RECENT arson attacks on Protestant churches and businesses are being blamed on dissident loyalists. They are suspected of trying to stir up community tensions during the marching season.
An arson attack which destroyed a Protestant church in east Belfast was the work of loyalists' intent on fomenting an anti-Catholic backlash, according to the Progressive Unionist Party spokesman, Mr David Ervine.
The fire, which caused extensive damage to Mount Pottinger Baptist Church earlier this month, was thought to have been carried out by republicans. But Mr Ervine said yesterday there was "absolutely no doubt" that extreme loyalists were to blame.
The church burning and some other similar recent attacks were part of a loyalist campaign to arouse sectarian tensions and to trigger similar attacks on Catholic churches, businesses and homes, it was claimed yesterday.
The Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF), said to be associated with jailed dissident loyalist Billy Wright, was reportedly behind other such incidents, although it is uncertain whether the burning of Mount Pottinger church is linked to the group.
Senior RUC sources are quoted in yesterday's Sunday Times as blaming the LVF for "dirty tricks" incidents aimed at stirring community tensions.
Their motivation, it is believed, is to heighten Protestant and loyalist fear and anger to such a degree that there will be no compromises with nationalists that might ensure a relatively trouble-free marching season.
The incidents bore the hallmarks of a similar campaign at the beginning of the current "Troubles", when the UVF carried out a series of bombings which were blamed on the IRA. The purpose of the attacks was to destabilise Terence O'Neill's government.
Dissident loyalists from mid-Ulster and Belfast who are unhappy with the loyalist ceasefire are behind the arson incidents and other attacks on Catholic churches, schools and homes, according to the sources.
Incidents blamed on the LVF include an arson attack on a Protestant-owned haulage firm in Portadown which caused more than £100,000 damage and an attempt to burn a post office in Newmills, Co Tyrone, on April 2nd.
Those responsible for the Newmills incident shouted "IRA" and called its Protestant employee, Mr Kenny Archer, an "Orange bastard" as they fled.
The Mount Pottinger church burning had been blamed on republicans living in the nationalist enclave of Short Strand in east Belfast. However, Mr Ervine told reporters yesterday he was in no, doubt that loyalists were responsible.
"It was undoubtedly the work of Protestants, although whether they could justifiably call themselves Protestants is another question. One would not fully understand their logic, other than to fester hatred and bitterness," he said.
Appealing for community restraint, Mr Ervine added: "Nationalists have been responsible for doing damage to Protestants but, where we know the truth, let us tell the truth."
The Ulster Unionist Party security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, said he was not surprised that dissident loyalists were engaged in such a campaign.
"There is evidence that these people are acting as agents provcateurs, trying to antagonise society here. But we are just going to have to make sure this doesn't permeate our tradition," he added.
The former SDLP chairman, Mr Mark Durkan, said there already had been "some very obvious orchestration tactics to create a climate of deepening tension. If there is any weight to this evidence, it seems there is an even more sinister manipulation of events at play".
