Ulster strike call rejected

Press, 23 November 1981, Page 8

Ulster strike call rejected

NZPA-Reuter Belfast Rival Protestant organisations in Northern Ireland will mount separate demonstrations today against the British Government’s policies for the province. The Ulster Defence Association and other Protestant para-military groups yesterday reversed a decision not to back a "day of action” called by the Rev lan Paisley, the hard-line leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. But they rejected his plan for a 12-hour strike, marches and the closing of shops and factories. Instead they called for short and peaceful protest rallies at Belfast’s big

shipyard and in other towns, “with a minimum of disruption to the economy.” A U.D.A. spokesman explained the change of mind because of a need to show solidarity among Northern Ireland’s 900.000-strong Protestant majority. “Hysterical and ill-advis-able demonstrations simply play into the hands of the terrorists,”- the spokesman said. Mr Paisley, a fiery member of the British and European Parliaments who has threatened to make the province ungovernable, had earlier discussed the plans for todays action with an other Protestant political

leaders. Afterwards they called on Protestants “in their thousands” to demonstrate against what they consider to be the Government’s failure to curb violence by the outlawed Irish Republican Army which is fighting to end British rule. Mr Paisley and the other politicians are also suspicious of the Government’s dialogue with Dublin over a proposed Anglo-Irish council and studies for greater cooperation. The political leaders said they had agreed to form a united group, to present plans to the Prime Minister (Mrs Margaret Thatcher) for a

devolved or local parliament in Belfast. A Unionist member of Parliament, Jim Kilfedder, said: “We have reached a momentous decision. This has brought unionists closer together than they have been for at least a couple of years."

Mr Paisley’s call for a “day of action” has been condemned by the Churches.

The Irish Council of Churches said the strike plan “was a step in the wrong direction and James Molyneaux, leader of the Official Unionist Party, • said his members would not support it.