The violent street protests, which have rocked Belfast for the past two weeks following a vote to restrict flying the British union flag above City Hall, hit a new low, with more than a dozen demonstrators arrested after bricks were hurled at police. The dispute centres on a decision to reduce the number of days that the flag is flown, from 365 to 20. The flag is a powerful symbol of UK rule in Northern Ireland, which divides pro-British unionists from nationalist republicans.
Thousands of unionist demonstrators have flooded Belfast’s streets almost every night since the vote on December 3, building barricades and burning debris. “This can’t go on,” shouts the Belfast Telegraph on its front page, as unionist leaders appealed to loyalists to call off the protests. But for the daily’s columnist Liam Clarke, these politicians are failing to show sufficient leadership. He writes –
Up to now the unionist parties handled the situation so badly that they will struggle to get things on an even keel. It is the task of leadership to project confidence and vision amidst change — not to present council votes as last-ditch stands. Rather than bringing us closer to Britain, the scenes of the last week have put more strain on the relationship than a flag vote ever could.
For Martin Fletcher, writing in The Times, the sight of armoured Land Rovers, made him conclude “it is as if the dark days of the Troubles have returned.” He adds –
The flag vote caused such an eruption of rage because many loyalists considered it the culmination of a relentless republican assault on their identity made possible by the Good Friday agreement [between loyalists and republicans, in 1998]. They believe nationalists have secured much better housing, schools and facilities than themselves. It remains to be seen whether the present unrest fizzles or escalates, but either way the mood is likely to remain tense, ugly and volatile.