ANTI NAZI MEETING

by pat c Mon Dec 15, 2003 15:44

By:Press Association
MONDAY 15/12/2003 10:33:25 UTV

BNP eyes NI elections

The far-right British National Party is planning its first electoral assault
on Northern Ireland, it emerged today.

At least five candidates will run in the provinces next local government
polls as part of a campaign to try to halt a mass influx of immigrants,
BNP leader Nick Griffin claimed.

As he met strategists in east Belfast, Mr Griffin also claimed the extreme
grouping has attracted significant support among serving police and soldiers
in Ulster.

But it was the disclosure of plans by a party widely regarded as neo-Nazi
racists to contest the 2005 council polls that provoked outrage.

One man has already been selected to represent the BNP in the north Antrim
area, the party chief claimed.

Mr Griffin, 44, argued that Northern Ireland could soon be overrun by immigrants
realising most of the violence has ended. "Once the physical and psychological
barrier presented by the Troubles is lifted, this place is going to play
catch up double quick," he said.
"If we are around and organised it may well deter established politicians
from carrying out some policy of enforced multi-culturalism. In the case
of Northern Ireland there?s a possibility of holding the line for a bit
longer."

Although the party denies charges of racism, it wants to throw all blacks
and Asians out of Britain under what it describes as a voluntary repatriation
scheme aimed at slashing 15 million from its population.

Membership has swollen from 1,300 to 7,000 since Mr Griffin, a Cambridge
law graduate and one-time National Front activist, took charge in 1999.
His main sights are on next year?s European and local government elections
in England. He hopes to return 50-100 councillors in place of the 17 already
sitting in mainly working class northern districts and believes two MEPs
can be elected to strengthen the far right?s rise across Europe.

But the BNP has also decided the time is right to put up public figures
for its supporters in Northern Ireland. Mr Griffin refused to put a figure
on party strength in the province, but members allegedly include the branch
manager of a major supermarket chain, an Irish League soccer club director
and an NHS fraud inspector.

"We have got a great deal of sympathy among sections of the security forces,"
he added.

Mainstream unionists and nationalists were appalled at the far right?s expansion
plans for Ulster.

John Dallat, an SDLP Assembly member, said: "This lot are the last thing
the peace process over here needs."

Ulster Unionist MLA and policing board member Fred Cobain accepted anyone
was entitled to stand for election. But he added: "With the BNP?s record
I would be horrified if anybody voted for them. Everything that a modern
society should be trying to get away from they are trying to drag us back
to. The whole world could do without them, not just Northern Ireland."

Mr Griffin?s first real exposure to extremism came when he joined the NF
as a teenager in 1974. The organisation, with its links to loyalist paramilitaries,
brought him into contact with former Ulster Defence Association commanders
Andy Tyrie and John McMichael. But as BNP leader he insisted there has been
no contact with any unionists or loyalists in Northern Ireland.

He agreed with hardline unionists that Sinn Fein should not be allowed into
government until the IRA has fully disarmed. All terrorist organisations
should disarm, he argued, with dire consequences for anyone later caught
with illegal guns. "The solution is what they did in the Free State (during
the civil war). They should be shot on the spot. There should be decommissioning
with honour, but after that they are legitimate targets."

by Anti-BNP Tue Dec 16, 2003 01:19

Very interesting posting, glad to hear that the SWP will be attending, bit surprised that you put this on indy, considering that you have had nothing whatsoever to do with organising this meeting nor the meeting which was held last Thursday in UCC which the SWP didn't even attend. Am I being cynical or was this posting meant to give the impression that the SWP are behind the campaign to stop the BNP speaking in UCC?
If anyone got that impression then it is wrong this meeting has been called by a number of political parties, left groups, anarchists, trade unionists etc and it is being called to establish a broad campaign to stop the BNP speaking. Yes everyone who is interested in organising a campaign and a demonstration to stop the BNP speaking in UCC should come along, and don't worry its not an SWP front!

by anti fascist Tue Dec 16, 2003 10:59

yes, its important that no no specific party takes this into their own hands. there are many people who are interested in the campaign but they are also put off when they see certain political party's names behind it all (no names mentioned!) this campaign should draw anti fascist individuals together to form a cork anti fascist group, no parties, no hidden agendas...

by anti-free publicity Tue Dec 16, 2003 21:05

the only reason anyone would invite wentworth to speak is because the usual suspects will complain, organise a demo, distribute leaflets etc. In effeect inviting wentworth means that the usual suspects will publicise your event for free andm with a bit of vigour