DUP condemns 'totalitarian' attempt to block RAF and Army from Londonderry jobs fair
The DUP has condemned what is calls "totalitarian" behaviour by elected representatives who tried in vain to have UK Armed Forces stands removed from a Jobs Fair in Londonderry.
The Cross Border Job Fair, hosted by the Department for Communities, was supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council, Derry City and Strabane Labour Market Partnership and Cross Border Partnership Employment Services.
It took place at the Ebrington Hotel in the city on Tuesday 8 September, bringing together employers from a variety of sectors, including the PSNI, RAF and Army.
A group calling itself the Derry Anti War Coalition (DAWC) lambasted Derry City and Strabane District Council for failing to block the armed forces stands, despite lobbying by a councillor.
However, a council spokeswoman said that the Jobs Fair was led by the Department for Communities (DFC).
She added that The Derry & Strabane Labour Market Partnership partners with DFC, and CBPES (Cross Border Partnership Employment Services) to co-ordinate and promote the event.
Last September Justice Minister Naomi Long said it is "unacceptable" that the army was refused a recruitment stall at the same fair.
Foyle DUP MLA Julie Middleton condemned what she said were attempts by some elected representatives to remove the Armed Forces representatives from the fair this year.
“The Armed Forces and the PSNI offer honourable and rewarding career paths," she said.
"They should always be welcome at jobs fairs in Londonderry, where young people deserve access to the fullest possible range of employment and training opportunities.
"The oppressive and totalitarian behaviour of some elected representatives seeking to impose their narrow political ideology is deeply concerning.”
"Those staffing recruitment stands should not have been subjected to hostility or attempts to force them from the event."
The PSNI said it was aware of a video being circulated of a recording from the fair.
"No police assistance was requested and no complaints have been made to police who were in attendance," it added.
In a statement on social media, DAWC slammed the city council for refusing to bar armed forces stands.
"Once again Derry and Strabane Council Officers have acted against the democratically agreed position of the Council," it said.
The group said the council formally supports Boycott Divestment and Sanctions against Israel.
"Why, therefore at an event supported by Council are there recruitment stands for the RAF and British Army?"
It claimed that the UK military has played a significant role in what it termed "the Gaza genocide".
DAWC said that one councillor contacted senior council officers before the event advising them that UK military stands "contravened agreed council positions" but that the council "did nothing to uphold the policies set by democratic decisions in the council chamber."
The group said the event was run by the Department for Communities (DFC) under the "divisive rule" of minister Gordon Lyons, a DUP MLA.
"Lyons is fully aware of the overwhelming objections to British military recruitment in Derry and the corporate position of our local authority," it added.
DAWC also praised another councillor whom it claimed for "confronting" the RAF stall over the organisation's role in Gaza.
And it claimed the Army stall was "temporarily" shut down to avoid recruiters "having to face difficult questions".
The News Letter invited the DFC, SDLP, Sinn Fein and MOD to comment.
Ulster Unionist Alderman Darren Guy has called for jobs fairs to remain free from political interference, after he said footage emerged of a man challenging an RAF recruitment officer over their attendance at the jobs fair.
Alderman Guy said: “Elected representatives on Derry City and Strabane District Council who invoke the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign to intimidate or verbally abuse an RAF recruitment officer at a Londonderry jobs fair must recognise that society has moved beyond the divisive behaviours of the past. Such conduct is unacceptable and has no place in modern civic life.
“Jobs fairs exist to support individuals seeking employment and training opportunities. They must remain safe, neutral spaces where people can explore career options without fear of intimidation or political interference.
"No individual or group has the right to obstruct another person's chosen career path or to dictate which professions are 'acceptable' based on personal ideology.”