Protestant potential

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32941, 13 June 1972, Page 17

Protestant potential

(By

ROBERT FISK,

of "The Times" through N.Z.P.A.)

BELFAST, June 12. In spite of all the threats and apparent signs of violence — Protestants in East Belfast say that they already have pneumatic drills and half-inch steel sheeting ready for future barricades — there ars* still some officials at Stormont who doubt whether the Ulster Defence Association really will create permanent "no-go” areas next week-end.

Their scepticism was given some foundation by the claims from local U.D.A. leaders last week-end that by midnight last night there would be permanent barricades all over the province. In Londonderry, for instance, the "major” in charge of the City’s U.D.A. unit was convinced on Sunday of last week that the organisation’s ultimatum to Mr Whitelaw expired in seven days. During the week, however, the main Belfast leadership telephoned their junior officers to make it clear that the week-end beginning June 17 was the important one. The U.D.A. has become well known for its efficiency, not only in erecting barricades, but in gathering information. It has even created an impressive system of two-way radios, which are used to direct its activities.

The U.D.A. says that the confusion over dates arose as a result of misundertanding. Be that as it may, there has certainly been a lot of think-

ing going on inside loyalist ranks about the implication of their actions. The Ulster Vanguard Movement, which counts the U.D.A. as one of its affiliated members, has held a number of discreet meetings with representatives of the naramilitary force. A member of the. Vanguard executive said today that Mr William Craig, the Vanguard leader, had been trying to restrain the U.D.A. The truth is that those loyalist leaders —and they include Mr Brian Faulkner, the former Prime Minister—who say that Protestant anger cannot be restrained much longer really are not bluffing. For years politicians in Northern Ireland have used the potential wrath of the Protestant majority as a sword to hang over the heads of ’ English politicians who might be a little forgetful of majority opinion. It would be dangerous to see things like this any more. There have been dangerous and increasing acts of violence between the two religious communities in Belfast. These do not only involve random killings and bombings, but also small gun battles. In the early hours of Yesterday morning, for instance, Protestant and Roman Catholic gunmen were shooting at each other in the Old Park area of Belfast, and in a number of streets near the Roman Catholic Ardoyne.

There was intermittent firing for several hours, not at individual targets, but at homes belonging to members of the opposite community. It was the second incident of its kind in two days, those within the Roman Catholic community using Ml carbines, and those on the other side, .45 calibre revolvers. So far, the loyalists have made use only of old guns. This, of course, does not necessarily mean that the Protestant community is about to explode into violence, or that the long-expected “backlash" is about to occur. What is obvious, however, is that the present symbolic demonstrations, with barricades, rallies, flags, and speeches, cannot go on for ever. If the U.D.A. does create permanent “no-go” areas next week-end, and blocks all the main roads round Belfast, the Army, in due course, is going to have to take them down. Motorists arriving back in Belfast on Saturday were met by a huge barricade on the main road, built from hijacked buses and vans, and wooden barriers; and there were masked, uniformed Protestants, armed with clubs, standing in front of it. A smiling policeman was standing in front of them all, asking drivers if they would be good enough to make a small diversion. It is a cameo that is not likely to be seen for much longer. The U.D.A, does not think so, and says it is not bluffing about making its barricades permanent. Next week-end we should find out.