History of Conflict An introduction to the situation in Northern Ireland

Summary In Northern Ireland, two communities, namely the Protestants and Catholics, have been fighting with each other over religious and political differences In Northern Ireland, two communities, namely the Protestants and Catholics, have been fighting with each other over religious and political differences -Catholics and Protestants belong to two different main divisions of Christianity

Protestant Beliefs Have a constitutional right to the land Have a constitutional right to the land Preserving the Union with Britain Preserving the Union with Britain Resisting the perceived threat of a United Ireland Resisting the perceived threat of a United Ireland

Catholic Beliefs Northern Ireland remains a National struggle Northern Ireland remains a National struggle Self determination Self determination Others viewed the conflict as a struggle against unfair practices by the Unionist government between Others viewed the conflict as a struggle against unfair practices by the Unionist government between

Present State United Kingdom Britain Northern Ireland EnglandScotlandWales Republic of Ireland

Historical Background The proximity of Britain and Ireland has lead to a long history of interaction and linkage. The proximity of Britain and Ireland has lead to a long history of interaction and linkage.

Historical Background   Before the 12th century: Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland were one country called Ireland   12th century: Ireland conquered and colonised by England   17th century: Protestant Scottish and English settlers brought into Ireland   increase Protestant population

 Newcomers mostly settled in the northern part of Ireland  pushing out many local Irish Catholic farmers  those that stayed behind were given the least fertile land  thus northern part of Ireland became predominantly Protestant  local Irish demanded Home Rule in late 1800s and fighting often broke out Home RuleHome Rule Historical Background

Creation of Irish Free State / Northern Ireland 1921: Ireland divided into two separate parts 1921: Ireland divided into two separate parts based on majority religion of each part Northern Ireland: largely Protestant, remained part of UK Northern Ireland: largely Protestant, remained part of UK Irish Free State: largely Catholic Irish Free State: largely Catholic 1941: Cut ties with Britain and became Republic of Ireland

Beginnings of “The Troubles” ___________________________ Started in the 1960’s -Civil Rights Campaign Started in the 1960’s -Civil Rights Campaign Catholics-inspired by the worldwide civil rights movement Catholics-inspired by the worldwide civil rights movement Protestants – saw this as a threat to Northern Ireland’s existence –responded hostile to demonstrations Protestants – saw this as a threat to Northern Ireland’s existence –responded hostile to demonstrations

“The Troubles” 1969 – London deployed the British Army to restore order – London deployed the British Army to restore order. To most Catholics, they were seen as protector of the Northern Ireland state and repressive majority population. (others – British troops on Irish soil) To most Catholics, they were seen as protector of the Northern Ireland state and repressive majority population. (others – British troops on Irish soil) CLIP CLIP CLIP

Protestant - Catholic Tension 1. Divided Loyalties 2. Education System 3. Employment 4. Housing 5. Voting Rights

Protestant - Catholic Tension Divided Loyalties: In Northern Ireland: Protestants regard themselves as British Many were afraid of union with Republic of Ireland as Catholic government would be intolerant to their Protestant beliefs

Protestant - Catholic Tension Divided Loyalties: In Northern Ireland: Catholics see themselves as Irish and would like to be reunited with Ireland resent the past history of English conquest and the harsh treatment to the Catholics remembered the struggle for Home Rule

Protestant - Catholic Tension Education System: Existence of public schools catering for Protestants or Catholics only Protestant children - taught British history, play British sports (e.g. rugby, hockey and cricket) Catholic children - taught Irish history, take up Irish sports (e.g. Hurling), and Irish language and culture tend to regard British as a foreign country

Protestant - Catholic Tension Employment: Competition of jobs is one of the cause of the conflict Catholics: feel that although they may be academically qualified as the Protestants, but they do not have the same opportunity in getting the jobs they want

Protestant - Catholic Tension Housing: Irish Catholics: unhappy with the provision of public housing councils usually consist largely of Protestants 71% of the local houses were given to Protestants 53% of the people there were Catholics Catholics find the provision of housing unfair

Protestant - Catholic Tension Voting Rights: Since 1968: Everyone is entitled to one vote as long as he or she is a British subject and is above 18 years old has to be born in Northern Ireland or has lived in the United Kingdom for seven years Voting districts redrawn to ensure fairness

How did the Catholics Make Their Demands? Mid 1960s: Civil Rights Movement emerged to demand for equal rights and to protest against unfair treatment of the Catholics made peaceful demands for basic rights such as housing, jobs, education and voting

How did the Catholics Make Their Demands? Met with hostility and violence from some Protestants: including the police force who thought that the movement was an attempt to weaken the government The Civil Rights Movement in 1968 marked the beginning of the period known as The Troubles

How did the Catholics Make Their Demands? Bloody Sunday : Peaceful civil rights march was shot at by the British soldiers 13 civilians shot dead many more were wounded this incident was a turning point for the Protestant-Catholic ties

Bloody Sunday

How did the Catholics Make Their Demands? After 1972: more violence between the Protestants and Catholics destruction of Catholics’ property by Protestant mobs British Army often raiding Catholic homes witnessed by local police force which did not do anything to stop them

Creation of Paramilitary Groups The creation of the Provisional Irish Republic Army was organized in response to British engagement into the civil rights movement. The creation of the Provisional Irish Republic Army was organized in response to British engagement into the civil rights movement. The IRA gained members during the 1970’s and became more violent in their tactics. aim to use violence to drive British government out of Northern Ireland

IRA declared ceasefire in 1974 returned to violence in 1976 developing a strategy called the Long War less intense, yet more sustained campaign of violence The Long War

: Paramilitary violence continued on both sides negative psychological effect on North Irish society IRA was further boosted by large donation of arms from Libya in 1986 now killing fewer British soldiers, they now directed their targets at Protestants The Long War

: Paramilitary violence continued on both sides Protestant paramilitaries: imported arms from South Africa Protestant paramilitaries: imported arms from South Africa and stepped up their killing of Catholics and stepped up their killing of Catholics Security forces were also alleged to operate a policy of “Shoot to Kill”, killing rather than arresting IRA suspects Security forces were also alleged to operate a policy of “Shoot to Kill”, killing rather than arresting IRA suspects CLIP CLIP CLIP The Long War

Self-government restored to Northern Ireland on the bases of ‘power sharing’: Self-government restored to Northern Ireland on the bases of ‘power sharing’: 2001: Agreement suspended 2001: Agreement suspended Protestants withdrawing from Power Sharing agreement Protestants withdrawing from Power Sharing agreement until IRA destroyed its weapons until IRA destroyed its weapons Belfast Agreement

Casualties Majority of them were civilians (1857 civilians) Security forces (1121 members), Members of Catholic groups (392 members) Members of Protestant groups (151 members) more than 3,523 people were killed in the Protestant-Catholic conflict

Implications Northern Ireland, especially Belfast, has areas for Catholics and Protestants Northern Ireland, especially Belfast, has areas for Catholics and Protestants Protestant parades has marched into the Catholic area and sparked violence and deaths of civilians Protestant parades has marched into the Catholic area and sparked violence and deaths of civilians Progress towards the Belfast Agreement seems unlikely Progress towards the Belfast Agreement seems unlikely Life in N. Ireland Life in N. Ireland Life in N. Ireland Life in N. Ireland