Donaldson pays Tribute to Sacrifices of the Security Forces
Kenny Donaldson, an Ulster Unionist Party Officer and resident of Crossmaglen has paid tribute to the soldiers of the Scottish Black Watch Regiment who were withdrawn from the Border Village on Saturday last. The soldiers of the Black Watch were the last British Army presence in the area.
In a statement, Kenny said: “Saturday last has been seen as a ‘historic day’ in the area but there is now an onus on the republican movement and the local community at large to work with and support policing in all of its forms.
“I would pay tribute to the brave service that the men and women of the security forces gave to the South Armagh area; their story must be remembered and not written out of history.
“A large number of British soldiers, other Security Service personnel, civilians and indeed republican insurrectionists died in the South Armagh area over the last 30 odd years. There cannot and will not ever be any justification for the terror campaign of the Provisional Republican Movement.
“In the volatile situation which pervaded South Armagh over 30 plus years of republican insurrectionism, law-abiding people did suffer and relationships between the Army and local inhabitants were strained. As we enter a new political dispensation, it is my hope that our Police Service of Northern Ireland will be given the full support and co-operation of local people in the South Armagh area.
“We must never again allow a political vacuum to engulf Northern Ireland – politics must work!
“The Government should be mindful that republican dissidents wait in the wings ready to profit from any political instability. It is therefore imperative that the Chief Constable has the option of requesting army back-up should there be any worsening of our security situation.”
Kenny added: “Violence was never the answer and it is regrettable that over 3,000 people had to lose their lives, thousands of others injured, tens of thousands bereaved and an economy decimated before people realised that the road they were on was the road to nowhere.
“All involved in Northern Ireland politics have an obligation to make politics work for the entire community. The public are crying out for responsible political leadership which is based upon delivering for the common good, rather than partisan party politicking. That is the challenge ahead for us; the sins of the past must never be repeated – we owe that to our present and future generations,” concluded Kenny.