If calling Northern Ireland a democracy is often
designed to obscure reality rather than illuminate it,
what about the second fiction that unionism has
`compromised enough'? This suggests that unionism of
its own volition was willing to take account of
nationalist concerns. Does anyone seriously believe
this nonsense?
Queen's University Sociology lecturer
Alan Harpur. Thursday 2 April.
The process has to be about righting wrongs. Mr Blair
has to rise to that challenge. A replay of the 1921
arrangement or a variation of this will not suffice.
Gerry Adams after meeting Bertie Ahern. Wednesday 1
April.
Rank hypocrisy... At the beginning of the week the
secretary of state recommitted herself to the Universal
Declaration of human Rights in a 50th anniversary
celebration at Hillsborough. Yet only a few days later
she is rejecting authoritive and carefully considered
recommendations from a major UN body established to
make this declaration a reality. This is not considered
acceptable.
CAJ spokesperson Paul Mageean on the Britsh
governemnt's rejction of the Cumaraswamy Report on
Human rights abuses in the Six Counties.
The people of West Belfast don't want their present
representative to take an oath of allegiance to the
queen. Obviously we want to see an all-Ireland
parliament, but as part of transition we certainly
would like to see those constituencies which wish to
send their representatives to the Dáil to be given
leave to go there.
Gerry Adams commenting on any changes to Articles 2 and
Three. Irish Times, Friday 3 April.
We believe that all-Ireland institutions must be the
backbone of the future working of any agreement and its
transition towards an independent Ireland.
Gerry Adams on the shape of any agreement. Monday 6
April.
There is no security and no liberty without order, and
in Northern Ireland it is the RUC, supported by the
army, that upholds order and sustains the people's
liberty... Like its counterparts in Great Britain, it
is a citizen service. It is no elite corps, privileged
in background and protected by immunities that
distinguish it from its fellow citizens.
Former Tory Direct Ruler Patrick Mayhew in regards to
the RUC. Daily Telegraph, Monday 6 April.
He's adopting more positons in this process than are in
the Kama Sutra.
SDLP's Mark Durkan on the UUP's rejection of the
Mitchell document.
They have no Rabin or De Klerk - no leader to tell
them, with a heavy heart, that the war against their
neighbours can never be won. They have not had a moment
like those experienced by the Israelis and Afrikaaners
of the early 1990s, a realisation that the status quo
cannot endure and painful change is necessary.
Jonathan Freedland writing in the Guardian. Wednesday 8
April.
Unionism cannot dictate the pace of these talks because
the pace of unionism is a snail's pace.
Gerry Adams, Wednesday 8 April.
The temptation for the British government and the
history of British involvement is to face down Irish
nationalism. This perpetuates unionist intransigence.
This may have worked expediently in the past but the
legacy has left a mess. It will not work now.
Gerry Adams. Wednesday 8 April.
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