Trade unionists are pushing politicians for a tougher, co-ordinated stance against sectarianism following two nights of rioting in Belfast and the murder of a Catholic teenager last week.
Members of the ICTU met the Deputy First Minister yesterday to push their case for a more concerted programme of action by the parties and to question decisions to cut funding from some community groups in Belfast. The union movement is planning another protest against sectarianism in Belfast on Friday. A mass rally was organised following the murder of postal worker Danny McColgan last January by the UDA. Other initiatives are planned for the autumn.
Mr Peter Bunting, ICTU's assistant general secretary, told The Irish Times: "We can't be operating alone and the burden should not be on the trade union movement to do that. What we're saying as categorically as we can is that the politicians themselves need to give leadership on this issue. They need to more than just talk, they need to provide a pro-active longterm strategy to combat sectarianism." Mr Bunting acknowledged efforts by politicians but added that more needed to be done. He said the removal of state funding from some groups at interface areas in Belfast and cross-community bodies "has contributed to, and exacerbated the situation we have in north Belfast".
"We would be optimistic that there seems to be a genuine attempt by a number of political parties certainly in Belfast to make a longterm commitment to combating sectarianism. We will give them whatever support they need." Mr Durkan praised ICTU efforts to fight sectarianism, saying: "They are moving now as they have done not simply in reaction to one murder but in response to what is seen as a wider threat." He admitted that politicians had to put beyond doubt their opposition to intolerance.
The Sinn Féin president said more needed to be done by unionists in Mr David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party to help put an end to attacks on Catholics. Three young men have been killed by the UDA in 12 months. A memorial vigil was held at the spot where the UDA shot dead Gavin Brett near St Enda's GAA club on the outskirts of north Belfast a year ago on Sunday. His killers, who shot him dead as they drove past, believed he was a Catholic.
Mr Adams, following on a recent claims by his party that loyalist paramilitaries have carried out hundreds of sectarian attacks in the past year, claimed "The Catholic community and other people of goodwill want to know when the killing of Catholics is going to stop. They want to know when the UUP is going to join with the other pro-agreement parties to confront sectarianism." He also responded to comments by Sir Reg Empey who told the BBC at the weekend of UUP concerns at the dilemma of working with republicans in government while IRA activity continued.
Mr Adams countered, asking what unionists could achieve on the streets of Belfast by bringing down the Belfast Agreement. He has insisted that Sinn Féin ministers take their seats in the Executive as of right, thanks to their electoral mandate, and not due solely to the say-so of other parties. He questioned Ulster Unionist involvement in the Loyalist Commission, an umbrella group for unionists, churchmen and loyalist paramilitaries.
"There is anger among many nationalists and republicans at the double standards involved in the UUP protestations over Sinn Féin's rightful involvement in the Executive and the UUP's involvement in the Loyalist Commission. What the UUP needs to make clear is when the Loyalist Commission is going to announce the killings of Catholics stopping."
The DUP deputy-leader Mr Peter Robinson also put pressure on Ulster Unionists yesterday, calling for them to quit the Executive.
He promised that if they walked out, the DUP would follow therefore leaving the Northern Secretary with little option other than to call fresh Assembly elections.
He called Mr Trimble a "spent force".