Goodbye Operation Banner, Hello Operation Helvetic
The British Army’s most recent campaign of terror against the Irish people comes to an end today (Tuesday, July 31), but only to make way for a new phase of their military occupation of Ireland.
‘Operation Banner’ began in 1969 when the sectarian unionist regime in the Six Counties was on the verge of collapse in the face of the democratic demands of the civil rights movement. In the intervening 38 years, the British army has systematically terrorised nationalist and republican communities and committed thousands of human rights abuses, up to and including murder.
The powers given to the British Army under ‘emergency’ legislation during this period were used extensively in an attempt to crush nationalist resistance to British rule in the Six Counties. Hundreds of civilians, political activists and resistance fighters were killed by the regiments of the British government and their proxy death squads.
‘Operation Helvetic’, the codename for the British Army operation that begins on 1 August, 2007, will maintain around 5,000 British troops in occupied Ireland who will be available to the RUC-PSNI when deemed necessary.
The Justice and Security Act 2007 gives British troops in the Six Counties a permanent legal basis to stop and question, arrest, search, enter and seize. These powers had previously only been available on a temporary basis. The non-jury Diplock courts, originally introduced as an ‘emergency’ measure, will also remain in existence.
Éirígí spokesperson Daithí Mac An Mháistír pointed out the hypocrisy of those who have welcomed the ending of Operation Banner while neglecting to question why there are still 5,000 British combat troops in Ireland and why Operation Helvetic has commenced.
“Operation Banner was a page of shame in the shameful history of the British Army.
“As an army of occupation in the Six Counties they massacred peaceful protestors, tortured prisoners, recruited and armed local militias, destroyed homes, murdered children with live and plastic bullets and directed the activities of the unofficial pro-British death squads.
“Operation Helvetic demonstrates that the British Army are fully prepared to write further pages of shame to protect their foot-hold in Ireland.”
Daithí continued:
“Of all the recent media coverage that has surrounded the winding down of Operation Banner, very little has even been mentioned of the commencement of Operation Helvetic. This silence has mirrored the reaction of those politicians who either support the continuing interference of the British military and political establishment in the affairs of the Irish people or those who choose to ignore it.
“I have one question for these politicians. If, as you claim, the peace process has come to its conclusion and all reason for conflict has been removed, why are 5,000 foreign soldiers going to remain in our country?
“For the last 15 years, the nationalist and republican population of the Six Counties has had to listen to the great and good proclaiming the need to move beyond violence. Will these ‘leaders’ now challenge the British government on its decision to keep 5,000 gunmen in the north-east of Ireland?
“If, as I expect, they don’t, then the notion of a country at peace with itself will be shown for the lie it is. If the British government are serious about avoiding future conflict then they should announce their intention to remove not only their troops from Ireland but also the entire civic, political and constitutional apparatus of the occupation.
“In the meantime, Éirígí calls on all republicans who remain opposed to the British occupation of the Six Counties to refocus themselves on the task of building popular resistance to that occupation.”