AMONG THE British delegation Belfast on the weekend of Sean Downes' death were more than miners. JON LOVIBON collected reactions during their visit.
Paul (Lancashire):
What hit me first was the dereliction, the police army presence. was unbelievable like created ghetto, like Warunionist worried about the future of our country should go Io Northern should be compelled to go. With whai is happening in the miners' with growing unemployment, inal Is tne rulure or our country, the mainland, NortICul Wayne (South Yorks):
Every day they face the enemy sureets.
Doors being kicked in by soldiers and police. hev throw bricks at the army because they are terrorised by them and because they want to free Ireland.
It's their way of fighting visiting a dozen striking back I'm ashamed to be British after what I've seen. The British army and the RUC are the agg-cosurs.
Guy (South Yorks): When you watch telly at BONC it's always the Catholics who're the agALCOSUIS ones. bombs flying through the When the violent air, missiles, don't see why. You don't see what's gone before o what happens after. people at home saw what we've seen here there'd be a reactor ake wiel Deo ple saw on TV that picket being battered by riot police at Orgreave.
Arthur (South Yorks): The very fact that she entrances to the advice centres and clubs are eleccontrolled SCULLY LOUIS LIVES SUIC impression of how these people have got to live. And we were told "Don't go out on your owil ol you'll get your cards' There's something wrong isn't there? My deepest realisation is we knee you see know about atrocites being committed in but we tend say It's miles away, it isn't our troule. It's very important realise the atrocities are being comin name.
Whether it be with our For COL. the very fact that we haven't TO Ware our wholesale objection has given our assent to these actions.
Ken (Lancashire):
As many trade unionists should come across as DOSSID E ANO people irom Sinn Fein should Come le Dillain lo pee se what hes at dius.
saw things firsi hand, so now we know ll s irue You need only go over for a day. SEVEN OUT of sixteen resolutions to call for it to disassociate itself publicly strip searches and the sexual harassment of women prisoners.
Pressure for a hard opSocialist Action 28 September 1984