http://www.laliberte.ch/breve.asp?id=20040713045836931172019048030

Echauffourées lors des marches protestantes: 25 policiers blessés

Rédigé le 13/07/2004 à 04:58

BELFAST - De violentes échauffourées ont éclaté lundi soir lors du passage d'un défilé des protestants de l'ordre d'Orange aux abords d'un quartier catholique du nord de Belfast. Vingt-cinq policiers et plusieurs civils ont été blessés, a indiqué la police.

A l'issue d'une journée de célébrations orangistes, la police et l'armée britannique avaient érigé un barrage de véhicules blindés et des écrans d'acier sur 100 m de route pour séparer les deux communautés à l'intersection du fief nationaliste d'Ardoyne et des enclaves loyalistes voisines.

Mais l'intervention de plusieurs centaines de policiers anti-émeutes et de soldats n'a pas empêché un échange de pavés, de bouteilles et d'autres projectiles lancés au-dessus du barrage militaire, entre deux groupes hostiles d'environ 400 catholiques et 300 protestants.

Les hostilités ont commencé dès l'arrivée de la marche protestante à promixité d'Ardoyne, en début de soirée. Après le passage de la marche, la police a escorté sous une pluie de pavés et de bouteilles environ 300 partisans de l'ordre d'Orange le long du quartier catholique, au grand dam des résidents nationalistes.

"Un sérieux désordre" s'est alors installé, selon un communiqué de la police qui précise que 25 policiers ont été légèrement blessés. Côté catholique, des canons à eaux ont été utilisés pour repousser les assauts d'un millier de manifestants mitraillant les véhicules blindés des forces de l'ordre de pavés et de briques.

Aux premières heures du matin mardi, la foule s'était dispersée et le calme était revenu dans les quartiers nord de Belfast, où les tensions demeuraient toutefois particulièrement vives entre le deux communautés.

Irlande du Nord: les défilés orangistes dégénèrent

Mise à jour le lundi 12 juillet 2004 à 21 h 34

Vingt-cinq policiers et plusieurs civils ont été blessés, lundi soir, lors de violentes échauffourées liées au passage d'un défilé des protestants de l'ordre d'Orange, aux abords d'un quartier catholique du nord de Belfast, en Irlande du Nord.

Les hostilités ont commencé dès l'arrivée de la marche protestante à promixité d'Ardoyne, un des fiefs de l'IRA.

À l'issue d'une journée de célébrations orangistes, plusieurs centaines de policiers anti-émeutes et de soldats ont érigé un barrage de véhicules blindés et des écrans d'acier sur 100 m de route pour séparer les deux communautés à l'intersection du fief nationaliste d'Ardoyne et des enclaves loyalistes voisines.

L'intervention de la police et de l'armée britannique n'a pas empêché un échange de pavés, de bouteilles et d'autres projectiles lancés au-dessus du barrage militaire, entre deux groupes hostiles d'environ 400 catholiques et 300 protestants.

Au départ du défilé, des militants catholiques ont brisé les vitres des jeeps de l'armée, à coups de pavés et de briques, forçant ainsi l'intervention de la police anti-émeute. Des camions ont ensuite fait reculer les manifestants avec de puissants canons à eau.

Aux premières heures du matin mardi, la foule s'était dispersée et le calme était revenu dans les quartiers nord de Belfast, où les tensions demeuraient toutefois particulièrement vives entre les deux communautés.

Une tradition annuelle

Chaque année, les Orangistes organisent des défilés pour commémorer la victoire du protestant Guillaume II d'Orange sur le prétendant catholique au trône d'Angleterre, Jean II, lors de la bataille de Boine du 12 juillet 1690. Ces marches sont régulièrement marquées par des affrontements entre les deux communautés.

Aucune arrestation n'a été effectuée jusqu'à présent, mais des poursuites pourraient être engagées.

13/07/2004    

Violents affrontements en marge des défilés des Orangistes en Irlande du Nord

02:58    BELFAST (AP) - Des échauffourées ont éclaté lundi en Irlande du Nord en marge des défilés organisés par les Orangistes pour commémorer la bataille de Boine du 12 juillet 1690, les forces de l'armée et de la police britanniques étant notamment prises à partie par des catholiques extrémistes.

Au nord de Belfast, les forces de police et de l'armée ont été violemment bousculées par des manifestants catholiques après avoir empêché un affrontement directe entre les marcheurs orangistes et les habitants du quartier d'Ardoyne, un des fiefs de l'IRA.

Alors que le défilé s'éloignait, des hommes et des adolescents catholiques ont encerclé les jeeps de l'armée et en ont brisé les vitres à coups de marteaux et de matraques, essayant d'extraire les soldats de leurs véhicules.

La police anti-émeute armée de boucliers, de matraques et vêtue de combinaisons ignifuges est alors venue au secours des soldats assiégés. Des camions ont ensuite fait reculer les manifestants avec de puissants canons à eau.

Les forces de sécurité ont également été les cibles des projectiles que s'envoyaient catholiques et protestants tout au long du défilé.

Vingt-cinq policiers on été blessés, dont aucun sérieusement, a indiqué la police, qui ne disposait pas de chiffres sur les nombre éventuel de blessés parmi les soldats et les émeutiers. Aucune arrestation n'a été effectuée pour l'instant mais des poursuites pourraient être engagées par la suite grâce à l'identification de certains émeutiers sur des photos ou des films.

Les responsables du Sinn Fein, l'aile politique de l'IRA, ont demandé en vain aux émeutiers de revenir au calme et de reculer. Un représentant du parti, Gerry Kelly, a expliqué que les catholiques étaient furieux que la police ait permis à environ 400 Orangistes de défiler à proximité d'Ardoyne. Les autorités britanniques ont expliqué que les protestants avaient exigé de passer par là, menaçant sinon de bloquer une route.

Parallèlement, dans les villes d'Antrim et Greysteel, des catholiques ont jeté des pierres sur deux autocars ramenant chez eux des orangistes et des musiciens après une longue journée de défilés.

Les Orangistes commémorent chaque année l'anniversaire de la bataille de la Boine du 12 juillet 1690, quand les protestants de Guillaume II d'Orange battirent le prétendant catholique au trône d'Angleterre, Jean II. Ces marches sont régulièrement marquées par des affrontements entre catholiques et protestants.

La journée s'était déroulée calmement jusqu'aux affrontements survenus mardi soir. AP

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© AP - The Associated Press. Tous droits réservés. 

13 July 2004

Ardoyne riot provokes controversy over Parades Commission

Serious disturbances in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast yesterday have left 25 police officers injured and politicians calling into question the role and effectiveness of the Parades Commission.

The disturbances followed a return Orange Lodge parade past shops in the pre-dominantly nationalist Ardoyne. Army personnel were also injured during the rioting, and a water cannon was eventually used to disperse the crowd.

Controversially, the PSNI allowed parade followers to move past the area some time after the parade itself, despite a Parades Commission ruling that only the Lodges themselves should be allowed past.

Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Belfast Gerry Kelly maintains that the actions of the PSNI have effectively rendered the Parades Commission defunct.

Mr Kelly said: "Tonight the PSNI with the support of the British government forced both the Orange Order and senior UDA members through nationalist north Belfast . This was in direct breach of the Parades Commission determination. It has put the parading issue back years as it has effectively handed control of contentious parades back into the hands of the PSNI.

"Having forced the parade through Ardoyne, the PSNI along with the paratroop regiment, then attacked local people. A number of people including myself who were trying to maintain calm were attacked and assaulted by baton wielding PSNI thugs. No action was taken to move on the loyalist crowd or respond to attacks on the Ardoyne community from Twaddell Avenue .

"I have spoken this evening to [NIO Minister] Ian Pearson by telephone and I informed him that he along with the PSNI ultimately has to bear the responsibility for what happened in Ardoyne this evening. Those of us still on the ground will continue to do our best to maintain calm but I have to say that the anger within the nationalist community in north Belfast this evening is palpable."

Police maintain that they acted fully within the law and with a view to protecting the human rights of both communities, and have, despite the violence, praised the work of community leaders in making this year’s Twelfth comparatively peaceful.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: "A lot of work was undertaken by representatives of local groups and communities on the ground before today's parades. Quite clearly much of that work has paid dividends.

"The parades and protests in the main have been orderly, peaceful and well marshalled.

"We attended an incident in north Belfast , after the parade had passed the Ardoyne shopfronts, when youths attacked police and military vehicles with missiles. Police responded appropriately and proportionally. I am appealing for calm in the area and would appeal to all community representatives to continue to use their influence to bring this about.”

Reiterating the PSNI position that such disputes must be solved by communities rather police, ACC McClausland added: "This incident demonstrates that there is no policing solution to such issues. Communities need to engage in dialogue to come up with acceptable solutions and prevent such scenes from occurring again.

"That all other parades and protests have so far been peaceful is a reflection of the great efforts made by members of both communities to reduce tension and maintain calm.

"We believe the overall police operation involving all parades today has been a success. It was planned on the basis of widespread engagement with interested bodies and individuals in communities across Belfast and beyond.

“Any physical measures employed were not kept in place for a minute longer than was necessary.

"As we go forward from today it is incumbent on all groups and communities to redouble their efforts to engage in dialogue to resolve the underlying issues."

(GB)

Orangemen parades spark Catholic riots
By HERVE AMORIC in Belfast
14jul04

PROTESTANT marchers and Roman Catholic demonstrators pelted each other with bottles and stones yesterday as Northern Ireland 's annual Orange Order parades ended in violence in one flashpoint area.

Security forces used water cannon to try to force back mobs in Belfast 's Roman Catholic enclave of Ardoyne, a well-known area for sectarian violence.

Security forces had set up a 100-metre barricade of about 50 armoured cars and steel barriers along the road separating the two communities while the march went through Ardoyne.

Earlier, hundreds of Protestant paraders passed through unopposed, although around 100 silent demonstrators lined the road to protest against what the mainly republican community regards as sectarian – and provocative – marches.

But as evening fell, even several hundred anti-riot police and soldiers were unable to prevent the two sides from throwing bottles, stones and other objects at each other over the barrier. The Protestant Orange Order organises nearly 2000 marches across Northern Ireland every year to commemorate the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over James II's Catholics in Ireland in 1690. Protestant politician Nigel Dodds condemned Catholic protesters for "an unprovoked attack". The traditional marching season is taking place amid a background of political tension in the British-ruled province. Britain and Ireland have set a September deadline for resolving a political deadlock that has left the Northern Ireland peace process in limbo for over 18 months.

Cornered Paras were prepared to shoot at mob
(Filed: 14/07/2004 )

The platoon of paratroopers was surrounded by an angry mob of protesters who appeared intent on murder.

One soldier had his face smashed in as he went to rescue a private being dragged into the crowd, other colleagues took hits from bricks, bottles and bats and one group of rioters ransacked an armoured Land Rover that had been forced open with a crowbar.

At this point the Paras felt their lives were under such threat that they considered opening fire at point-blank range with their rifles.

This was not Basra , Kabul or Kosovo; it was Belfast where British troops are still deployed in greater numbers than Iraq because, as shown by a riot that raged into the early hours of yesterday, Northern Ireland 's peace will always be one step from violence while the politicians dither on finding a lasting agreement.

In the meantime the Army will continue to be on hand to take the brunt in its longest and most bloody peace-keeping mission in Britain 's backyard.

In the unexpected July 12 sunshine, standing in Palace Barracks, a short drive outside Belfast , two years of relative quiet during the Orange Order's marching season appeared likely to continue.

But tensions had heightened after a decision by the Government-appointed Parades Commission to ban drunken loyalist marchers returning along a contentious route in Ardoyne with the Orange parade and bands. The ban was to be enforced by the Army and police.

Their mission was to keep the loyalists and nationalist protesters apart, while not becoming targets themselves.

"Our problem is that the people up there know that we are coming and they can be prepared," said Lt Col John Whitwam, commanding officer of 2Bn the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

We set off in the CO's Tavern armoured vehicle, powered by a hefty Chevrolet engine, going by a circuitous route into north Belfast, an area that claimed a third of the 3,600 victims of the Troubles.

"Now here are some boys who are going to throw stones at us," said the CO as a group of eight- or nine-year-olds, standing next to IRA graffiti, pick up some rocks to hurl. A youngster jumps up and bends back the wing-mirror as we slow over a traffic hump.

The next two hours are spent deploying 800 soldiers, a similar number of police, a vast convoy of armoured vehicles and 23 four-ton Bedford trucks with 15ft high screens specially attached to the side to keep the sides out of sight of each other.

The massive security operation along a 150 yard stretch is there to prevent trouble for three or four minutes of marching.

"We have the impossible task of having the right number of people deployed for the minimum amount of time and then getting them out very quickly because there will come a time when the two communities will see us as a problem," said Lt Col Whitwam.

"It's depressing yes, and I long for the time that the Army doesn't have to be here and I'm sure that time will come soon, as long as the police have the confidence to do their bit."

Perhaps in the future the Police Service of Northern Ireland could call on police colleagues from Devon or Scotland if trouble loomed, he added.

On a trip to visit the platoon of soldiers from 3 Bn The Parachute Regiment, who had been stationed in a isolated spot close to the heart of the nationalist estate, you could feel the eyes of several well-known IRA men registering your presence.

A young boy spits at the CO's boots. "You're a bunch of gays," says another in Celtic football top. A third asks if the fusilier's hackle is for chimney sweeping. A shower of stones and large potatoes greets our arrival at the Paras' position.

Mingling with the crowd two hours later I watch as men use anything at hand to assault the isolated paratroopers.

The attack had apparently been orchestrated with several hundred republicans deliberately moved into the area. After keeping a lid on the hot-headed youths (usually via punishment beatings) it is thought the republicans decided to let them off the leash.

The soldiers finally managed to get back into their vehicles and with the help of senior republicans, the crowd was kept back long enough for them to drive away.

At the edge of the melee, Lt Col Whitwam, fortunately wearing body-armour, received a large chunk of rock in his back, while he recalled the paratroopers under his command.

In the following hour, Belfast witnessed its worse rioting for two years with the police having to deploy water cannon to maintain order. Ten Paras and 25 police were injured.

The disturbance, seen as a probable one-off, came to an abrupt end when the security forces pulled out of sight, leaving the area once more to be policed by its own cruel brand of discipline.

But there was one element in the riot that perhaps showed how far along the road to peace Northern Ireland has gone.

The two men holding back the crowd as the paratroopers withdrew were Sinn Fein's security spokesman, Gerry Kelly, and Brendan McFarlane, both of whom escaped from the Maze prison in 1983 while imprisoned for IRA terrorist offences.