The Five Demands

Stafford Carson, reverendo presbiteriano, ha elogiato il messaggio che la comunità di Shankill Road ha voluto dare, partecipando ai funerali di Bobby Moffett

Il pastore presbiteriano Stafford Carson si è unito al coro di chi sostiene che la folta partecipazione della comunità di Shankill Road ai funerali di Bobby Moffett, sia la conferma che la popolazione nordirlandese si opporrà in ogni modo al ritorno alla violenza sul proprio territorio.
I funzionari di polizia provenienti da tutto il mondo hanno partecipato ieri ad una messa in suffragio del servizio e del sacrificio del Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
“Il nostro ricordo, oggi, significa che non siamo decisi a tornare a quei giorni che ha distrutto tante famiglie e privati di quelli che noi abbiamo amato”, ha dichiarato Carson.
“L’omicidio di Bobby Moffett in Shankill Road poco più di una settimana fa, è stato brutale e sbagliato. Ma una cosa buona è venuta  fuori da quella depravato azione, ed è stata la risposta del popolo di Shankill nel loro rifiuto al terrorismo e alla violenza paramilitare.
“E abbiamo bisogno di persone in tutto il mondo che dicano no al terrorismo e alla violenza”.
“Le persone che vivono nelle comunità in cui operano i gruppi repubblicani dissidenti, devono respingere la violenza e non devono permettere ai paramilitari di operare senza rischio di esposizione. Essi devono cooperare con la PSNI e consentire che la giustizia e la pace prevalgano”.

Republican communities must reject terrorism – moderator (NewsLetter)
Republican communities must join the Shankill Road in rejecting terrorism, the Presbyterian moderator has said.
Dr Stafford Carson praised public rejection of suspected UVF men who shot Bobby Moffett, 43, in the head in broad daylight over a week ago.
But he warned dissident republicans must not be allowed to operate without risk of exposure.
Police officers from around the world yesterday attended a church service marking the service and sacrifice of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
Mr Carson told the Armagh gathering: “All that these people of violence can offer is death and sadness and misery.
“And our remembrance today means that we are resolved not to go back to those days which destroyed so many families and deprived us of those whom we loved.”
Mr Carson added: “The murder of Bobby Moffett on the Shankill just over a week ago was brutal and wrong. But one good thing to come out of that depraved action has been the response of the people of the Shankill in their rejection of terrorist and paramilitary violence.
“And we need people everywhere to say no to terrorism and violence.
“The people who live in the communities where dissident republican groups operate must reject violence and they must not allow the paramilitaries to operate without risk of exposure. They must co-operate with the PSNI and allow justice and peace and righteousness to prevail.”
Representatives of police forces from the United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain joined yesterday’s service of remembrance.
A total of 312 RUC officers were killed and thousands injured or disabled by terrorism.
It was the eighth annual RUC George Cross church service in St Mark’s Parish Church, Armagh.
Mr Carson will be replaced as moderator by Norman Hamilton from north Belfast during this week’s Presbyterian Assembly. He raised the question of dealing with the past.
“What about all the deeds of violence and injustice that have been inflicted on people in Northern Ireland these past decades? Is it all just forgotten and erased and finished with?” he asked.
Yesterday’s service was conducted by St Mark’s rector, Canon John McKegney, assisted by senior clergy from the four largest denominations in Northern Ireland. Members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association also travelled from Great Britain to take part.
Most of the 800-strong congregation was made up of widows, parents and relatives of deceased officers, as well as disabled and retired members.
Dignitaries included the Lord Lieutenant for County Armagh Lord Caledon; Justice Minister David Ford; Chief Constable Matt Baggott and senior PSNI officers, Acting Chairman of the Policing Board Brian Rea; Lady Sylvia Hermon and Lord Salisbury, patron of the RUC George Cross Associations.