Issue 155

Waterfront Debate: For The National Assembly for Wales

08th May 2007

Wales, although "only" a principality according to some, has a rich and varied history that is definitely unique to that of the United Kingdom as a whole, it has its own language and culture and much more besides. Yet many would like to see Wales integrated completely into the United Kingdom, would like Wales to lose its uniqueness.

This has been averted with the beginning of the Welsh Assembly almost a decade ago. Although the Welsh Assembly has little power compared to the Central Government in Westminster it still wields more influence than has been seen in Wales since 1282 when Llywelyn II the Last Prince of Wales was beheaded by the English.

The only time since 1282 when Wales has been responsible for itself was during the lifetime of Owain Glyndwr who tried, and almost succeeded in beating the English interloper out of Wales. The Act of Union in 1536 put an end to any hope that Wales would ever regain its position in the world.

Wales has suffered at the hands of England. During the nineteenth century the Welsh language was persecuted and the English language introduced to society. In school English was the language that was spoken, not by choice, but by force. The introduction of the "Welsh Not" saw to this.

Furthermore in the nineteenth century there was the well known "Treachery of the Blue Books" which were the reports undertaken by three English men into the state of education in Wales.

The Welsh language was undermined so badly that by the 1960s many people thought that it had reached its end. Luckily with the passing of the Welsh Language Act, which admittedly was an Act passed by the Government at Westminster, Welsh has regained a lot of its former popularity, although it will never again be the only language spoken by a majority of the population.

Since Wales became industrialised many people flooded the country especially the valleys of South Wales diluting the Welsh language further, but worse than this during times of industrial strife instead of using reasonable means of force to quell the masses the military was sent in to do the job using an unreasonable amount of force as seen in the Tonypandy riots of 1910.

Then of course there is the unforgivable flooding of Welsh valleys so that English towns and cities like Liverpool can have water.

Tryweryn is a name that should not, and will never be forgotten among the Welsh. "Cofiwch Dryweryn" (Remember Tryweryn) will always be a rallying call to Welsh causes, while being a reminder of those innocent beings at the village of Capel Celyn forced from their homes to please the English Government.

These are only some of the reasons Wales should be governed by its own people.

But more than that, why should we be forced to bow down to a government which will take little or no notice of our views of how the country should be run? Why should we risk losing that language and culture which sets us apart from the English?

The Welsh Assembly, although only a poor second to full devolution, is a step in the right direction, while the elections on May 3 will bring more power to the assembly and will hopefully mean the beginning of a better future for Wales and the Welsh hopefully one day wholly independent from the English.

Nia Williams