Sinn Fein 'sure to be found facing the other way' when the West is tackling dictators - DUP MLA
Sinn Fein has been accused of consistently ‘riding to the rescue’ of dictators across the globe, as the Assembly is set to debate a motion condemning the US and Israeli bombing of Iran.
The DUP says that republicans are “sure to be found facing the other way” when Western countries adopt a position – whether that be about Russia or Iran.
MLAs will debate yet another non-binding motion on the Middle East today (Monday) – as Sinn Fein’s proposed Stormont issues “condemnation of the illegal US and Israeli attacks on Iran as a violation of the United Nations Charter and international law”.
The motion also calls for “self-determination” for the people of Iran. Before the current conflict, an attempted uprising against the Islamist regime resulted in the killing of around 30,000 protestors. Tehran was accused of deploying huge resources to conceal its systematic killing of its own citizens.
DUP chief whip Trevor Clarke told the News Letter: “The Sinn Fein motion is masterclass in irony or perhaps just a demonstration of how out of touch with reality they are.
“Whenever a dictator is in difficulty, they can be sure that Sinn Fein will ride to their rescue. Whether that was Putin’s Russia or the cruel Iranian regime whilst Western democratic society points in one direction, Sinn Fein is sure to be found facing the other way.
“It’s notable that Sinn Fein use this motion to express concern for British and Irish citizens living, working and on holiday in the region, yet the First Minister refused to attend briefings to provide those very same people with information and assistance.
“Likewise there is the earnest concern expressed for families facing with rising energy costs when the Economy Minister has been asleep at the wheel, failing to make any preparations to get £81million of UK Government assistance out to the people who need it the most.
“The only energy which appears to be in almost limitless free supply is Sinn Fein’s gaslight”.
Last week the economy minister Caoimhe Archibald said her department “will not have £81million to support electricity bills in three weeks’ time, the funding is over three years”.
Sinn Fein’s Iran war motion also urges MLAs to back them in condemning “the human rights violations, lack of democracy and breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Iran” and “regrets that many civilians have and will die as a result of these reckless attacks”.
The Assembly will also be asked to back the motion recognising “the direct impact” of the war on fuel and energy price rises here – and calling “^for an immediate end to the conflict; and further calls for the recommencement of urgent negotiations towards a peaceful diplomatic resolution, in line with international law and which respects the right of the people of Iran to self-determination”.
MLAs have faced criticism for debating non-binding motions on international affairs, over which Stormont has no remit. UUP boss Jon Burrows has said if MLAs want to debate such matters, they should do it in their own time.