Policing plan is unacceptable
``Young nationalists and republicans will not be fooled
into accepting less than their just entitlements; they will not
be fooled into joining this repackaged RUC; they will not join a
police service still controlled by the securocrats.'' So says
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew, who this week
described the British Implementation Plan on Policing as ``deeply
flawed'' and pointed out that for the second time within a month
a British government deadline has been broken.
``Clearly,
the Implementation Plan is not the last word,'' she said.
``Negotiations on policing are set to continue. Even those who
have accepted the British government proposals on policing admit
that the threshold of Patten has not yet been met and that work
remains to be done.
``The days of nationalists accepting less than our just
entitlements and rights are long gone. Nationalists will not be
fooled into believing that what is on offer amounts to a new
beginning to policing.''
Sinn Féin Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin said that Sinn
Féin has carried out an exhaustive assessment of the
British government's Implementation Plan and will deal with it in
detail shortly. ``But it is clear from our examination of the
plan that the British government has failed to resolve many of
those crucial issues that are vitally important to nationalists
and republicans.
``Sinn Féin has been consistent in our criticism of the
Mandelson legislation and implementation plan. We have argued
that it does not form the basis for the new beginning to policing
as promised in the Good Friday Agreement. Without a return to the
Patten report as a starting position for change, any new
proposals will remain unacceptable.
``The implementation plan currently being offered by the
British government does not go far enough. It does not constitute
a genuine attempt to bridge the gap between republican and
nationalist aspirations for a proper and consensual approach to
policing.
``Key issues which need to be resolved have not been resolved.
These include the limitations on the initiation of inquiries;
powers of and appointments to the policing boards; powers of the
Ombudsman; protection being offered to human rights offenders and
informers; and changes to the Special Branch.
``With respect to all of these issues there are no substantive
changes to what was already on the table. The Implementation Plan
does not constitute a decisive effort to win nationalist and
republican support for the new police service.
``More importantly it does not deliver on the new beginning
promised in the Good Friday Agreement.''
``Sinn Féin will continue to demand that the British
government honour their commitments and create the new beginning
to policing envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement,'' pledged
Michelle Gildernew. ``It will only be at that point that
nationalists and republicans will give their whole hearted
support to a new police service.''
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