Angry reaction to dissident 'threat'

The 32 County Sovereignty Committee (32CSM) issued a statement last week stating they intend to issue letters to business owners urging them not to serve members of the PSNI. The organisation has sparked anger by claiming they have drawn up a list of businesses and a number of schools who deal with the police and will contact them shortly.

The grouping says letters will be sent to the premises pointing out what they describe as the "unacceptable behaviour" of the PSNI.

A spokesperson for the 32CSM said if the request is ignored by business owners they will stage pickets and "name and shame" the shops.

The group claimed that the move was not a threat, but the statement has provoked an angry reaction.

A statement by the Peace and Reconciliation Group said: "We in the PRG will support all forms of dialogue within and between groups who have different political ideologies and would invite the 32 County Sovereignty Movement to enter discussions directly with those they have issues with, if they are serious about their political ideology.

"The Peace and Reconciliation Group is asking the 32 County Sovereignty Movement to retract their statement made in the 'Derry Journal' on Friday 12th February 2010."

DUP Alderman William Hay said he "totally and absolutely" condemned the move by the 32CSM.

"Ninety-nine per cent of people in this city don't not want this and it is a worrying hark back to the past. This will frighten people, but it will also make people more determined to do what's right.

"This can have an effect not only families and individuals but entire communities. But, these people will not succeed in dragging us back," he said.

The MP for Foyle, Mark Durkan said that the threat echoed the past behaviour of the Provisional IRA.

"It is the 32 County Sovereignty Movement threatening people once again. It is a return to the old, futile, Provo-speak of the past.

"They are trying to tell people that if they engage with the police in any way that somehow they are collaborators and that they will be subject to threat and intimidation.

"It is appalling to put shopkeepers and workers in Derry in this situation. We saw loyalists initimidating schools back with the Holy Cross dispute and we know how wrong that was.

"No-one should bring any issue of politics, any difficulty they have with any authority, into the running of a school," said Mr Durkan.

The head of the City Centre Initiative (CCI), Jim Roddy, also hit out at the 32CSM.

Mr Roddy said: "I think I'm speaking on behalf of the vast majority of people in this city when I say they want to go about their daily business without any threat whatsoever.

"I know they are saying that this is not a threat, but for the people on the sharp edge of this, this will be a threat. I would ask the 32 County Sovereignty Community to retract from its position immediately and stop trying to prevent people going about their daily business."