Movements such as Isis, Al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Boko Haram emerge out of situations of socio-political inequality, deprivation and dissatisfaction which develop or are created. Legitimate and peaceful requests, demands and movements for change get hijacked by violent extremists, often backed and perhaps instigated by foreign governments and multinational companies with vested or projected interests in the region. Convenient ideologies such as religion and nationalism are harnessed to gain wider support. Focus is thus distracted from the underlying cause of unrest onto the popular ideology.
In the current Middle East situation focus is pointed towards Islam instead of towards the socio-political structure of the Middle East which evolved or was created following the two world wars.
National Socialism (Nazism) emerged from the humiliation of Germany’s defeat in the First World War.
In Northern Ireland the IRA campaign emerged from the situation of discrimination and inequality following the partition of Ireland. The legitimate and peaceful Civil Rights movement was hijacked by the Provisional IRA. Funding and support came from abroad as it also did for the violent reaction from loyalist paramilitary groups.
The lesson to be learned from terrorist atrocities is that such violence will continue until the underlying causes of discontent are addressed and rectified, and will recur unless such causes are foreseen and ameliorated. To this end, foreign-national and multi-national vested interests must be restrained or constrained and redirected towards the worldwide common good.
While Isis may now be financially self-sufficient by the sale of oil and archaeological artefacts from the territories under its control, it needed funding to get started.
Who provided that funding and what did they stand to gain from their investment? International intelligence agencies must be aware of the source or sources of that funding. Why have governments adversely affected by Isis not named those sources and taken action against them? Is it too embarrassing?
Obvious beneficiaries of violent conflict are armament manufacturers and governments which collect taxes from the profits of those manufacturers for the benefit, in democracies, of the governed population.
Are we all therefore vicariously responsible for the phenomena of Isis, Al-Qaida, Hezbollah, Boko Haram etc etc? We need a worldwide self-appraisal and a new world order. Will such a non-violent aspiration attract financial backing, and can it be immune from hijacking by power and money hungry interests?
DENNIS GOLDEN
Strabane, Co Tyrone
Still struggling to find a way to deal with our troubled past
Victims of terrorism will have reacted with dismay to reports that eight members of an IRA gang are to receive at least £200,000 each in compensation, after their convictions were quashed on a technicality. The eight individuals, including prominent Sinn Féin member Danny Morrison, were prosecuted for kidnapping and interrogating an alleged informer, but the Criminal Cases Review Commission overturned their convictions, because the police did not disclose the role of the agent Stakeknife in their cases.
The frequency with which former paramilitaries now pursue compensation through civil proceedings or the threat of civil proceedings requires a response from the government and wider society. Surely the authorities can actively defend such cases and in turn use civil courts to recover monies awarded to those who were involved in crime and those who are still involved in the republican movement, and in particular the army council.
It could also ensure that all possible defences are used in such proceedings, including violent non fit injuria (voluntary acceptance of risk), contributory negligence and counter claim, whereby any amount perpetrators may receive, whether in damages or costs, could be set against the huge cost that they and their organisations caused during the Troubles. If, in turn, paramilitaries intend to use civil courts to pursue actions against the state, then victims of violence should be encouraged to pursue them and the wider republican movements, including Sinn Féin, for compensation for the massive hurt and damage they caused.
In Northern Ireland we are still struggling to find a way of dealing with our troubled past. In broad terms the two choices are to have a process which parks investigations and actions involving all sides who may have been involved in activities outside the law or else to have a forensic process, which attempts to deliver justice for everyone. The unbalanced situation where paramilitary perpetrators continue to glorify their past crimes and even seek compensation for perceived wrongs at the hands of the state, cannot be allowed to continue.
The government and wider society must use similar tactics and take to the civil courts to restore balance, for the sake of victims and the survivors of their terror.
TREVOR RINGLAND
Holywood, Co Down
Loyalty badge to jingoism
Mr McMullan (November 12) is right when he introduces his letter on the poppy by stating “it’s that time again”. That debate – to wear or not to wear. There is a parallel between the convulsions of emotion around both the poppy debate and the marching season. It seems to me that the intentions of the British Legion to introduce the poppy to remember British service men who died in wars was a matter for them and those who supported such a cause. The Orange Order, as I understand, began by its wish to commemorate the ‘freedom of religion’.
Yet while Mr McMullan gives passing mention to the poppy thing he does not give adequate weight to how the poppy and the Orange Order have become synonymous with matters way beyond the intention of the originators of these commemorations. And here it is most clearly observed in Ireland. The poppy and the ceremonies around it and the Orange ‘celebrations’ have become nothing more than a loyalty badge to jingoism. Whatever good intentions the founders of such organisations had are now buried in a shameful display of insularity and intolerance.
You can tell me to remember the futility of war, respect the importance of the freedom of expression but as far as these two organisations go they are as far away from these expressions as you can get.
MANUS McDAID
Derry city
No strangers to terror
The French government are no strangers to the use of terrorism for political purposes. Political leaders approved the mining of the Rainbow Warrior, in the Bay of Auckland in 1985. The sabotage operation was carried out by the French secret service.
France’s war planes visited Syria dropping their huge bombs which don’t discriminate between combatants and civilians blowing everybody to bits. Armies the world over hide among civilians. The British army and the UDR did it in Northern Ireland, when they set up a checkpoints they would keep civilians in cars around them to prevent attack until they moved off.
If you visit a country and sow death is it not natural that the country attacked will want to pay back in kind.
Politicians who start wars are well protected unlike the ordinary people who are the object of a murderous attack.
LIAM ARCHIBALD
Draperstown, Co Derry
Save our day centre
I am seeking support in our attempt to keep Gortin Day Centre open. The Western Trust has made the decision to close our local day centre which my father attends and move it to another location. For my mother this is her respite from my father whose illness is very challenging. The trust is ignoring the wishes of the residents and their families. Hopefully common sense will prevail.
SIOBHAN HOLLYWOOD
Cranagh, Co Tyrone
