FROM 1969 TO THE FALL OF 1977, APPROXIMATELY 1,800 PERSONS WERE KILLED IN NORTHERN IRELAND, INCLUDING ALMOST 500 POLICE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS. DURING THIS PERIOD, NEARLY 30 PERCENT OF ALL POLICE OFFICIALS WERE INJURED. THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH-IRISH AND THE PROTESTANT-CATHOLIC CONFLICT IS BRIEFLY RECOUNTED FROM THE 12TH CENTURY UP TO 1975, AS THIS HISTORY IS ESSENTIAL TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESENT SITUATION. TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS HAVE COME TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE PRESENT VIOLENCE, FOUR MAJOR ONES IN PARTICULAR: THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY (IRA), WITH THE GOAL OF REUNITING NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND; AND ON THE PROTESTANT SIDE, THE ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE, THE ULSTER DEFENCE ASSOCIATION, AND THE RED HAND, ALL OF WHICH ARE DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING NORTHERN IRELAND'S TIES WITH GREAT BRITAIN. THE IRA IS MILITARY ORIENTED AND HAS ABOUT 25,000 MEMBERS, WITH A HARD CORE OF PERHAPS 1,500 TO 2,000. IT CONSIDERS ITSELF AT WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. THE TACTICS OF THE IRA ARE TYPICAL OF GUERRILLA GROUPS EVERYWHERE: TO UNSETTLE THE POPULACE, TO CAUSE PANIC, AND TO DISTURB PUBLIC ORDER PERSISTENTLY THROUGH ATTACKS ON NATIONAL NERVE CENTERS. THE PROTESTANT GROUPS ARE EQUALLY VIOLENT AND USE MANY OF THE SAME TACTICS. NEITHER SIDE HAS BEEN ABLE TO REALIZE ITS GOAL OF SOLIDARITY AMONG THE PEOPLE, AND THERE IS LITTLE SYMPATHY NOW FOR ANY EXTREMIST GROUP. THE POLICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THE ROYAL ULSTER CONSTABULARY, IS IN THE DIFFICULT POSITION OF BALANCING POLITICS, RELIGION, AND SPECIAL INTERESTS. IT HAS ABOUT 5,500 OFFICERS, ALONG WITH 5,000 RESERVISTS. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTHERN IRELAND WAS 15,000 STRONG IN SEPTEMBER 1977. BRITISH SOLDIERS SERVE ONLY 4 MONTHS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND ARE THEN ROTATED OUT. THOSE OFFICERS WHO SERVE THERE ARE GIVEN INTENSIVE TRAINING TO PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE CIVIL WAR, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHAOS, OR EVEN THE BREAKUP OF GREAT BRITAIN. THE BRITISH SOLDIERS ARE SCORNED AND HUMILIATED BY RESIDENTS. THE LVES OF THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTY AND NEGATIVE EXPECTATIONS AS A RESULT OF THE CRISIS. THE YOUTH OF THE COUNTRY DO NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP NORMALLY. THEY CONSIDER IT 'FAB' TO MAKE TROUBLE, TO SABOTAGE, AND TO COMMIT VIOLENT ACTS OPENLY. THEY HAVE LEARNED ONLY VIOLENCE, AND THEY REACT TO ANY SITUATION WITH VIOLENCE. THE GHETTOS OF BELFAST AND DERRY, CALLED 'TROUBLED AREAS', HAVE BECOME PRACTICALLY TABOO FOR STRANGERS, AND EVEN SOLDIERS, TO ENTER. NERVOUS CONDITIONS, NEUROSES, ALCOHOLISM, AND THE USE OF ANTIDEPRESSANT ARE ALL WIDESPREAD AMONG YOUTHS. IGNORANCE, POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND CRIME ARE RAMPANT. --IN GERMAN. (VDA)