The Five Demands

Ulster People’s Forum and concerned residents of East Belfast

Today the Ulster People’s Forum and concerned residents of East Belfast call on the PSNI to desist from the zero tolerance and heavy handed tactics currently being used against the British citizens of East Belfast.

We want to ask the PSNI why they are policing protests in East Belfast different that the rest of the province. We have concerns that there is a sinister attempt to isolate East Belfast and provoke violence thus demonising the peaceful protests.
It is a clear fact that when the PSNI have policed protests in other areas in high visibility vests with community officers there has been no violence.

We would ask what involvement the Justice Minister David Ford has in ordering the PSNI tactics and due to his party’s involvement in the flag dispute has his judgement remained impartial?

The Ulster People’s Forum call on Chief Constable Matt Baggott to remove the inspector in Charge of TSG units in East Belfast as there is serious concerns around the conduct and brutality of the officers on the ground.

We once again call on all young people to keep cool heads and not to react to any acts of provocation by Nationalists or the PSNI.
We appeal to peaceful protestors to stay within the law, even in the face of extreme provocation and channel all energies into political and community activism.

The Ulster People’s Forum further calls on all those involved in and supporting protests to engage with the people’s forum. We would ask interested persons organise a meeting in their local halls or community centre and nominate people from their area to attend a countrywide meeting that will be called within the next week. This we hope will allow everyone who is supportive of the protests to have their voices heard and the Ulster People’s Forum want to provide a mechanism for a positive cohesive strategy to be drawn up by a consensus of those involved.
ENDS ….SR