BELFAST RIOTS SIR,—Concerning the Belfast riots, the police were batoning
people not for carrying flags, but for riot- ing, i.e. beating-up innocent passers-by, looting shops and licensed premises, throwing petrol bombs, stones, etc. On the Sunday after the riots the flag of the Republic of Ireland was carried by many people down the Falls Road in Belfast: the police did not hinder the peaceful demonstration; indeed, they were deployed to stop other Ulstermen coming from the Shankill Road or Sandy Row areas to take the Republican flags away. A contributory factor to the quietness of this demonstration was the fact that the pubs of Northern Ireland are closed all day Sundays.
My brother and I are Ulstermen; we left our home because of the lack of employment opportunity and came to England. My brother has since returned, being prepared to put up with redundancy a few times in order to stay at home. I myself am waiting for an opening in my chosen career so as to return home. We both supported the Northern Ireland Government in the past and continue to do so. As the supporters of our home government are much larger in numbers than the Republican Party in Northern Ireland, it is the Unionist Party that suffers heaviest from emigration caused by economic factors, not the Republicans.
Perhaps Mr. Davenport could suggest some ways of extending democracy in Northern Ireland. I find it far from simple as the elections, parliament and laws are already very similar to those in England.
J. KELVIN RoBINSON The Union Society, The University. Newcastle upon Tyne
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