THE STORY: BEHIND THE SELEAST RIOTS by W. Barrett (Belfast)
There is a world of difference between the voting pattern of those living in Northern Ireland and those living in other parts of the United Kingdom, West Belfc7t ta the only “marginal” seat in the Province - and voting splits two ways. Firstly, Protestant or Homan Catholic; and secondly, Unionist or Socialist.
Thus, there are {so far) 4 candidates: Unionist, Republican, Northern Treland Labour and Republican labour. If there are sufficient of the Protestants who wish to vote against the present Westminster Government ta split the Unionist (Protestant) vote, i-e., by voting for Northern Ireland Labour, then the large R.C. population of West Belfast could vote in sufficient mumbers for the well—knowm FBepublican Labour candidste to win him the seat, This fact is realised by the Unionists and the oe of the riots sten from the action of the Hey. Tan Paisley, who a fenatical Protestant Unionist minister, and who abuses his calling: “e constantly attacking the RC. church,
In the past the Eire flar has been displayed at the Republican H.Q. shop window een these ricts taking place, However, this time, with a Westminster sent plainly vulnerable, the followers of Paisley have made such a fuss that the illésal showing of the Eire flag has been challenged. The police, acting within the lew, which can, unfortunately, be interpreted fairly widely, have used their joawers and forcinly removed the flag... This action wes the fuse to the seri so -~f riots and the effect.has been ta infle ane the sectarian feclings of Weet Helfast in particular, and the voting pattern of Northern Ireland in general.
The pene hope that the R.C. people will split their alleziance and vote in numbers for the straight Republican that the Gerue\s sen Labour vote will be cut. fiso, that the Protestants will vote solid Unionist and that the emi product will be "no change" in West Belfast.
So far as the riots are concerned, one can sympathise with the police. They normielly carry arms and hai to provoke the Catholic working class by acting under orders by remov e Mire Fine, , The kind of people whe took part in the riots were young men, age range 16 - 25, accompanied by their girl friends or wives in some cases. Quite young children formed the crowds that started off the trouble, It was when the public houses closed and the adults appeared that the violence began in earnest, although it must be stressed that drink was not. the main cause of the inflamed feelings.
Ih many respects, one must be thankful that the police succesded in keeping _ the rival gangs of Protestants (from Shankill Rd.) and of Catholics (from Falls Ra.) from clashing. The roads mentioned rm through bleak Victorien housing arcas, and are parallel so that it is very difficult for the police to block all comnecting streeta,
Tt is to be hoped that the mass of the electorate of West Belfast will not be too influenced by the events of the past week, and that they will reject relapious sectarian politics. Ed. note: Our NorthetA d8Pfesponaent is to be thanked for the prompt way he replied to a request for the nbove article. We hope British readers have more insight now into how 12 Tories happen to sit in Westminster,