An Interview with Nigel Dodds MP (N. Belfast)

In the 2001 General Election, Nigel Dodds (right of picture) of the Democratic Unionist Party dramatically overturned the majority of sitting MP, Ulster Unionist Cecil Walker, to win the seat for North Belfast. Indeed, DUP election results have improved so considerably recently that the party looks set to eclipse David Trimble's Ulster Unionists in future polls. This could be due to discomfort amongst the Unionist community at Trimble's perceived willingness to bow to Tony Blair's every whim as he makes concession after concession to the Republican movement, whilst the DUP stand steadfastly behind the Union. I first heard Nigel speak at a private meeting of Conservatives and Unionists at the House of Commons, just before Christmas. It is always interesting to hear a new MP speak, but Nigel struck me with his sincerity, and the clarity with which he made his points. Shortly afterwards, when discussing with a colleague the French proposal to move war graves from the Somme in order to build an airport on the site, he mentioned to me that Nigel Dodds had tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons dealing with that same subject. Knowing that this was an issue that NESA members would feel passionately about, and wanting to give NESA News readers a greater insight into the Northern Ireland situation, I contacted Nigel's office to request an interview. After Nigel treated me to a very nice tea in the splendid surroundings of the 'Pugin Room' at the House of Commons, I was able to put the following questions:

GC. Nigel, many of our members are Roman Catholic. Republican propaganda, which is often, unfortunately, disseminated through the mainstream media, generally portrays Unionists as being irrational, confrontational, and a threat to the safety of the Catholic community. What would you say to our Catholic members about the Unionist agenda? ND. The Unionist agenda is quite simply to maintain the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in order to protect the interests of everyone, Protestant and Catholic alike. In fact, when we look at the percentage of our population who are Catholic, it becomes clear that at elections many Catholics vote for Unionist parties because they want to see the benefits of being a part of the United Kingdom maintained and preserved for themselves and for their families. Unionism is not about any sort of sectarian agenda at all, its about trying to protect the interests of everybody, and I believe firmly that the Union is good for Northern Ireland and should be maintained because it provides a better way of life for Protestants and Catholics alike, or indeed people of any religion. GC. I have always found it ironic that Sinn Fein / IRA have managed to portray themselves as defenders of the Catholic community. They are of course Marxists, and as such atheists. That great hero of the Marxist revolutionary movement, Lenin, declared that 'Atheism is at the very heart of Marxism." ND. Thats absolutely right. Sinn Fein I IRA have often been involved in bitter controversy with, and been bitterly critical of the Roman Catholic church in Northern Ireland. In fact, the IRA have murdered more Catholics than have been killed by the so-called 'forces of British oppression' that they criticize so strongly. Sinn Fein I IRA are not the defenders of the Catholic people at all: They have their own narrow agenda which is to establish a radical socialist/Marxist state in Ireland, north and south, and that is why they are a danger to democracy. It is interesting to note that as they expand their operations in the Irish Republic, how much this is now being noted by parties in the south who are coming out strongly against Sinn Fein I IRA for their association with violence, and because of their communistic philosophy. GC. There is a suspicion that the so-called 'REAL IRA' and 'CONTINUITY IRA' are under the control of the Army Council of the Provisional IRA. It was certainly interesting to note that within a short time of the announcement of the PIRA cease-fire, and prior to the commencement of the de-commissioning programme, a significant number of PIRA weapons were reported 'stolen' by the dissident groups. Would you care to speculate on this suggestion? ND. I think that the reality is, having discussed this very issue with the police and security forces, that in the majority of cases involving the 'Continuity IRA' and the 'Real IRA' there is an overlap of membership between those organisations and the Provisional IRA. They could not operate in areas of Belfast or elsewhere across the province without the connivance, or at least the permission of, the Provisional's. For instance, trouble in the New Lodge area, or the Ardoyne, simply does not happen unless the Provisional's give permission for it to happen. What we have are paramilitary gunmen claiming to be dissident republicans: Most people in Northern Ireland do not recognise any difference between the dissidents and the Provisional's. The IRA have been very good at using cover to carry out acts of violence and murder, and then having blame deflected from them because for political reasons they do not want the spotlight to be turned on Sinn Fein and their involvement with the gunmen of Northern Ireland. GC. The explosives that were used to make the bombs at Warrington, Omagh, and Canary Wharf were quite likely bought with Dollars raised in the bars of Boston and New York. If the communist agenda of Sinn Fein / IRA could have been more emphasised, could that source of funding have been cut-off? Certainly recent revelations that the IRA are involved with South American Marxists have hurt their credibility in the USA. ND. Apparently so, and I think that the recent visit by Gerry Adams to Cuba was extremely significant in that it showed where his true loyalties lie, especially as there was not a word of condemnation from Adams or Sinn Fein of the gross human rights abuses committed by the Castro regime. I think, Gary, that you are quite right in that the American people are not aware of just how left-wing and anti-capitalist and anti-democratic Sinn Fein is. More should be done to expose that. There is strong feeling in Northern Ireland that the US government is fighting a battle against terrorism worldwide and yet for many years its politicians, people on Capitol Hill, even in the White House under Bill Clinton, feted and welcomed, wined and dined Sinn Fein I IRA while they were carrying out terrorist acts against a part of the UK, which is supposed to be America's closest allie. People are saying that when it visited them at home, Americans realised the reality of terrorism. Perhaps they will realise what we went through for 30 years now that they have experienced something similar, which is a terrible situation which should not be visited on anyone. GC. What is the situation like for the folk on the streets of North Belfast today?

ND. The situation is very tense. There is clearly an agenda at work on the part of the republican movement to try to force Protestants and Unionists out of many areas. There are a number of enclaves where Protestants are living, such as the White City area, which are seeing their numbers decline as people are forced out, and there are republicans who feel that if they can keep the troubles going, keep up the intimidation, keep throwing the petrol bombs, then the Protestants will move out and they can take over that territory. That has been the pattern in recent years. That's not to say that there is no violence on the part of the Protestants or the Loyalists, because clearly there is, and all of this violence I would condemn, but underlying it all is an agenda on the part of the republicans to force Protestants and Unionists out of parts of the City of Belfast. GC. What you describe, is a programme of Ethnic Cleansing, is it not?

ND. It is indeed ethnic cleansing. We've seen it along the border areas where Protestants were murdered, sometimes only sons, because they were the only people who could carry on with the family farm. They are singled out, targeted, and then murdered, so forcing a Protestant family out of the border area, allowing their homes to be taken over by republicans. This same sort of ethnic cleansing is being carried out in parts of Belfast. GC. Tony Blair's name has been mentioned in connection with a possible Nobel Peace Prize. How will your constituents feel about this? ND. I think they would laugh because when they look around in North Belfast they would ask "What peace?". In fact they have seen no benefits from the so-called 'Peace Process': All they have seen is Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness who are both self confessed terrorist Godfathers not only not brought to justice and not locked away, but actually being rewarded by being given positions in the government of Northern Ireland. They've also seen, of course, the terrorist prisoners released, and the RUC decimated with even its name being taken away. They've seen the military vilified in a so-called inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday, where millions of pounds are being spent to try to paint the British Army in the blackest possible picture. People in my constituency will find this suggestion laughable because there will only be peace when it can be based on proper democracy and proper justice, and that is not what the people of Northern Ireland are getting at the moment. GC. With our Prime Minister advocating, and presiding over the break-up of the UK in order to facilitate the transfer of parliamentary power from Westminster to Brussels, possibly Unionism has a future role to play on the mainland? N.D. Possibly, given the lessons which we have learned in Northern Ireland about the way in which the British government have behaved in terms of pushing an agenda which over-rides the wishes of the people, going ahead regardless of what the majority want. This all augurs very badly for other parts of the UK. We're seeing it happen in another place, outside of the UK but loyal to it, and that is Gibraltar. Again there is an agenda being pursued, and it does not seem to matter what the Gibraltarians want, the government is going to go ahead and betray them in a joint sovereignty agreement with Spain. If we look at what is happening in Northern Ireland and look at what is going to happen to Gibraltar it becomes apparent that the agenda of Tony Blair and the Labour government is to break up the UK as much as they can. They must not be allowed to succeed. GC. We at NESA share your concern at the proposed desecration of the Somme war graves in order to facilitate the building of a third airport for Paris. I know that you are playing a leading role in trying to persuade the British government to intervene: What is the situation at present? ND. Assurances have been sought from the French authorities who are saying that they are taking account of the concerns that are being expressed. However, it is clear that these assurances need to be explored in some depth. There remain great anxieties among many people that at the end of the day the French will, as has been demonstrated in their dealings with the EU, for example, put French interests above all else. I have been to the Somme on many occasions and I am aware of how special that place is, and I am aware of the place it has in the hearts of Ulster people, 5,000 of whom lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. It would be an absolute disgrace if anything were done which would interfere with these graves. There has been a very large response across all parties at Westminster to these suggestions, and I'm confident that we will win the day. GC. Is there anything that we at NESA, as an organisation and as individuals, can do to help? ND. In a situation like this every letter that goes from individuals to the Prime Minister or to the Sec of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, and to the French authorities via their embassy in London, can play a part in emphasising to these people how strong the feelings are. There is no doubt that people do take account of such letters, and if this mailer is being raised constantly with them then it will make them think twice before they proceed. GC. Nigel Dodds, on behalf of NESA, thank you very much. Personal Comment Nigel's comments regarding ethnic cleansing are indeed chilling, and make a mockery of the so-called 'Peace Process'. Anybody who doubts any of the points made about the communistic agenda of the Republican movement, and the complicity of Blair's administration should consider the following: Former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Mandleson openly advocated the Republican policy of a united Ireland. Peter Mandleson joined the Communist Party in 1973. Blair himself appointed Mandleson to his ministerial position. A 'peek behind the curtains' of parliamentary politics often reveals trends and undercurrents such as this: Most disturbing when you consider that we are supposed to be living in a democracy. How can a politician be answerable to the electorate when he will not even come clean about his true agenda? Regarding Nigel's Early Day Motion (565) concerning the Somme war graves, I made a representation, on behalf of NESA, to lain Duncan Smith requesting that his party support this motion. It was with some disappointment that I noted that of 57 signatories, only 4 were from the Conservative party. It has since been brought to my attention that on 6th March 2002, another DUP member, Iris Robinson (MP for Strangford) has tabled an EDM calling for MPs to commemorate and recognise the forthcoming 20th anniversary of the Falklands war, and the members of the armed forces and civilian population who paid the ultimate price. It will be interesting to see if the Conservatives give more support to this EDM. If not, possibly we can revisit this matter in the pages of NESA News in the run up to the next general election! Certainly the DUP are demonstrating their commitment to the UK, and their awareness of, and respect for, those who have fallen in defence of this country. They are to be commended for that.

Biographical Details - Nigel Dodds OBE MP MLA

Born 20 Aug 1958 in Londonderry Educated at St John's College, Cambridge and the Inst. for Legal Studies, Belfast Barrister-at-Law 1981 -84. Secretariat, European Parliament 1984-88 Elected to Belfast City Council in 1985 to represent Castle Ward (Lord Mayor 1988-89 and 1991-92) Member of the NI Forum 1996-98 Elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly 1998 Minister for Social Development 2000-present Elected as MP for North Belfast 2001