Politicians unite in condemnation of racist leaflet

Local political leaders have united in their condemnation of a racist leaflet which is being circulated in south Belfast.

The leaflet calls for local people to expel members of the Chinese community from the Donegall Pass area of the city, saying they undermined the community's "Britishness".

Former Culture Minister Michael McGimpsey described those distributing the leaflets as "evil and intolerant".

The UUP MLA for south Belfast said: “This is a despicable action by a tiny minority who only want to destroy the generally excellent community relations in the Donegall Pass area.

“The good people of the area are angry that this kind of vile threat is another attempt to tarnish the good relations among all those living and working in this part of the city.

“I hope that those peddling this repulsive propaganda are apprehended and I would appeal to anyone who may have seen those involved distributing their bile to inform the police.”

SDLP assembly member for south Belfast, Alastair McDonnell condemned what he called "this latest outrage".

"The Chinese people who reside and work in Donegall Pass are extremely decent people who make a valuable contribution to the ecomony here," he said.

Alliance south Belfast representative Geraldine Rice also condemned the leaflet. She said: "The narrow-minded racists behind these leaflets might be trying to stir up tension, but the overwhelming majority of people in south Belfast are proud that it is the most multi-cultural part of Northern Ireland, and we want it to stay that way.

Recent figures have shown that attacks on Asians and Africans in parts of Belfast rose by 30% in the past year, resulting in many families fleeing their homes.

Highlighting this figures at a meeting on Monday, the Policing Board told PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde that rising levels of racial and homophobic attacks in the province would have to be more closely monitored in the future.

(MB)