Online Petition to stop a "terrorist shrine" at the Maze Prison site is launched by Unionists
09 May 2013
An online petition opposing the creation of "a terrorist shrine" at the site of the former Maze Prison has been launched by 'Raze the Maze', a group which includes members from the Ulster Unionist Party, TUV and UKIP.
Speaking after the launch, Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott said:
"The aim of the petition is to give people across Northern Ireland an opportunity to show their opposition to the proposals for a Conflict Resolution Centre at the Maze Prison. There is a very real fear within a large section of the community that the prison buildings will become a shrine to deceased paramilitaries thus making the site totally unsuitable for a peace centre, and we're hoping that by making a petition available, both in various offices and online, that the voices against the project will be heard.
"The petition calls for three things - For the Minister of the Environment to de-list and demolish the remaining prison buildings at the site; for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to withdraw the current proposals for a Conflict Resolution Centre at the site; and for the European Commission to withdraw funding for a Conflict Resolution Centre at the site.
"I would encourage anyone who shares our concerns to sign the petition. Applying your signature only takes a minute, and you'll be helping to send a very clear signal to those with power over this project that it does not have your support."
Jim Allister said, "With there having been no public consultation on the Maze Shrine Project, the Petition, either the paper or E version, is an essential opportunity for the public to have their say. Already thousands have signed the hard copy Petition, I would urge those for whom an E Petition is more convenient to avail of this opportunity. Let's show those who think they can railroad through this Provo Project that the public will have their say."
David McNarry added: " UKIP fully support and endorse this petition because we believe it is wrong for the DUP/Sinn Fein led Executive to build a "peace centre" right up beside buildings which will become a shrine to the Hunger Strikers. No one has even attempted to put forward an argument demonstrating that it is right. This is not only UKIP's view but the view shared by many irrespective of their party political persuasion. It is time now for the DUP to step back from committing a grave mistake."
You can sign the online petition at the following web address -
http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-a-terrorist-shrine-at-the-former-maze-prison-1
