Ulster Unionists "mystified" at DUP enthusiasm for Maze centre Ulster Unionists have responded to the DUP statement in which that party claimed it was “mystified” at the decision by the Orange Order to oppose the Conflict Transformation Centre at the site of the former Maze Prison. An Ulster Unionist spokesperson said: “The DUP is so wrapped up in its relationship with Sinn Fein and their enthusiasm for the Maze centre and the retention of part of the prison buildings where the hunger strikers died that they take their anger out on the Orange Order and the Ulster Unionist Party. "The DUP has declared itself to be ‘mystified’ at the Orange Order statement opposing the establishment of a proposed Conflict Transformation centre at the site of the former Maze Prison. If that is indeed the case, then presumably the DUP is also mystified at the stance taken by the Ulster Unionist Party, the TUV, the RUC George Cross Association and a wide range of Victims organisations including Justice for Innocent Victims of Terrorism, South East Fermanagh Foundation, South Down Action for Healing Wounds, Mourne Action for Survivors of Terrorism, West Tyrone Voice, Ely Centre, Mid-Ulster Victims Empowerment Project, Omagh Support & Self-Help Group, County Armagh Phoenix Group and Tyrone East Phoenix Group. We can assure the DUP that the broader Unionist family is mystified as to why the DUP is so determined to facilitate Sinn Fein in their aim of establishing a terrorist shrine at the site of the former Maze Prison via the retention of former Prison Buildings and the location of a proposed Conflict Transformation Centre close by. As we have previously stated we are convinced that to build such a centre at the most divisive site in Northern Ireland is in no-one’s interests. We back the plans to attract £300 million of investment, and hope that yields even more than the 5,000 permanent jobs that have been forecast. What we oppose is the Conflict Transformation centre plans. The retention of some former prison buildings, including the Hospital, holds no attraction for the vast majority of our citizens, but guarantees the creation of a shrine to Republican terror, and in particular the hunger-strikers. It will compound the hurt of victims, place an undue emphasis on the former inmates of the Maze Prison, and is absolutely the wrong place to tell the story of the 3,500 people who lost their lives in the Troubles. The DUP obviously believe they know better than the rest of us. They seem to think it is a good idea to establish a terrorist shrine at the Maze and I can assure them that they are not the ones who are mystified. We will not forget the hollow promises of the DUP, that when they would get to power they would be in control and not Sinn Fein. One such statement from current Minister Edwin Poots who in 2002 said: "The real unionists of Ulster know that it is only the DUP which will rid us of the structures which put Sinn Fein into government here." So where has that promise gone - Like every other U-Turn of the DUP it has melted like a snowman!
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:38:58 +0000
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