturday morning.
In the house were four children of a north African-born man and his Irish wife who were in Dublin at the time as well as a grown up daughter, son in law and their two young children. One of the six children is severely disabled.
The mother, who was too afraid to be identified, said her daughter told her they had been woken at around 2.30am when a mob started smashing their kitchen windows and front door. "They hit the door with such force that the glass was in the landing at the top of the stairs," she said.
The couple, who moved to Northern Ireland to support their daughters family have previously been attacked with pellet guns and had a shotgun fired through their window.
"They were shouting we warned you to get out. They were making the message clear this time," the woman said. "All I could think of was whether the children were alive or dead. It has just reiterated the absolute hatred we have seen - we have felt like prisoners in our home. All the good neighbours in the area are very upset but I am never going back there again."
The family were quickly moved to safety while they try to find new accommodation. "Last night we slept like babies. My husband woke up with a smile on his face for the first time in years it was unbelievable.
SDLP councillor Dolores Kelly blamed far-right loyalists for the attack and condemned the distribution of "White Nationalist Party" racist leaflets in the Craigavon area. The leaflets evoked fears of "Al Qaida-style terrorists operating in the area" and oppose the building of a mosque in nearby Bleary. Permission for the building was granted by Craigavon Borough Council last month despite previous objections by Unionist members. "I find the whole thing distressing and I feel ashamed," Ms Kelly said.
"People are frightened to speak out and we now need all the people to come out on the streets against war to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Islamic community and blow the lid off racism."
A Muslim Women and Childrens Group spokeswoman said she was appalled by the latest attack on the community of 300 Muslims in Craigavon. "It has been happening to a number of families in Protestant areas where are their rights to practise their religion?" she asked. "The people responsible just dont seem to want anyone different near them."
Police said they had not ruled out a racial motive for the attack and appealed for witnesses.
Andersonstown News - 7th July 2003
Race hate boss gets the boot
Threats of loyalist violence have forced the British Nazi Partys Ulster spokesman to quit the race hate group.
Speaking to the Andersonstown News yesterday, far right activist Gary Allen confirmed he had resigned after receiving veiled threats. In Thursdays Andersonstown News we reported how the south of the city has been gripped by an alarming rise in race attacks.
The far right activist took the decision to leave just hours after leading loyalists from the PUP and UPRG issued a joint statement condemning recent racist attacks on the Donegall Road.
Two homes occupied by South African nationals on Donegall Avenue were pipe-bombed on two separate occasions over the past fortnight. The British Nazi Party was accused of instigating the attacks which came just days after they leafleted the area with anti-asylum seeker leaflets.
Gary Allen denied his party had anything to do with the attacks but admitted pressure from loyalists had forced him to quit the Nazi Party. Its just not worth the hassle, he said. If I were to stay in my current role Ill become a hate figure within my own community.
Last Thursday the Ulster Political Research Groups Tommy Kirkham blamed rogue loyalists for the Donegall Road racist attacks. He also admitted it would have been impossible for these to occur without the knowledge of the UDA or UVF. "There are a few people who have moved into this part of the city with links to the British National Party and it is this small element which needs to be brought into line," said the UPRG spokesman. "The fact is, it wouldn't be possible for the UDA and UVF not to know what's going on in South Belfast, but these are rogue loyalist individuals and both groupings need to say enough is enough. We will make sure they are ostracised within the loyalist community and this is only the start of a bigger alliance between the two groups."
Despite Cllr Kirkhams pledges, loyalist sources on the Donegall Road insist race hate attacks were occurring long before the Nazi Party started their propaganda campaign. Everyone in the area knows it was the UDAs junior wing, the UYM, who pipe-bombed the South African homes, said a loyalist insider. Similar incidents have been occurring for the past five years. The UDA are just trying to cover their backs by issuing this statement its just too easy and convenient to blame the Nazi Party.
Journalist: Ciaran Barnes
The Guardian - Saturday July 5, 2003
Africans flee Ulster homes after attacks
Rosie Cowan, Ireland correspondent
Community leader at a loss to explain upsurge in racist violence in Belfast
Seven African families have fled their homes in Belfast in the past few weeks after an alarming escalation in racist attacks. Two households, one with eight-week-old twins, had lucky escapes when pipe bombs failed to explode.
James Uhomoibhi, chairman of the Northern Ireland African Cultural Centre, is at a loss to explain the upsurge. But he has appealed to those responsible to stop before someone is killed.
There are about 2,600 Africans in Northern Ireland, of whom about 30-40% live in Belfast. There was a 45% rise in reported racial incidents - from 186 to 269 - from 1999 to 2000, according to the equality commission for Northern Ireland.
Dr Uhomoibhi, a lecturer in computer science at Queen's University, said there had always been racist harassment, much of which went unreported through fear, but rarely anything as serious as recent events, many of which occurred in the loyalist "Village" area of south Belfast.
There have been several vicious robberies at the homes of Chinese families who own takeaways and other businesses, and Dr Uhomoibhi condemned these. However, he thought the attacks on Africans were different in that there seemed to be no other motive than the colour of their skin.
"There was always name-calling, graffiti, car tyres slashed, that sort of thing. But about three weeks ago, an African man came home to find two live bullets on his doorstep. He ran for his life and hasn't been back to that house since," he said. "Then, a few days ago, we had a pipe bomb thrown into the house of two sisters, and another at the home of a couple and their eight-week-old twins. In both cases, they failed to go off, but it was terrifying for the families, particularly as in the latter case the culprits struck at 2.30am."
He said the police appeared to be sympathetic but, at times, Africans were confused about what was being done to combat the attacks, and he felt bureaucracy was getting in officers' way.
Although the recent attacks took place in a loyalist area, and some loyalist paramilitaries have links with the National Front, British National party and other extremists, Dr Uhomoibhi is loath to blame loyalists per se. "I don't think there is any organisation behind this. It is more likely mindless bigotry from a few individuals, but there could be an intention to try and get Africans to blame loyalists and draw us into a row."
Rogue loyalists
Spokesmen for the main loyalist groups, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association, condemned those who carried out the attacks. Tommy Kirkham, of the Ulster Political Research Group, which represents the UDA, admitted rogue loyalists were responsible but insisted neither the UDA nor UVF had sanctioned them and called on the community to ostracise the racists.
Dr Uhomoibhi said Africans for the most part had been made welcome. "Africans have always been good ambassadors for Northern Ireland," he said. "We tell people outside that its bad image is unrepresentative of the warmth and hospitality of most of its citizens.
"Africans here are not a homogeneous community. There are Catholics and Protestants, living in loyalist and nationalist areas, from the Falls Road to the Shankill. Those attacking us want to push the community into a state of confusion and derail it from reaching harmony and peaceful coexistence."
The African Cultural Centre, set up in 1995 to provide information, aid and advice, also has an outreach programme where volunteers visit schools and community centres all over Northern Ireland, holding traditional story-telling and music sessions. Dr Uhomoibhi said there had been a very positive response to this. But he was angry that the organisation was being starved of funds by government.
"It is crucial that the African community sticks together, otherwise Africans have nowhere to run to for help. The government has to back up good intentions with effective legislation and realise that inclusivity means not just Protestants and Catholics living together but a truly multi-cultural society that enriches everyone."
South Belfast News - Fri Jun 20, 2003
Race Hate Attack In Village
South Belfast racists are being blamed for a pipe bomb attack on the home of two South African women.
On Wednesday night an explosive device was hurled through the living room window of the womens Donegall Avenue home. Although it failed to explode both women were left badly shaken by the ordeal.
The shocking incident came just days after the British Nazi Party leafleted the Donegall Road with pamphlets describing asylum seekers as unwanted invaders and warning locals that these criminals will be given your taxes and council houses. Local community leaders have condemned the attack.
The two female occupants of the house were too frightened to be identified. However, they did give a harrowing account of Wednesday nights attack. I heard the window smash and when I went downstairs there was a brick and a metallic object in the room, said one of the terrified women. We contacted the police and they arrived on the scene with soldiers. I have only been in Belfast a couple of days and I am really frightened.
Tura Artura of the African Cultural Centre condemned the attack and blamed the distribution of anti-immigrant literature for the heightening of racial tensions. Tura also called on Village residents to take to the streets and protest against the race-hate gangs living in their midst.
It is time people took the bull by the horns and showed these Nazis they are not welcome, said the race relations worker. They incite hatred and prey on peoples ignorance. I have no doubt this bomb attack was linked to the sick flyers handed out in the Village last week.
A spokesman for the South Belfast branch of the British Nazi Party said that despite the attack his race hate group would continue to distribute their propaganda throughout the Village. This wont put us off, he said. We intend bringing our message to as many people as possible.
However, his comments were condemned by local UUP councillor Bob Stoker. I totally condemn those behind this attack and any documents that may have incited it, said the Ulster Unionist. The Village with its high population of ethnic minorities is fast developing a reputation as the racial conflict capital of Northern Ireland. Last summer a Nigerian family and a Chinese family were forced to flee their homes after numerous attacks. A few weeks later a sinister Ku Klux Klan mural was painted on a wall in Great Northern Street.
Worryingly Wednesdays pipe bomb attack occurred during Northern Ireland Refugee Week and on the same day the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland published a report claiming asylum seekers are demonised, discriminated against and often forced to live in fear. Such are the concerns over the demonisation of immigrants and asylum seekers that a respected South Belfast church group will address the issue at a special service on Sunday.
Journalist: Ciaran Barnes
Loyalists condemn racist attacks
The Progressive Unionist Party and the Ulster Political Research Group, the political wings of the UVF and UDA, have called on loyalists to halt racist attacks on minority groups in Belfast and other areas of the North.
In a joint statement, PUP leader David Ervine and UPRG member Tommy Kirkham insisted that they were opposed to all forms of racism and were working to support minorities.
Loyalist paramilitaries have been blamed for a spate or racist attacks in recent weeks and months, many of them in the affluent south Belfast area.
Both the UVF and the UDA have links with far-right racist groups in Britain, including Combat 18, the National Front and the British National Party.
online.ie - 3rd July 2003
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