Sinn Féin seeks to rescue flagging Peace Process
BY SEAN BRADY
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The issue of collusion is endemic and systematic and stretches back
over 20 years. It cannot be dealt with on a piecemeal case-by-case
basis. What is urgently required is an inquiry similar to the one
carried out by Judge Goldstone in South Africa, who unearthed the
state's involvement in killings there.
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Gerry Adams will lead a delegation to meet Tony Blair at Downing
Street today, Thursday, 6 May, as part of Sinn Féin's efforts to
resolve the current deep crisis in the peace process. Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern will also meet the British Premier, as shuttle diplomacy
continues against a backdrop of political stalemate.
Earlier this week, Sinn Féin dismissed out of hand a British
government suggestion of a `transitional executive'. Taoiseach Bertie
Ahern also rejected the proposal.
Sinn Féin has been engaged in an all-out diplomatic offensive in
recent weeks to get the two governments to face up to their
responsibilities and implement the Good Friday Agreement. This has
included Gerry Adams holding meetings with the Taoiseach and the
British Prime Minister last week and a high-level visit to the United
States by the party's chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness.
Speaking in Dublin on Wednesday at the launch of the party's Ard
Fheis clár, Sinn Féin Vice President and Assembly member for West
Tyrone Pat Doherty told journalists that Sinn Féin members were
meeting in a political atmosphere which starkly contrasted the
circumstances of their last Ard Fheis.
Republicans had taken great risks last year in terms of endorsing a
Yes vote for the agreement, changing the party's constitution in
terms of taking seats in a Six-County Assembly, and accepting changes
to Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution. A year later, there
had been little siginificant progress.
Doherty said that unionists were demonstrating that their veto over
political change remains in place and that by threatening,
intimidating and refusing to talk they can impose their own narrow
will on the rest of the people of Ireland. He said that David Trimble
had been rewarded for his intransigence. But he pointed out that it
is not merely the intransigence of the unionists which is underming
the peace process. ``There are many others as vehemently opposed to
change well placed in the system who are actively blocking
progress,'' he said.
That change of a fundamental nature is required has been brought home
with dramatic effect in recent days. Collusion between the British
forces and loyalists, highlighted in a report from the British-Irish
Watch and taken up by the Irish government, proves the corrupt and
rotten nature of society in the Six Counties. The issue of collusion
is endemic and systematic and stretches back over 20 years. It cannot
be dealt with on a piecemeal case-by-case basis. What is urgently
required is an inquiry similar to the one carried out by Judge
Goldstone in South Africa, who unearthed the state's involvement in
killings there.
Doherty said: ``It is therefore not surprising that republicans are
both angry and frustrated at the manner in which the two governments
have repeatedly failed to honour the commitments they made in the
Agreement. They are not only in breach of the Agreement, they are
dismissing the wishes of the almost two million people who voted YES
in the refrenda.
``We are bitterly disappointed at the performance of the two
governments. They are squandering the best opportunity for resolving
this conflict since partition.
Asked about David Trimble's decision to meet elected representatives,
including those representing the residents of Portadown's Garvaghy
Road, Doherty said that it should be put in context: ``It has taken
David Trimble seven years to meet his own constituents. This is a
good development. It is a pity that it took so long.''
He said Sinn Féin was involved in intense dialogue to resolve the
current crisis in the peace process. Both governments had to take
their responsibilities seriously. The British government had allowed
the entire situation to drift since last year.
Doherty said that Sinn Féin would not voluntarily allow itself to be
excluded from an executive. The party would go to any lengths to find
a way to resolve the impasse but the solution had to be in the
context of the Good Friday Agreement.
He said all was not yet lost: ``The two governments have it within
their power to reverse the downward spiral. They can restore the
people's confidence in the flagging peace process by immediately
setting up the Executive and the all-Ireland Ministerial Council.''
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