Screaming for condemnation
Since the IRA killed two members of the RUC on Monday, there has
been a sustained attack on Sinn Féin. It merely proves that the
political opponents of republicanism still do not know - or want
to know - what peace means or what is involved in constructing a
peace process.
They wish to set up a simple scenario in which Sinn Féin leaders
can click their fingers and there is peace. They live in a black
and white world of all or nothing. They do not wish to
acknowledge that reality is much more complex than that.
They want to hear the word `condemn', as if that will solve
everything. Condemnation is, for them, nothing but a political
virility test. It has become meaningless. During the IRA
cessation when republicans took to the streets in peaceful
protest, there were still politicians who condemned the
protestors ``in the strongest possible terms''.
Nationalists are correct to question the bona fides of those in
the media and the political establishment who merely tut tut and
register disapproval when loyalists kill innocent nationalists
but scream abuse when republicans kill the armed upholders of the
Unionist state.
d the Sinn Féin leadership is correct to ask where these
commentators have been since Sinn Féin began the slow, difficult
work of constructing a peace process. For the most part, these
so-called liberals have blocked - and condemned - any moves
towards a credible talks process. They are the same people who
would have us believe that peace equals an IRA ceasefire. But it
has been proved that peace is not merely an IRA ceasefire. Peace
can only come through a properly constructed process which
addresses the root causes of the conflict. If every member of the
IRA was to surrender every IRA weapon and emigrate, there would
still be conflict because the very nature of the Six County state
gives rise to conflict.
Therein lies the complexity of the task ahead. The cosy media and
political establishment can scream all they like but they will
not advance the peace which they claim to hold so dear until they
start screaming for an inclusive, credible process which will
genuinely address the root causes of the conflict in Ireland.
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