Commission remit ``too narrow''
BY MICHEAL MacDONNCHA
Leinster House voted on the Ageement between the Dublin and
London governments to establish an Independent Commission on
Decommissioning. Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghin O Caolain voted against
ratification on the grounds that the remit of the commission as
constituted is too narrow.
O Caolain spoke during the debate which was badly attended by TDs
and overshadowed by the Ray Burke and McCracken Tribunal
controversies. He said that while Sinn Fein could not endorse the
ratification, the party would work with any commission which is
established in the interest of the peace process.
Speaking in Leinster House on Wednesday O Caolain said:
``Sinn Fein has a much broader view of the need for
demilitarisation in the Six Counties. All armed groups must be
included, most especially the largest and most heavily armed
section - the British crown forces. There is also the neglected
issue of the huge number of legally held firearms in the unionist
community, estimated to be around 140,000.
``All the guns need to be removed from Irish politics. That
includes the plastic bullet guns which were used against
nationalists across the Six Counties during tihs past summer.''
O Caolain cited the finding on Tuesday of a British Army spypost
hidden in a derelict house along the border in South Armagh near
the road from Castleblayney to Dundalk:
``This is only the the most recent example of continuing British
military activity, both overt and covert, along the border and
across the Six Counties. This has included the reinforcement of
the monstrous hilltop post overlooking the main Dublin to Belfast
road in South Armagh.
``All these issues must be addresed under the heading of
demilitarisation. They must be dealt with in the context of real
peace negotiations where agreement and trust will form the basis
for forward movement.
``Sinn Fein will of course work with any Commission which is
established in the interest of the peace process. We look forward
to progress on every aspect of the historic negotiations now
before us.''