Historic London meeting
Today witnesses a historic milestone in Irish and British affairs
when Sinn Féin representatives meet face-to-face with Tony Blair
in Downing Street.
It is 76 years since a previous generation of Irish republicans
spoke to a British Prime Minister in London. The subsequent
imposition of partition failed to resolve the conflict afflicting
both Ireland and Britain and resulted in a further eight decades
of injustice, opression and intermittment violent conflict. Sinn
Féin has made clear its determination to conclude the unfinished
business of that period.
The Sinn Féin representatives will discuss with Mr Blair the need
for his government to end the British claim to jurisdiction over
a part of Ireland and to begin the process of ending British
interference in Irish affairs.
The Sinn Féin delegation will also outline the immediate need for
the British government to tackle the symptoms of conflict. This
means means moving rapidly on the issue of political prisoners,
demilitarisation in the Six County area and equality of treatment
for Irish nationalists.
Sinn Féin is to be praised for its commitment to moving the peace
process forward and to securing a just and lasting peace in
Ireland. That can only be based on the Irish people as a whole
determing the future of Ireland. Today's meeting in London is an
important part of the struggle to achieve that right for our
nation.
No equality in life or in death
The reaction to the murder of Gerry Devlin speaks volumes about
the reality of life for Irish nationalists in the Six Counties.
The RUC's initial reluctance to admit that Gerry Devlin was the
victim of a sectarian assassination and its refusal to divulge
forensic and intelligence evidence concerning the murder weapon
or where the getaway vehicle was found is reminiscent of its
attitude following the murders of at least seven nationalist
civilians by loyalist death squads in the past three years.
The RUC reaction is in stark contrast to the speed with which it
rushes to press with accusations when it is believed that
republicans have been involved in an incident.
The reaction of politicians and the media has been equally
predictable and apalling. It has been noted that had Gerry Devlin
been a member of the British forces killed in an IRA attack the
newspapers and other media would have been inundated with
condemnations from politicians and governments.
The fact of the matter is that the violent deaths of nationalists
are not treated on an equal basis to other deaths in the Six
Counties. Nationalists are subjected to second class citizenship
in death as they are in life.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/harp.gif)