Memorandum submitted by the Chinese Welfare
Association
It is the belief of the Chinese Welfare Association
(CWA) that there has been a significant increase in racism and
racially motivated attacks. Our experience illustrates that racism
has a long history in Northern Ireland, however its presence and
effects were largely overshadowed by the continued preoccupation
with the troubles. Over recent months there has been a certain
amount of media frenzy regarding racism however it is important
to point out that racism is not something new in NI, the CWA has
been receiving reports regarding racism for as long as it has
been established. What we have noticed is that over recent years
racial crime has become more violent and sinister. From the outset,
it is important that we state our belief that the current police
figures are only the tip of the iceberg and a poor reflection
of the true picture as many incidents of racial crime go unreported
for one reason or another.
It is not an understatement to say that there
is a general sense of fear within the Chinese community. Many
have reported to us that they have actually felt more vulnerable
to attack since the ceasefires. This sense of vulnerability is
not just confined to South Belfast but has been experienced by
members of the community throughout the province. The elderly
community, in particular, seem to feel extremely vulnerable. Many
of them have reported to us that they do not like leaving their
homes after three in the afternoon, for fear of being attacked
and harassed. They have reported that they feel most terrified
during school term breaks and in and around the 12 July.
While elderly members of the Chinese community
have felt increasingly vulnerable, the experience of racism has
been felt by people of all ages. In a survey of Chinese Teenagers
born and living in South and East Belfast, it was unveiled that
100% had experienced some kind of racially motivated attack.
Some organisations have suggested that there
has been no increase in racism, and racially motivated attacks
in Northern Ireland, but instead the increase in PSNI figures
just reflects an increase in reporting and the better documentation
of racial incidents. Experience has illustrated to us that PSNI
figures are not an accurate reflection of the reality; many racial
incidents are not being reported. On the one hand we have witnessed
the alarming fact that many victims of racial incidents are actually
internalizing their experiences and accepting this as a routine
part of living as a minority community in Northern Ireland. Members
of the Chinese community have informed CWA that they feel there
is no point in reporting racial incidents to the Police as these
incidents are not taken seriously and never lead to prosecutions.
There has been a growing sense of frustration and dissatisfaction
within the community regarding the Police. The very low prosecution
rates, some of the inappropriate responses by the PSNI and the
failure of the criminal justice system in prosecuting perpetrators
of racial crime has had an impact on the community's faith in
the PSNI and their decision to report racial incidents. In addition
the language barrier has also inhibited people from reporting
racial crime.
Besides this general lack of confidence in the
PSNI and other key agencies, the CWA are aware that many Chinese
business people within the catering industry are being compelled
to pay protection money to paramilitaries and what we understand
is that if problems arise in their business very often the proprietor
will report incidents to these elements rather than reporting
directly to the PSNI. The CWA utterly repudiate this type of practice
and have for years been vigorously trying to encourage the community
to report all incidents to the PSNI and to CWA.
While the CWA firmly believes that there has
been an increase in racial incidents and attacks it is also our
belief that many of the racial attacks which happened in South
Belfast, at the end of last year and the beginning of this year,
were orchestrated. We believe that there were several inter-related
elements which formed the backdrop to the increase in attacks
from September of last year to February of this year.
From last September CWA witnessed an increase
in tensions within Donegall Pass. These tensions were provoked
following a threat made against a Chinese restaurant owner who
reported a case of extortion which resulted in two local man facing
trial. Prior to the trial, pressure was placed on this businessman
and the Chinese community, in an attempt to coerce the businessman
from proceeding with the case. Threats were also made against
any new Chinese people moving into Donegall Pass. These threats
were confirmed by the PSNI. On one occasion CWA had to assist
a household out of Donegall Pass just hours after they had moved
in.
Many attacks were also witnessed in the Village
area of South Belfast. We believe that these attacks were the
work of paramilitaries with extreme right wing tendencies and
links to organizations such as Combat 18 and the British National
Party. It was made known to us that racist pamphlets had been
distributed in the Village and certainly we witnessed an increase
in racial graffiti, with slogans on gable walls such as "chinks
out" "kkk", "C 18". In the month of November
alone CWA responded to 11 different attacks against people of
Chinese origin, it is our belief that these attacks formed part
of a campaign to intimidate and eradicate ethnic minorities from
areas of South Belfast. It was during this period that an estate
agent in the Village was warned not to rent houses to people from
ethnic minorities. We believe that racial hostility was being
deliberately whipped up in an insidious attempt, by certain individuals,
with links to paramilitary and white supremacist groups, who wished
to rid the area of black and ethnic minorities.
Racial attacks have not ceased, however the
orchestrated element which we believe was behind the majority
of attacks at the end of last year and the beginning of this seems
now to be kept at bay. However we see no room for complacency
and we believe that the PSNI and the criminal justice agencies
together with community groups, the Housing Executive and others
need to provide strong leadership in addressing racism in all
its many manifestations.
10 May 2004
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