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Mobile Phone Network
11th September 2008
The mobile phone network came into being during the violent summers of 1996 / 1997. This was linked to the ongoing situation over ‘Drumcree' and the Stewartstown Road was the scene of some of the worst violence our communities have ever experienced. This was before mobile phones were freely accessible and used by everyone.
One mobile phone was distributed to a volunteer from each community who agreed to be on 24 hour call and be in constant touch with the representative from the ‘other' community. The phones proved invaluable at dispelling rumours, providing reassurance and contact and also very practical help when trouble was happening on the ground. For instance if young people were seen to be gathering at the interface, the community representatives could contact each other and volunteers would then go and move them back into their respective communities.
The budding relationships between the two communities were severely strained during one period of violence when the representatives from Lenadoon complained that the Suffolk rep was refusing the answer the phone and was virtually un-contactable.The situation however was resolved when it was discovered that the Suffolk rep thought that the mobile phone would only work if it was sitting in her hall beside her house phone which caused great embarrassment and hilarity. We also quickly learned that it was better never to assume anything, and to make sure that reps knew how to use a mobile phone.
The operation of the mobile phone network has been a journey of trust for all involved. At the beginning, members felt uneasy even exchanging personal phone numbers with their counterpart, and were therefore provided with separate phones specifically for the purpose. However they soon found that their ability to work togetherto avoid anti-social behaviour on the interface was a lot more successful than they had imagined, and before long the extra phones were dispensed of as trust grew.
The mobile phone network has proven it's worth time and time again, most notably during Band Parades and times of political tension. Whereas before even football matches could spark violence on the interface,that has now almost been made a thing of the past.
The network now stretches from Donegal Pass, to Milltown, through to the South Belfast Corridor. What began as two phones, one either side of the interface, has now evolved into a large network of contacts city wide. It continues to go strong.