SINN FEIN NEWS > IRISH NEWS ROUND-UP > http://irlnet.com/rmlist/ > > Sunday/Monday, 28/29 May, 2000 > > > 1. DEVOLVED POWERS RESTORED > > * Anger at Trimble's racist remarks > * Flags, policing unresolved > * 'Every issue a battle', says Adams > > 2. British military machine invades Garvaghy > 3. Drugs, feud blamed for shootings > 4. Councillor arrested on way to council > 5. Setback for waste management plans > 6. MacManus to contest Sligo/Leitrim > 7. Feature: One reason why the RUC should be disbanded > 8. Analysis: Sinn Fein is wedded to the peace process > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >>>>>> DEVOLVED POWERS RESTORED > > * Anger at Trimble's racist remarks > * Flags, policing unresolved > * 'Every issue a battle', says Adams > > Power has been restored to the Irish institutions of government > set up under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, amid rising hopes > that the a new period of progressive change has begun in the > North of Ireland. > > Britain's Northern Secretary Peter Mandelson signed the order on > Saturday for the resumption of the institutions, including the > Executive and Belfast Assembly, which he brought down in February > following a unionist threat to quit. That threat was removed on > Saturday, when the Ulster Unionist Party leader and the First > Minister in the Executive, David Trimble, secured a slim victory > for his party to resume its part in a power-sharing government. > > The all-Ireland Ministerial Council and implementation bodies, > the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental > Conference have also been reinstated. > > Yesterday, Trimble returned to Stormont Parliament Buildings for > a press conference alongside the Deputy First Minister, Seamus > Mallon. > > "We hope these institutions will take root," he told reporters. > > "We hope that a new situation will develop within society. > Certainly, for our part we will do everything we can to maximise > the opportunity here for people. > > "I hope we've come over the Rubicon this time but again, with > other events, we'll wait and see how things unfold." > > Trimble's lack of conviction did nothing to dispel fears that > anti-Agreement unionists could yet conspire to destroy the new > institutions. Concerns over issues such as policing and flags > remain very much to the fore, while nationalists are still > incensed by sectarian insults made by Trimble in the aftermath of > Saturday's vote. > > Trimble said Sinn Fein members still needed to be "house-trained" > before they could become democrats, and that they needed to be > "brought to heel". > > RACIST REMARKS > > The North's Minister for Health and Public Safety, Sinn Fein's > Bairbre de Brun said she found Mr Trimble's remarks disgraceful > and racist. > > "I do not want to detract from the positive nature of the > decision but David Trimble's comments immediately afterward were > totally disgraceful. They were sectarian and they were racist. > > "The way in which he described myself, Martin McGuinness and > other members of our party was totally and utterly sectarian. > > "It's the kind of sectarianism that led to the second-class > citizenship that Catholics and nationalists have known throughout > the history of the state. It led to much of the conflict and it > needs to be left behind," she said. > > Education Minister Martin McGuinness criticised what he called Mr > Trimble's "personal attack on Sinn Fein members". He said that > the political process can only be advanced on the basis of > inclusivity, equality and mutual respect, but that Trimble "may > have some difficulty in embracing these concepts". > > "Mr Trimble will have to quickly get used to the fact that > unionist supremacy and domination in the north of Ireland is at > an end," he added. > > Mr McGuinness said that despite the furore that he was > "relishing" his return to the role of Education Minister this > morning, and that it was time for "sane and sensible" leadership. > > Speaking outside Parliament Buildings, he attacked the > "decommissioning junkies" who continued to place the issue of IRA > arms above all others dealt with in the Agreement. > > "We're living in a time where there is constant hope among the > people," he said. "Political leaders need to reflect the reality > that there is a great opportunity for us all. > > "We want to build a future for everybody. The question is, are we > up to that task? I think we are. I think we can get this right." > > FLAG DAYS > > But the depth of the divisions between nationalists and unionists > is sure to be further underlined later in the week. Friday is a > "flag day", one of several when British Union Jack flags are > hoisted over British government buildings in the North of > Ireland. > > In accordance with the Good Friday Agreement's declaration of the > equal parity of esteem for nationalists and unionists, McGuinness > and de Brun have ordered that no flag be flown from their offices. > > Unionists opposed to the Agreement have railed against this, > decrying it as a "dilution of Britishness" which they insist is > unacceptable in any form. The matter is due to be discussed at > the first meeting of the restored Executive on Thursday, a > meeting likely to be boycotted by the two Paisleyite Ministers. > > Paisley's party, which has yet to decide if it will resume its > two Ministerial positions, is already seeking to collapse the > Executive. It is attempting to gather the 30 signatures of > Assembly members necessary to force a debate and vote on whether > Sinn Fein should be allowed to participate in the Executive. The > Assembly's first meeting in four months takes place on June 5. > > POLICING FURORE > > But the continuing controversy over the name of the North's new > policing service, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), > is the source of the most difficulty. It is thought that some > attempt may be made to include a reference in legislation to the > existing Royal Ulster Constabulary, which would allow unionists > to argue that the RUC is not being replaced by the PSNI. > > There was some concern in nationalist and republican circles over > the reported claim by UUP Deputy Leader John Taylor, at the > Ulster Unionist Council meeting in Belfast on Saturday, that he > had secured unspecified concessions on policing. > > Mr Taylor waved about a "letter of comfort" from Mr Mandelson at > the private meeting in Belfast's Waterfront Hall before calling > for support for a return to government. His most prominent > opponent, Jeffrey Donaldson called to him to "read it out" but > Taylor said it was private between himself, the Secretary of > State and the British Prime Minister. > > British officials say their government's position is as outlined > by Peter Mandelson in the House of Commons on May 17th, when he > indicated there would be "a legal description in the Bill which > incorporates the Royal Ulster Constabulary, in effect the title > deeds of the new service, while introducing a new name that will > be used for all working and operational purposes". > > Criticising Mandelson for refusing to meet with his party over > the new Policing Bill, to which the SDLP has tabled 44 > amendments, Seamus Mallon expressed confusion as to what kind of > deal -- if any -- had been done. He asked journalists: "Have you > discovered yet what the title deeds of a Bill are, because I > haven't?" > > On his way to receive a honorary doctorate from Boston College, > Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams stressed the importance of the > British government fulfilling its commitments, especially on the > implementation of policing reforms. > > Questioned in New York on recent reports about the British > government seeking assistance from the White House on policing > concessions to unionists, Mr Adams said the May statement by the > IRA had come in a context, particularly regarding the Patten > report on policing reform. > > "That is the basis on which Mr Blair signed up, that is the > contract which was created. The joint statement says the British > government will implement the Patten report, it's very clear, > there is no ambiguity." > > But the Sinn Fein leader dismissed questions on weapons and said > he had confidence that the IRA would keep to its word. > > "I have more confidence that the IRA will keep to its commitment > than I have about any other group, or any other government or any > other institution in this process. > > "Let's not have the next phase infected with media and other > fetishes about guns. Let's let that part of the process move > quietly and constructively and positively and let's all seek to > make politics work, which is the only way to take the guns out of > the situation." > > Mr Adams also warned that "the rejection camp are going to > regroup and they need to be faced down. Every issue is going to > be a battle". > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >>>>>> British military machine invades Garvaghy > > A huge military operation around Portadown's Garvaghy Road over > the weekend to force a small parade by the Protestant Orange > Order through one end of the road has angered residents opposed > to the parade. > > Residents' spokesman Breandan Mac Cionnaith said the 20 hour-long > operation to let 10 boys -- 'Junior' Orangemen -- walk down Park > Road on Saturday at one end of the nationmalist enclave made a > mockery of calls for the massively contentious Drumcree parade to > go ahead in July. > > Steel barricades, riot police and British army paratroopers kept > nationalists hemmed into their estates during the march, which > was followed by around 70 adult supporters. > > The decision to allow the march was widely condemned after > trouble flared last year. The RUC had fired scores of plastic > bullets as 700 loyalists following the parade tried to force > their way onto the Garvaghy Road. Now Portadown District Orange > Order spokesman David Jones claims Saturday's "peaceful" march is > proof the July Drumcree parade should go ahead. > > The Parades Commission has banned the Drumcree march from going > down Garvaghy Road for the past two years. > > But Mr Mac Cionnaith pointed to the "massive security operation" > as evidence the July march should not be permitted. > > "Under no circumstances should the July march go down the > Garvaghy Road," he said. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >>>>>> Drugs, feud blamed for shootings > > The latest incident in a loyalist feud occurred shortly after 7 > p.m. on Sunday when a number of men fired over 30 shots at a > house in Ballygowan, County Down. The occupants, a husband and > wife and their young son, were not injured. > > Within the last week there has been a series of shootings in > Belfast linked to tensions between loyalist factions. On Friday, > Mr Martin Taylor, a father of two, was shot dead as he was > working outside a house in the loyalist Ballysillan area. > > The loyalist paramilitary UVF and LVF, who are feuding, have both > been blamed for the Down attack. Tensions between the UVF and LVF > in the Mid-Ulster area also remains high following the murders of > reputed UVF commander Richard Jameson and loyalist teenagers > Andrew Robb and David McIlwane earlier this year. > > There was concern among Portadown's nationalist community that > loyalist violence could be directed against them in the run-up to > the Drumcree parade on July 9th. > > "In the past, when loyalist feuds erupted, they eventually got > tired of killing each other and turned their guns on Catholics," > said a Garvaghy Road resident. "There is a genuine fear that > could well happen here in Portadown." > > Meanwhile, the weekend murder of a man at Dunmurry, near Belfast, > is understood to be drug-related. Edmund McCoy was was killed in > the Motte'n'Bailey bar at around 7 p.m. on Sunday night. > > The Sinn Fein MLA for West Belfast, Mr Alex Maskey, said: "There > have been a number of shootings in the last few days. Two people > are dead as a result. I do not know who is responsible and I am > not going to speculate. We want to see an end all attacks like > this. They are wrong." > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >>>>>> Councillor arrested on way to council > > > > Sinn Fein is to make representations to the Dublin government and > the British government after an incident in which one of the > party's councillors was arrested by the RUC police while on his > way to a council meeting in Craigavon. > > Sinn Fein Councillor John O'Dowd said his arrest by the RUC on > his way to Monday night's council meeting was a clear > intervention by the RUC in the democratic process and an > infringement of his party's voters' rights. > > The councillor said the car in which he was travelling was > stopped by an RUC mobile patrol, which came up behind his car > with sirens blaring and lights flashing on the Lake Road. The RUC > officer who approached the car adopted a hostile and aggressive > attitude as soon as he spoke to the driver. > > "I told the RUC officer my name and the fact that I was a > councillor but I was treated with contempt, as was my request to > be allowed to continue on my journey so as I could attend the > council meeting," said O'Dowd. > > Invoking emergency legislation, the RUC then carried out a search > of the vehicle. "It was pure harassment," said O'Dowd. "I refused > to answer any more questions and was subjected to further > derogatory remarks by the RUC." > > The councillor was ordered out of the vehicle and subjected to a > body search before being arrested under emergency legislation - > "The RUC claimed I had refused to identify myself." > > O'Dowd was taken to Lurgan RUC barracks, where the custody > sergeant took details from the arresting officers before > releasing him. The delayed councillor then made his way to > Craigavon Council, where a meeting was taking place. > > But the harassment continued. As John was returning home, the car > in which he was travelling was stopped by an RIR (British Army) > patrol. They informed him they intended to search the vehicle. "I > identified myself," said O'Dowd, "and asked to speak to the RUC > officer accompanying the patrol." The Sinn Fein councillor > informed the RUC officer of the earlier incident and told him > that his party would be alerting the Dublin government and the > NIO to the matter. > > "Reluctantly, he allowed us to continue our journey, said O'Dowd, > "but where is all the normalisation we hear about? What chance > have nationalists to go about their daily business free from > crown force harassment if their elected representatives are > treated in his manner while going to and from council meetings? > > "This kind of harassment is a consequence of the British > government's failure to deliver a new policing service." > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >>>>>> Setback for waste management plans > > BY ROISIN DE ROSA > > > Last week, a bombshell hit the media with the leak to the > Washington Post of the long awaited US Environmental Protection > Agency (EPA) report on dioxins. The report not only classifies > dioxins as human carcinogens but links even low-grade exposure to > dioxin to a wide array of health problems, including changes in > hormonal levels and developmental defects in babies. > > The report gives solid backing to those scientists who had been > dismissed as scaremongers for questioning the safety of > incinerators. The EPA report finally confirms that dioxins are > some of the most potent toxins known to science. > > This report was issued at a time when the powers-that-be in the > 26 Counties are attempting to foist dioxin-producing incinerators > on regions as part of a so-called waste management solution. M.C. > O'Sullivans Consulting Engineers have won most of the lucrative > contracts to draw up the 26 Counties' regional waste management > plans for the next decade and beyond. But as the Sinn Fein > submissions on these plans, released last week, point out, these > draft plans are not proposals for waste management at all -- they > are thinly disguised announcements that if Environment Minister > Noel Dempsey gets his way, every region will have its own > incinerator. > > The leaked US EPA report points out that toxic dioxin emissions > have fallen off substantially over the last few years, but also > that dioxins are far more dangerous than was previously thought. > They accumulate in fat. Children are particularly vulnerable > because dioxins accumulate in dairy products and mothers' milk. > Unlike women, who can breast feed, men don't have any way in > their lifetimes to offload their dioxins. > > PJ Rudden of O'Sullivan's glibly claimed at a debate in Galway > last week that emissions from incineration represent no danger, > but it is these same incinerators that emit the dioxins. > > In the light of the US EPA report, Minister Dempsey should have > seriously reconsidered his campaign to get incinerators into the > Irish countryside. The EPA report should have caused him concern. > > In fact, Dempsey on Monday announced, in the face of these > warnings about dioxins, that he would nevertheless be ploughing > ahead with his incinerators for each region. In justification of > this, the minister is reported as saying that "every time someone > lights up a cigarette, dioxin is emitted". This, as every > scientist will tell you, is grossly misleading. > > Dioxins are produced from the burning of chlorinated plastics. > The important thing is to keep dioxin levels at an absolute > minimum. At present, Ireland has the lowest dioxin level of any > industrialised country. This happy situation looks like lasting > only as long as it takes Dempsey to get his plans off the ground > and into the air. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >>>>>> MacManus to contest Sligo/Leitrim > > > > The Deputy Mayor of Sligo and senior peace negotiator, Alderman > Sean MacManus, has been selected by Sinn Fein to contest the > Sligo/Leitrim constituency at the next general election. The > selection convention, chaired by Ard Chomhairle member and > Six-County Assembly member Francie Molloy, took place on Sunday > 21 May in the Silver Swan Hotel, Sligo, and was attended by over > 100 delegates from both counties. > > MacManus, a member of the Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle for the past > 18 years, is a member of both Sligo County Council and Sligo > Corporation. He received over 3,200 votes at the 1997 general > election and secured over 20,000 votes in the Connacht/Ulster > constituency at last year's European elections. A key member of > Sinn Fein's negotiating team at Stormont, he has been part of > numerous Sinn Fein delegations which have met with British Prime > Minister Tony Blair and has played a central role in the > development of the party's current peace strategy. > > He is currently Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hawks > Well Theatre, Sligo, as well as being a member of Sligo Harbour > Commissioners, the Border Regional Authority and the Delegate > Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland. > > MacManus, proposed by Leitrim County Councillor Liam McGirl and > seconded by community activist Gabriel Healy from Easkey in West > Sligo, was selected unanimously. He said that he was "extremely > confident of being the first Sinn Fein TD for Sligo/Leitrim since > the late John Joe McGirl in 1957. > > "While we will face stiff opposition from Fianna Fail and Fine > Gael, we believe that the time is now ripe for the > Republican/Labour alternative that Sinn Fein offers the people of > these two counties." > > He added: "The corruption endemic in Irish politics has > disillusioned many people with the political process. It is long > past time to rid political life, once and for all, of those > politicians who have betrayed the trust of the Irish people. The > recent revelations of the Flood Tribunal have merely confirmed > what Sinn Fein have been saying for years, that politics in this > state have been subverted by a cosy cartel - a golden circle - of > establishment parties and big business." > > "Sinn Fein offers a clear alternative to this culture of bribes, > double dealing and the brown envelope syndrome. A vote for Sinn > Fein will be a vote for a society based on social and economic > justice, equality and compassion, not on greed and profits." > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > > >>>>>> Feature: One reason why the RUC should be disbanded > > BY LAURA FRIEL > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Bernard Griffin is not the first nationalist teenager to be > beaten by the RUC and then to face false charges. He is not the > first to be held on remand on the basis of trumped up charges. He > is not even the first to file a complaint against the RUC for > assault. But he is the first to succeed in securing a conviction > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > > This is one man's story. But all the elements are there. > Arbitrary arrest, sectarian abuse, brutality, death threats, > trumped up charges, fabricated evidence, false imprisonment and > collusion. > > Bernard Griffin, a Catholic teenager from North Belfast, is the > man, and his story began in the early hours of a chilly February > day in 1998. Bernard had just left Ardoyne's GAA club and was > queuing at a chip van when he was approached by an RUC patrol. > > Outside a GAA club and in the nationalist area of Ardoyne, the > patrol would have been in no doubt of Bernard's Catholic > identity. The fact that he was wearing a Celtic football shirt > only confirmed what was already obvious, but to the RUC it was > like a red rag to a bull. Bernard was told that he was under > arrest. The RUC later claimed he had been throwing bottles. > > The drive from Ardoyne to Antrim Road RUC barracks is relatively > short, but in the back of the RUC Land Rover, Bernard could > hardly wait for the journey to end. "Take off that top, you > fenian bastard," one of the patrol had said. There were three RUC > officers, two in the front, one at the back, accompanied by a > British soldier. > > Bernard was repeatedly beaten with a baton, across his back and > head, on his legs and in the mouth. At one point, an RUC officer > brought his face close to Bernard and said: "I'm going to get the > LVF to shoot you." He then threatened to "drop" Bernard off in > the Shankill. > > At Antrim Road barracks, Bernard arrived dazed and covered in > blood. He was charged with disorderly behaviour but the RUC > patrol had made a mistake. After Bernard was seen by an RUC > doctor, the patrol realised they should have accused Bernard of > assault to counteract any possible complaint. > > But they weren't very worried; after all, nationalist youths are > beaten and brutalised by the RUC and other crown force personnel > all the time and nothing very much comes of it. Just to be on the > safe side, the RUC patrol concocted a cover story. > > In a scenario reminiscent of the case against British > paratroopers involved in the killing of nationalist teenager > Karen Reilly, one RUC officer allowed a second member of the > patrol to inflict injuries upon him to support the claim that the > patrol had been assaulted by their prisoner. > > If they all stuck to the same story, there wasn't a court in the > North that was going to take the word of a nationalist teenager > against that of the RUC, and they knew it. But, inexplicably, it > all went wrong. > > As for Bernard, he didn't register a complaint immediately. > Nothing that had happening to him during his young life had given > him any reason to expect justice from a system of which RUC > brutality was just another aspect. But a week after the attack > Bernard and a friend were stopped by two RUC officers travelling > in a Land Rover. > > One RUC officer made an admission that enabled Bernard to > identify him as one of the assailants. He noted down the RUC > man's identification number and made a formal complaint. What > followed is an even greater indictment of the RUC than even the > initial sectarian assault. > > One member of the patrol suddenly got cold feet and admitted the > truth. He was a new recruit and spoke with an English accent; > perhaps he was something of an outsider, not fully integrated > into the way in which the RUC traditionally do business. > > The patrol was now facing a number of serious charges, including > assault of a prisoner and attempting to pervert the course of > justice. But all was not lost. Perhaps Bernard could be induced > to drop the complaint. > > When Bernard was first arrested, one member of the patrol had > threatened him with the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF). Two > months later, a grenade was left on the windowsill of the Griffin > family's home. The device failed to explode. The attack was later > claimed by the LVF. To Bernard, the connection and the message > were clear. > > And it wouldn't be the first time that RUC officers facing > prosecution have successfully intimidated their way out of > trouble. In the early 1990s, a young nationalist mother, > Geraldine Skillen, accused an RUC patrol of sexual assault. She > was subjected to persistent RUC harassment, including threats to > take her children into care, until the charges were dropped. > > Six months later and the tactic changed. In September 1999, the > RUC raided the house in which Bernard was staying in the > Whitewell area of North Belfast. The home was that of Bernard's > aunt. The raiding party said they were looking for weapons. > > "I knew there was nothing there, but they claimed they had found > a bomb, a gun and ammunition in the attic," said Bernard. He was > arrested and held in Castlereagh interrogation centre for two > days before being charged with possession. > > From Castlereagh, Bernard was taken to Hydebank young offenders' > centre, where he was imprisoned for three months. Inexplicably, > the charges were suddenly dropped. It was just before Christmas > and Bernard was released. Charges arising out of the initial > arrest were also dropped when they came to court. > > At the time of his arrest and throughout his detention, Bernard > had never been shown any evidence against him. His solicitor did > not receive details of any forensic evidence regarding the > so-called explosives "find". > > In February of this year, the case against the RUC patrol opened > in Belfast Crown Court. RUC officer Andrew Lea pleaded guilty but > the other three were still prepared to deny the truth. A day into > the trial, British Army Lance Corporal Matthew Butcher threw in > the towel and changed his plea to guilty. With conviction now > unavoidable, RUC officers Michael Magowan and Darren Neill > admitted their guilt. > > Last week, presiding Judge McLaughlin sentenced the four men. The > judge acknowledged that the RUC patrol's attempt to frame Bernard > with a false charge of assault was even more serious that the > initial assault. But the punishment handed out failed to reflect > this. > > Neill was jailed for two years, Magowan for one. Butcher and Lea > got off with a #1,000 fine each. This is the first time members > of the RUC have been jailed for offences carried out while they > were on duty. > > And now the questions are being asked. Last week, British Labour > MP Kevin McNamara tabled a series of questions in the British > House of Commons demanding information on every case in which > evidence from the offending RUC officers helped secure > convictions. > > The Labour MP has also asked the British Attorney General to > explain why the charges of possession brought against Bernard > Griffin while he was pursuing his case against the RUC were > dropped. > > Bernard Griffin is not the first nationalist teenager to be > beaten by the RUC and then to face false charges of assault or > obstruction. Hundreds of nationalists have faced the same ordeal. > > He is not the first nationalist to be held on remand on the basis > of trumped up charges. Bernard is not even the first nationalist > to file a complaint against the RUC for assault. But he is the > first to succeed in securing a conviction. > > This is one young man's story, but his account of the RUC's abuse > of power, their sectarian agenda and corruption, is consistent > with many nationalists' experience of the force. > > This is one particular case, but it illustrates a truth > universally acknowledged within Northern nationalist communities. > The RUC is a totally discredited force and should be disbanded. > > > > > >>>>>> Analysis: Sinn Fein is wedded to the peace process > > By Mitchel McLaughlin > > The recent Republican initiative and the commitments entered into > by the British and Irish governments and other pro-agreement > parties have rekindled hopes and expectations for a peaceful > future. > > We have had two years stolen from us through a sterile argument > about decommissioning. I believe that we would have had progress > much sooner if people had focused not on trying to defeat the IRA > through the peace process, but on making the peace process work. > > Clearly, the republican contribution to the peace process > represented a tangible first step in taking the gun out of Irish > politics - that is, all of the guns: British guns, RUC guns, > Loyalist guns and, of course, IRA guns. > > Let us continue that journey. Let us all grasp the opportunity to > address and remove the causes of conflict. > > Sinn Fein is wedded to the peace process which we are convinced > will deliver a society that is at peace with itself. If Unionists > develop the same sense of ownership then a dialogue of equals > will emerge. > > Republicans need to be able to explain to Unionists where we are > coming from. Republicans need to understand where Unionists are > coming from. > > It important to remember that it was only in February 1999 that > David Trimble authorised official meetings at delegate level with > Sinn Fein. It should have happened sooner but look how far we > have come since then. Such dialogue is legitimate and reasonable > and is the means by which we will resolve our differences. > > It would be better if Unionists would desist from setting tests > and raising new questions and hurdles for Republicans to overcome > since such tactics ultimately result in the perception of a > seemingly endless and self-inflicted cycle of defeats on the > community that they represent. > > Sinn Fein believes that Republicans and Unionists can resolve > their differences peacefully and through democratic discourse. I > ask that Unionists reply by saying that they also believe that > our differences will be resolved through discourse and democratic > politics. > > That platform has not yet been fully constructed and, until it > has, the problems that have hindered the development of the peace > process will continue. > > Sinn Fein has accepted the Good Friday agreement in its entirety. > We are not cherry-picking. The agreement was an historic > compromise that spoke directly to the issues of equality, parity > of esteem, mutual recognition of traditions and expectations and > aspirations of our society. It was not a British agreement > designed to reflect only one tradition, neither was it a > pan-nationalist conspiracy. > > The unionist leadership was aware of the question of flags and > the RUC during our discussions at Hillsborough. After we had > closed an agreement, we, once again, found we had concluded a > deal in which other obstacles had been erected afterwards. > Republicans are becoming convinced that there are elements in the > unionist camp who will always find divisive issues and who will > not hesitate to use them to destabilise the peace process. > > There are those, particularly in the "no" camp, who continuously > remind us of their impeccable democratic credentials. They do so > in such a manner as to imply that they have a copyright on > democracy. > > I find it hard to understand that, as democrats, they are > unwilling to accept the outcome of both a referendum and an > election in which the majority of the electorate voted for the > full implementation of the Good Friday agreement. As democrats, I > would like to see them accept the verdict of the electorate and > act accordingly. > > Almost ten years ago in a newspaper article, I addressed unionist > and republican attitudes to change. I described a process of > change that was necessary; a change that would be based on > negotiation and agreement; a change that would transform the > context that had created injustice and division and had sustained > conflict. > > Speaking directly to Republicans, I wrote: "Despite the > accumulated angers and resentments of the centuries, we must open > our minds to the ideology, the fears and the beliefs of a > community that has been part of our oppression. Of course, a > reciprocal desire for peace and understanding is required from > the Unionists." > > In an attempt to speak to Unionists, I stated: "The republican > quarrel is with the British state in Ireland and the truth is > that we cannot and should not try to coerce the Unionists into a > united Ireland. There is great animosity and misunderstanding on > both sides and our joint histories are littered with atrocity and > shame. > > "Whilst we offer the hand of friendship to our Unionist > neighbours, we cannot expect them to read our palms to discover > our intentions. We, as they, must be ready to talk and apologise > and unite, and the only way that can be achieved is through > understanding. Are we ready for that painful experience? If we > are not then we consign the people of this island to endless > war." > > Republicans wish to work with the Unionists to build a society in > which all can feel confident and at ease. On decommissioning, I > believe that we have come up with a resolution to a problem that > had threatened to rip the heart and soul out of the Good Friday > agreement. Let's grasp it now. This is a genuine opportunity for > peace. > > > > > > > c. RM Distribution and others. Articles may be reprinted with credit. > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > RM Distribution > Irish Republican News and Information > http://irlnet.com/rmlist/ > > PO Box 160, Galway, Ireland Phone/Fax: (353)1-6335113 > PO Box 8630, Austin TX 78713, USA mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > > RMD1000530121343p2 >
