The more than 100 ‘Peace walls’ in Belfast are a visible reminder of British colonial rule in Ireland. The old policy of ‘divide and conquer’ worked for the British here as in all their other colonies for centuries. So long as British interference continues here and so long as there is no evidence of a British government willing to disengage systematically, those walls will remain as firmly in place as ever. Those so-called peace walls separating communities are just one legacy of British colonial rule in the north of Ireland.
When British colonial rule in this part of Ireland is ended and new political structures are put in place for governing, those walls will eventually be removed and the people will be allowed to live together as good neighbours. It may take some considerable time for good neighbourliness to grow and flourish but, one thing for sure, it will never flourish while the British claim sovereignty here in this corner of Ireland. That claim by the British is one of the chief causes of sectarianism –the belief that one section of the population is superior to the other because of their loyalty to the Crown and the union fleg. Friendship and good neighbourliness will only come about when people are encouraged to work together for the common good in their own areas and in the wider community.
Will this Labour government under PM Starmer move to bring about the changes we all know are necessary to create some kind of normal democracy in Ireland? Surely, Mr Benn knows what he and his government need to do to bring about a just and lasting settlement in Ireland. Just as radical changes were needed in South Africa and in all countries colonised by the British, so must radical change based on the Good Friday Agreement be implemented on this island.
The Dublin government and Friends of Ireland around the world have a responsibility to put pressure on the British to accept their responsibilities in relation to the Good Friday Agreement and to work to bring about the necessary political changes. This is all the more urgent since Brexit. The lamentable response of both Taoiseach Martin and Tanaiste Harris needs to be challenged at every opportunity.
It is time for the British and Irish governments to show some courage and get on with preparing for the Border referendum. The first and immediate necessity is to set up a working group to examine the political and economic consequences of a vote for constitutional change.. This referendum cannot be put off forever.
Alongside that, the two governments need to indicate the kind of constitutional changes needed to bring about an inclusive democracy on this island that will lead to reconciliation and prosperity for all citizens and communities.
This work needs to be understood by all concerned as a Peace Plan to bring about a just and lasting peace between these two islands and peace among the people living on the island of Ireland. The walls dividing people and communities need to be brought down. A strategy needs to be found to achieve that. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Just like Jim Allister and the TUV – stuck in a 1970s tribalist mindset.
Britain wants out of here and has done for years. Writing about colonialism is a relic of a distant past. The elites of today no longer need to invade – their banks and TNCs do it for them.
Some people just cannot deal with the fact that in the North of Ireland / Northern Ireland there is a large group of Irish people fiercely loyal to Britain, a large group of Irish people fiercely loyal to Dublin and a large group who do not give two figs. Peace-building involves respecting those different traditions and not demonising them day and daily.