More on "The Irish Problem"

[aamusedinatx]

Once again, I think you can mark 99.9% of this up to a wide abyss of economic divide that is labeled "sectarianism" where we label ours "racisim".

If you want to know what's going on in Belfast, start with the murals.

Amid the blast bombs, petrol bombs and barricades of this sudden surge of loyalist violence, fresh graffiti appeared near the Albert Bridge Road.

A mural claiming double standards - namely that the Orange Order is banned from marching, while the IRA can - had been defaced. A local hand accused the Orangemen of cowardice, duplicity and of failing the community.

Across the road, more graffiti revealed divisions among loyalist paramilitary groups, street corners marking invisible boundaries of influence.

Updated with this bit: Quotes from the Orange's Grand Marshall...

5pm
Orangemen blame police for Belfast riots

Staff and agencies
Wednesday September 14, 2005

Orange Order leaders today denied responsibility for the Belfast riots, instead blaming police for the violence that erupted at the weekend after a contentious parade was re-routed.

Dawson Baillie, the Belfast County Grand Master of the Order, said: "As far as I am concerned the violence was started by the police. The violence I saw at the weekend from the police force was absolutely shocking."

Mr Baillie refused to condemn the violence, which involved petrol bombs, pipe bombs and blast bombs being hurled at police, but said he did not condone it.

Speaking at a press conference on the loyalist Shankill Road he said: "I don't accept any responsibility for calling people out on the streets to assist us. I feel entirely blameless."

Asked if he would do things differently if he had the weekend over again he said: "Not one thing."

Northern Ireland's chief constable, Sir Hugh Orde, said earlier this week he was holding the Orange Order "substantially responsible" for the rioting.