An Phoblacht/Republican News   ·   Thursday October 26 1995

A bleak horizon

Gerry Adams said on 24 October that for the peace process the horizon is bleak. With such a prospect, overshadowed as it is by the stark refusal of the British government to move from its decommissioning precondition to all-party talks, the role of the Dublin government takes on increasing importance.

In that context the refusal of John Bruton to meet John Hume and Gerry Adams on 13 October raises important and central issues in the peace process. John Bruton should be giving a lead and facilitating a common approach among the nationalist parties in Ireland in relation to decommissioning and all-party talks. His government is a player, not a referee.

Yes, his government has said that there should be all-party talks, Yes, Dick Spring in particular has rejected the decommissioning precondition. But more that this is needed in the face of British government intransigence which has held up the peace process for months and which threatens its future.

The present situation requires a very firm stand by the Dublin government. Such a stand is not indicated by Bruton's explanation in Leinster House on Wednesday 25 October of his refusal to meet Hume and Adams together. The gist of his explanation was that he was afraid the meeting would offend unionists.

If the test of acceptability to unionists had been applied to each step in the peace process so far we would still be in an armed conflict situation. Indeed if that was the test we would still have a unionist parliament in Stormont and the B Specials on the streets. No party has the right to dictate who other parties or governments should meet. They cannot be granted such a right.

The visit of US President Bill Clinton provides a dynamic to help move us out of the present impasse. But it is not only Irish pressure to which Clinton's administration responds. The British government has a powerful lobby too.

To counter this lobby maximum nationalist unity in Ireland and abroad is needed. Major's government must be faced with an unequivocal demand for an end to its intransigence.

Most importantly at this dangerous time everyone must be very wary of the ever-present British strategy which attempts to divide Irish nationalists. No such strategy must be allowed to destroy the Irish peace process.