NI must be racism free, says Hain
Northern Ireland must be free from racism and other forms of bigotry, the North's new Secretary of State, Peter Hain, claimed today.
The anti-apartheid campaigner turned minister vowed to work with those in Northern Ireland opposed to racial attacks and intimidation against members of the Chinese, Pakistani, Eastern European communities and other nationalities during his first full interview since taking over at Stormont.
Mr Hain also spoke frankly about an attempt on his life while campaigning against apartheid and racism in South Africa.
“Racism is one of the evils above all other evils,” he said. “You cannot change the colour of your skin but you can change your political belief or even change your religious beliefs.
“You cannot change the colour of your skin and therefore it is a unique kind of discrimination which has no place in our communities in Northern Ireland.
“So I will certainly join with others in seeking to stamp that out.”
Ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland have increasingly begun to speak out about the racial harassment they have encountered in the North.
The homes of Chinese, Filipino, Ugandan, Pakistani, Lithuanian, Estonian, Portuguese and other nationalities have been targeted in petrol bomb and other attacks in Belfast and elsewhere.
There have also been concerns about propaganda material appearing in loyalist communities from groups like Combat 18 and the White Nationalist Party.
Mr Hain, who helped establish the Anti-Nazi League and whose family was forced to flee South Africa during the apartheid regime, said discrimination of any description had no place in a modern Northern Ireland.
“I know about the centuries of history and bitterness and Britain’s own responsibility, historically, for that,” he said.
“But we are talking about a new Northern Ireland which is enjoying about the fastest growth rate in anywhere in the United Kingdom, where there is increasing prosperity and there are more jobs than ever before.
“Just sensing the mood in Belfast, we are talking about a Belfast which is a modern European city and is increasingly being seen in that status. Therefore bigotry and prejudice in that context is of a bygone age.”
