In light of the pandemic and Brexit, a peace organization in Northern Ireland warns of the worsening of the decades-old conflict. Both sides are arming.
the essentials in brief
- In Northern Ireland, paramilitary groups have gained a lot of popularity since Brexit.
- The extent of the new recruits is «alarming», says an expert.
- Brexit relaunched questions of identity, while Corona prevented a discourse.
Paramilitary groups on both sides are currently very popular, said the head of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), Paddy Harte, the PA news agency on Saturday.
Both the mostly Protestant supporters of the Union with Great Britain and the Catholic supporters of reunification with the EU member Ireland would recruit new staff on an “alarming” scale. It is “very, very likely” that there will be new violence.
Corona prevented prevention
“Brexit raised questions of culture and identity as well as old wounds that had receded far into the background,” said Harte.
Corona then prevented opportunities for discourse. In addition, “Covid nationalism” has led to the differences in pandemic control in Ireland and Great Britain being scrutinized more closely.
The loyalists feared that Brexit and the trade rules set out in the exit treaty would create an intra-British border, Harte said. Republicans, on the other hand, felt abandoned. Major riots were prevented in the spring only with the great efforts of peacemakers and social workers. At that time there were riots for days, especially in Belfast. The situation remains challenging, said Harte.
The independent organization was founded jointly by the British and Irish governments in 1986 to promote peace and redress in Northern Ireland.
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