Hain: Loyalists must stop violence

Thursday, 22 September 2005 12:00 AM

Violence and rioting by loyalist paramilitaries must end, Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain has said.

Addressing the problem of alienation in loyalist working class areas, he said people must be stopped from terrorising their own communities "if we are to create a strong and prosperous Northern Ireland".

His speech in Belfast came after violence - blamed on loyalist paramilitaries - flared up at the Orange Order Whiterock parade last week.

The choice for loyalist paramilitaries - the Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Volunteer Force - was clear, he said.

"Play the political role that you claim as your motive, or face the rigour of the law as the mafia organisations into which you seem to be degenerated," Mr Hain said.

"You will not be allowed to terrorise your own community."

He beseeched loyalist paramilitaries to leave violence and criminality behind and help create "a new, prosperous, peaceful, democratic Northern Ireland".

Mr Hain also announced a new role for David Hanson, minister for political and social development.

The minister will oversee an 'intensive engagement' with elected representatives and civil leaders from the Protestant community in loyalist areas.

Mr Hain said he aimed to upset power bases and vested interests among civil leaders as the province's administration was cumbersome with 26 councils, four health boards, 19 health trusts, five education and library boards and about 100 other public bodies.

"These reforms will be ambitious. They will challenge the status quo. They will disrupt power bases and vested interests. They will lead to a radical shift of resources from the back room to the frontline," he said.

It behoved leaders in the province to see real returns in investment in education, skills and child care, health, transport, energy, water and communications, said Mr Hain.

"The government cannot simply 'mind the shop' awaiting restoration of devolution, but must take the necessary decisions, however difficult and controversial," he said.

"If we want Northern Ireland to be world class, have world class public services - or indeed have even comparable services to England, Scotland and Wales - locally raised contributions must increase.

"This means increasing rates and introducing water charges from April 2007. But it must be done fairly, and it will be - with protection for those on low incomes."

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