Cusher TUV Councillor Keith Ratcliffe has slammed the SDLP for their unusual silence regarding a recent IRA Commemoration in South Armagh.
Keith Ratcliffe said:
“I am disappointed that the party of Seamus Mallon, a man with whom I had many disagreements in terms of politics but who was always outspoken and unambiguous when it came to terrorism from all sides, has become so reticent about the glorification of Republican terrorism.
“In recent years we have seen an increasingly casual attitude towards the IRA, most graphically illustrated by the shocking instances of the singing of Up the Ra.
“There has been a telling lack of debate within Nationalism about the damage this is causing to community relations in Northern Ireland and the very real hurt and retraumatisation caused to victims.
“It is up to the SDLP to challenge that. They owe it to themselves if nothing else. It is only through challenging the likes of the South Armagh terror fest that they will remain true to their own legacy, never mind make a positive contribution to building relationships across divides.”
ENDS
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