Unionists must embrace change
The performance of Unionists this week leaves open the
question of whether they have accepted the need for
fundamental change.
Since the publication on Monday night of the Mitchell
paper, Unionists launched a major assault on its
progressive elements, beginning in Number 10 Downing
Street. They fought every inch of the way to
institutionalise the Unionist veto and sought to excise
from the document every and any move towards
accommodation of the Irish nationalist position.
In particular, the unionist strategy was to substitute
an entirely new formulation for all Ireland bodies.
Sinn Fein fought tenaciously to prevent Unionists from
holding back the progressive changes which must happen
if Ireland is to become a democratic society.
In obstructing the process and attempting to avoid the
essential moves towards justice the UUP followed the
predictable and well-worn strategy of Unionism since
the foundation of the Six County state.
However, despite Unionist objections the core issues
which cannot be ignored in any peace process are
British constitutional change, all-Ireland institutions
and the need to remove the unionist veto from the
political future of Ireland. The issues of
demilitarisation, policing and political prisoners are
also of critical importance. The success or failure of
any political arrangement will be seen by its effects
on the daily reality of people's lives and it is there
where Unionist intransigence will be most sorely felt.
The British Prime Minister has massive responsibilities
in all of this. It is he who must convince the
unionists that they must come to terms with democracy.
Tony Blair has to grasp the opportunity provided by his
massive electoral mandate and that means making hard
decisions in relation to unionism.
For their part, Republicans remain committed to finding
a political way forward to peace with justice in
Ireland. We will not ignore our responsibilities. The
Unionists should now begin to embrace the idea that we
are in times of change. They should help to manage that
inevitable change.
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