14.12.03
THE BLANKET * Index: Current Articles
Stalemate for the Good Friday Agreement
Northern Ireland Assembly elections
Paul Mallon • Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
December 2003/January 2004
Elections held on November 26th 2003 to the Northern Ireland Assembly have failed to break the deadlock in the Good Friday Agreement. The elections were designed to break the deadlock following the suspension of the Stormont Assembly in October 2002. The prospect of Ian Paisley, whose Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) won most seats, as the prospective First Minster with Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein as his number two, ensures the executive cannot be restored. As the media focuses on a ‘normal’ North of Ireland and its electoral process the realities of the nationalist working class is deadly different. Loyalist attacks have continued against Catholics even as talks about talks get underway to break the deadlock. One thing is clear: neither a review of the Good Friday Agreement nor a return to the Stormont Assembly will give any respite to the nationalists on the receiving end of the Loyalist hate mobs.
>>>MORE
Stalemate for the Good Friday Agreement
Northern Ireland Assembly elections
Paul Mallon • Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
December 2003/January 2004
Elections held on November 26th 2003 to the Northern Ireland Assembly have failed to break the deadlock in the Good Friday Agreement. The elections were designed to break the deadlock following the suspension of the Stormont Assembly in October 2002. The prospect of Ian Paisley, whose Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) won most seats, as the prospective First Minster with Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein as his number two, ensures the executive cannot be restored. As the media focuses on a ‘normal’ North of Ireland and its electoral process the realities of the nationalist working class is deadly different. Loyalist attacks have continued against Catholics even as talks about talks get underway to break the deadlock. One thing is clear: neither a review of the Good Friday Agreement nor a return to the Stormont Assembly will give any respite to the nationalists on the receiving end of the Loyalist hate mobs.
>>>MORE
