Does Northern Ireland enjoy sufficient normality to justify
the wholesale closure of army barracks and withdrawal of troops
from the Province?
All right-thinking people sincerely hope that the 'Troubles'
are over, and that the IRA has gone, with no possibility of
a return to the bombs and bullets of the 35 years of mayhem.
But is it not too early to pull out thousands of soldiers,
and to axe barracks on such a scale, leaving almost the entire
west of Northern Ireland without a permanent military presence?
The closure of St Lucia Barracks in Omagh, and the barracks
at Ballykelly, which follows the recent closure of Ebrington
Barracks in Londonderry, will leave huge swathes of territory
with no Army presence.
It is no secret that the Army has been reduced in size by
the present Government to the extent that it finds it difficult
to meet its commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany and
other parts of the world.
It would seem that the Government is so anxious to seize
the opportunity presented by the apparent end of republican
terrorism that it can carry out such drastic military base
closures.
It's too early to say with confidence that the Provisional
IRA has rejected violence completely to achieve its objectives,
and is divesting itself of criminality.
Even if this is the case, there is still a threat from the
'Real' IRA and 'Continuity' IRA, and recent trouble in Lurgan
was a reminder of the capability of dissident republicans
to creates disturbances.
Is this then not a very high risk process - the wholesale
closure of military bases and huge reduction in army service
personnel?
Many people would feel it is, and certainly those Protestant
folk along the border who have been the chief victims of the
IRA terrorist campaign are entitled to feel unease at the
way things are proceeding.
Northern Ireland has a great military tradition, and many
of its menfolk have served down the years in all branches
of HM Forces.
Of course, most men and women join in order to serve throughout
the world, but that doesn't mean that its own province should
be left so vulnerable.
There is a lot of uncertainty over the security situation
in Northern Ireland, and Unionist politicians of all shades
need to be proactive in spotlighting the issue and trying
to persuade the British Government to be more realistic in
its attitude to this major issue.
There is also the very important matter of the estimated
1,500 civilian jobs which will disappear when bases close.
This will be an economic setback of major proportions for
towns like Ballykelly. Omagh and Ballymena and the Government
must strive to secure jobs to replace those lost in the drastic
rundown in the security apparatus.
There must also be fair and adequate financial compensation
for these civilian workers, many of whom have served the Crown
for a long number of years.
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