The province experienced sporadic violent clashes over the 11 nights. The root of the anger lies in the disappointment of establishing an economic border with the UK and its impact on daily life.
This “Wall of Peace” Burning again in Northern Ireland. Since March 29, every night has brought new conflicts and violence. The sporadic riots of the 11th night started in Delhi and then spread to Belfast and three neighboring towns (Carrickfergus, Ballymena and Newtownabbey), mainly in the unionist communities. A group of teenagers, holding bricks, iron rods and Molotov cocktails, about 12 years old, clashed with security forces armed behind the armored Land Rover and water cannons. The young attackers are usually only a few dozen, and in the worst case hundreds, they are usually encouraged and applauded by adults and sometimes manipulated by trade union paramilitary groups.
So far, the night of April 7-8 is the most serious period of conflict. The conflict has spread from the Unionist community (Protestant, identified as British) to the Republican Party (Catholic, identified as Irish). In West Belfast, on either side of the high wall separating the two communities, about six hundred young people projected bullets at each other for several hours, unionists on one side and Republicans on the other. To commemorate a potential civil war that killed 3,500 people in 1969 and 1998, these walls were covered with barbed wire end caps and closed every night in certain areas to avoid conflict.
Current assessment: A dozen people caught fire, including 50 injured policemen, a trash can and a car, and a Molotov cocktail set his car on fire. A bus driver was miraculously unharmed.These ones “The worst riot in years”According to the police, the political situation in Northern Ireland is still flammable. It has been 23 years since the peace agreement was reached on Good Friday in 1998.
The violence that has erupted in recent days is the result of a multi-component cocktail. In the very poor areas of Northern Ireland, Covid-19-related restrictions are one of them, just like other violence that has erupted in other parts of Europe. In recent months, the police have carried out raids on trade union paramilitary groups involved in various trafficking.
However, the main factor in the anger of unionists comes from Brexit.Start from 1Yes In January, there is a trade border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that is, within the same country. Although the movement of people is free, on the other hand, to inspect goods at the port, an export declaration must be completed. For a unionist, this is the unity of Britain, which is a nightmare.England “Mother’s Land”, Suddenly moved out of Northern Ireland.