STARK REMINDER OF HORROR OF TERRORISM
Stark reminder of horror of terrorism
MADRID BOMBS: An atrocity that underlines the need to reject violence
What is the difference between happened in Madrid yesterday and what happened on Bloody Friday in Belfast all those years ago?
What is the difference between yesterday's atrocity and the bombing of McGurk's Bar, Claudy, La Mon or Omagh? The only difference is the scale of the suffering and the horrendous death toll.
The images of bloodied faces and people with severed limbs are, regrettably, all too familiar to anyone who lived through the troubles in Northern Ireland. People in every village, town and city of the province can empathise today with the trauma that has engulfed Madrid.
Having endured 30 years of terrorism, we in Northern Ireland can identify with the grief now being visited on Spain. Tragically, this province has had more than its fair share of such barbarism.
And even today, although it does not make worldwide headlines, the terrorists remain active. Whether it is a parcel bomb in Plumbridge, a petrol bomb attack in Larne or a threat to members of the District Policing Partnership in Craigavon, the men of violence are still trying to flex their muscles.
Whether it is ETA, Al Qaida, the IRA or the loyalist paramilitaries, the message has to be that terrorism has nothing to offer but murder and mayhem. All the bombers know is how to kill people and to attempt to destroy society.
In Northern Ireland, we are on the brink of a potential watershed as this society decides whether to reject violence once and for all. The choice is either to secure a complete end of all paramilitary activities or to stumble forward into an increasingly uncertain future.
The forthright comments of Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern suggest that this is make up your mind time for the republican movement. Parties that aspire to places in government cannot hope to maintain their links with active paramilitary groups.
Horror beyond horror as yesterday's attack in Madrid proved to be, surely it must strengthen the resolve of every one of us to reject violence completely. That is the message from Spain that should permeate every corner of the world, not least this island. It is time for democrats everywhere to assert themselves.
MADRID BOMBS: An atrocity that underlines the need to reject violence
What is the difference between happened in Madrid yesterday and what happened on Bloody Friday in Belfast all those years ago?
What is the difference between yesterday's atrocity and the bombing of McGurk's Bar, Claudy, La Mon or Omagh? The only difference is the scale of the suffering and the horrendous death toll.
The images of bloodied faces and people with severed limbs are, regrettably, all too familiar to anyone who lived through the troubles in Northern Ireland. People in every village, town and city of the province can empathise today with the trauma that has engulfed Madrid.
Having endured 30 years of terrorism, we in Northern Ireland can identify with the grief now being visited on Spain. Tragically, this province has had more than its fair share of such barbarism.
And even today, although it does not make worldwide headlines, the terrorists remain active. Whether it is a parcel bomb in Plumbridge, a petrol bomb attack in Larne or a threat to members of the District Policing Partnership in Craigavon, the men of violence are still trying to flex their muscles.
Whether it is ETA, Al Qaida, the IRA or the loyalist paramilitaries, the message has to be that terrorism has nothing to offer but murder and mayhem. All the bombers know is how to kill people and to attempt to destroy society.
In Northern Ireland, we are on the brink of a potential watershed as this society decides whether to reject violence once and for all. The choice is either to secure a complete end of all paramilitary activities or to stumble forward into an increasingly uncertain future.
The forthright comments of Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern suggest that this is make up your mind time for the republican movement. Parties that aspire to places in government cannot hope to maintain their links with active paramilitary groups.
Horror beyond horror as yesterday's attack in Madrid proved to be, surely it must strengthen the resolve of every one of us to reject violence completely. That is the message from Spain that should permeate every corner of the world, not least this island. It is time for democrats everywhere to assert themselves.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0936
Published Date: 12-Mar-04
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