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From peaceful protest Marches to Violence

• Mid-1960s – Civil Rights Movement emerged

• Demanded equal rights and to protest against unfair treatment of Catholics

• Made peaceful demands for basic rights such as housing, jobs, education and voting

From peaceful protest Marches to Violence

• CRM met with hostility and violence from some Protestants

• Including the police force who thought it was an attempt to weaken the government

• The CRM in 1968 marked the beginning of a period known as The TroublesThe Troubles in Northern Ireland

From peaceful protest Marches to Violence

• As the situation worsened, government called for more help

• Aug 1969, British Army units were sent to N.I. To help keep order

• At first, Catholics welcomed them – thought they would be protected

• As army began searching their homes and arresting suspects, they soon lost faith in the British Army

From peaceful protest Marches to Violence

• 1972 : a peaceful civil rights march was shot at by British troops

• 13 civilians were shot dead; many wounded

• Bloody Sunday – turning point in Catholic-Protestant ties

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From peaceful protest Marches to Violence

• After 1972 : More violence• Catholic homes petrol-bombed by

Protestants• Families forced to flee; looting by mobs• Catholic businesses and pubs burnt and

bombed• Often witnessed by local police force

passively• British Army raided Catholic homes,

using force and damaging property

From peaceful protest Marches to Violence

• Feeling more desperate, the Catholics turned to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) for help

• IRA : An illegal organisation formed largely of Northern Irish Catholics

• Aim is to use violence to drive out the British Army and the representatives of the British government

• Between 1969 and 1993, more than 3,000 people were killed in the conflict

• IRA responsible for 2/3 of the deaths• Sometimes killed innocent Protestants too

Effects of the Protestant-Catholic Conflict

• The conflict has not been resolved• Often it is the innocent who are caught in

the middle of the violence• Eg many of the 1,750 who died between

1969 and 1977 were not directly involved• Many grow up with prejudices against

each other• Affected economic development• Investments have decreased drastically• Violence has frightened away tourists

Aftermath

• Throughout 1970s and 1980s, IRA and British govt reps have met but failed to come to an agreement

• Late 1990s – British govt, Irish govt, IRA and N.I. Community leaders actively discussed the N.I. peace accord

• But this was rejected by a splinter group of the IRA – responded with a series of bomb attacks in Belfast

• An agreement was reached in 1998.• Peace is still uncertain as tension still

exists

CONCLUSION

• Sri Lanka and Northern Ireland• Important for people of different races and

religions to live in harmony• Conflict destroys lives, homes and property• Everyone suffers• Need to be sensitive to one another’s

needs• Failure to understand and respect other’s

rights will harm the country in many ways• Weakens development of the country• Provides excuse for stronger neighbours to

interfere

CONCLUSION

• Conflicts in Sri Lanka and Northern Ireland cannot be resolved overnight

• Consequences of fighting and destruction still exist

• Will continue to exist until a solution is arrived at

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