Скачать или смотреть NORTHERN IRELAND: BELFAST: FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF IRA CEASEFIRE

(31 Aug 1995) English/Nat

On the first anniversary of the IRA ceasefire, the people of Northern Ireland seem to be enjoying a return to relative normality.

However, the optimism is tinged with concern as the widespread practice of vicious punishment beatings demonstrates that both the Loyalist and Republican paramilitary infrastructures remains intact.

High above Shaftesbury Square near Belfast's city centre, an electronic billboard recounts the names of more than three-thousand victims as Northern Ireland comes to terms with one year of peace.

In Belfast city centre business is booming as an increasing number of shoppers enjoy an environment free from the intense security measures which had been a hallmark of the past 25 years.

Although the bombs and the guns remain silent, for some the day to day reality of violence still exists.

SOUNDBITE:

"I don't think anybody really can say for sure there's a genuine peace while paramilitaries are engaged in violations of people's human rights on a daily basis - breaking their legs, forcing them out of their homes, still engaged in racketeering and intimidation. That's not a genuine peace process as far as we're concerned."

SUPER CAPTION: Henry Robinson, Families Against Intimidation and Terror

The baseball bat has replaced the gun as the beatings continue.

For one recent victims, the real threat of violence - if anything - has increased.

SOUNDBITE:

"At this very moment when we're speaking, I'm carrying out more measures - security measures - at my home to try and protect my family. That's rather irrelevant 12 months into the ceasefire, where I thought that I'd be able to take away the security measures I have around my home. Instead, I'm increasing them because of the beating which I received and because of the taunts which some members of my family are still receiving from republicans in the Twinbrook estate."

SUPER CAPTION: Hugh Llewsley, Victim

The Catholic Twinbrook estate in West Belfast has had more than its share of punishment beatings over the last year.

Before the ceasefire, the I-R-A held sway with their summary justice meted out on the perpetrators of petty crime. Today, that threat remains.

Graffiti graphically spells out the state of unease that underlies the peace and invariably toes the I-R-A's political wing, Sinn Fein's, party line.

Despite the beatings, there remains a tangible optimism among the ranks of the Protestant Majority in Northern Ireland.

SOUNDBITE:

"I said within a few days of the ceasefire being announced a year ago that my gut feeling was that it was for real. I know many people have doubted it and they predicted that in a week it would collapse, then we were told it would collapse at Christmas, the New Year, Easter - almost on a weekly basis we are told by some people it's going to collapse. (It's) Still there - there's no killing in Northern Ireland and I feel it's going to continue."

SUPER CAPTION: John Taylor, Ulster Unionist MP (and candidate for party leader)

One year on, the people of Northern Ireland are waiting for the next steps in the fragile peace process with a guarded optimism.

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