Unionists rejected democratic and peaceful solutions

Re the News Letter editorial (‘There were always peaceful alternatives Michelle,’ August 5, see link below) I think a little more balance is required here.

Violence must be condemned, but surely rejection of democratic peaceful negotiations must also be condemned.

Mainstream Irish nationalism made two attempts at peaceful negotiations in the 1960s, and so did the two governments in 1973.

All were rejected by unionists.

The first two were made within Northern Ireland itself. The Campaign for Social Justice in NI reached the House of Commons in 1964. Gerry Fitt and some Labour MPs brought the question of discrimination in NI to the floor of the Commons. Stormont denied there was any discrimination in NI.

The second was a democratic and constitutional demand that all British citizens in NI be given full British democratic rights, by NI Civil Rights Association (NICRA) in 1968. No violence was ever threatened or prosecuted by NICRA.

Stormont responded with organised violence, and so did loyalists in — 1968/1969. There were nationalist fatalities and some lost their homes to loyalist burnings.

London gave NICRA most of what was demanded, but Stormont simply ignored these commitments.

The third was power sharing — Sunningdale — initiated by both governments. Unionists operated it for a short time but ended it with violence and intimidation.

Political and academic unionists insist there was no need for any violence, So the obvious question is — When in what circumstances was a peaceful solution to the conflict available to nationalists up to the ending of the old Stormont, thus avoiding the Troubles?

Paul Roche, Dublin

There were always peaceful alternatives Michelle