Republican News · Thursday 1 November 2001

Unionist veto still overshadows progress

BY MICHAEL PIERSE

This has not been an easy week for republicans. Amid continuing, intensifying sectarian attacks from loyalists, minimalist moves from Britain in terms of demilitarisation, further, desperate attempts by rejectionist unionists to bring down the entire peace process, and the uncertainty and pain for republicans that has naturally followed the IRA initiative, it would be incredible to say otherwise.

Gerry Adams addressed republicans directly on Friday, 26 October. He recognised the difficulties that the IRA initiative poses for republicans but asked that those who have supported the Republican Movement up until now remain united and think strategically.

"There is understandable and considerable emotion amongst many republican activists following the IRA's unprecedented move on the arms issue," he said. The move has hit a raw nerve among "many good and genuine republicans".

"Contrary to some reports the republican base was not ready for a move by the IRA," he said. "Even if the backdrop was more advanced, in my view a move by the Army at any time would have aroused great emotions because of the sensitivities involved for people in struggle.

"The hurt within republicanism at this difficult time is because republicans have a sense of ourselves. No one should underestimate any of this."

Adams said it was his view that the IRA's initiative was "a patriotic act. True patriotism requires courage and vision. But it also involves self sacrifice and an ability to endure a lot.

"Most republicans understand this and have experienced deprivations during lifetimes in struggle, but many see little reason for the IRA's move, given the state of the political process at this time."

The failure of unionism, until now, to work the process, the loyalists bombing and shooting campaign, the "disgraceful tolerance by the great and the good" of the blockade of young school girls at Holy Cross, added to republican frustration, said the Sinn Féin president. Added to this was "a wholly lopsided debate on the arms issue". Adams drew particular attention to "the British government's handling of the overall process, which has undermined republican confidence in the process.

"Despite this and despite the problems for all of us during this phase, republicans must remain focused on our objectives and stay united and actively involved in the struggle to achieve our entirely legitimate aims of unity and independence.

"It may take a little while for everyone to absorb and rationalise what has happened, but this is a period in which all republicans have to pull together," he said.

While one might think that the IRA move would act as a dynamic against loyalist violence, the opposite seems to be the case.

The deranged thinking behind the attack of Margaret Hale in North Belfast on Sunday morning was another example of the depths to which the UDA have stooped.

Women and children seem to be the chosen targets of loyalists, while threats from the UDA persist. John Reid's belated recognition that the UDA 'ceasefire' was over has had little or no effect.

Ardoyne Sinn Féin Councillor Margaret McClenaghan hit out at loyalists who escalated the Holy Cross protest by blockading a further three Catholic schools in North Belfast last week.

The British reaction to loyalist violence has been minimal, except when RUC personnel are attacked - which prompted British Secretary of State John Reid to renounce the UDA ceasefire - or when a British soldier was hit by a pipe-bomb - which prompted UDA man Jim Simpson's arrest - there have been little real attempts to bring a halt to the UDA attacks.

Unionism, the British government and, in its obsession with IRA arms, the media, have systematically ignored the UDA onslaught for the last year. Ironically, those who have played a major part in uncovering the institutional child abuse of the 20th Century are ignoring and covering up the child abuse that is going on in Ardoyne today. Clearly, this must end.

It is also of little comfort to republicans that the British government have thus far only produced a minimalist response to the IRA initiative, in dismantling four military installations instead of the 'programme for demilitarisation' that was promised in the Good Friday Agreement. Neither have we seen the revised plan on policing that was announced in the wake of the IRA move. It is clear that this is not the time for prevarication.

However, that has been exactly the tactic adopted by UUP Assembly Members Pauline Armitage and Peter Weir. Again, we are seeing a small minority holding up progress for the majority - a minority who, as one journalist observed this week, most people had not even heard of prior to their negative interjection in the peace process this week.

Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness has said that he would be willing to meet with the UUP members, to impress upon them the magnitude of the IRA initiative.

However, as Friday's vote of confidence (or lack thereof) in David Trimble as First Minister approaches fast, the future of the Assembly hangs in the balance.

Pressure from the British, Irish and American administrations and leadership from David Trimble will be required if all that has happened in the past week is not to be lost to the intransigence of yet another unionist veto.

Gerry Adams, Pat Doherty and Michelle Gildernew travelled to the US and Canada on Wednesday to meet with supporters and lobby those with influence in an attempt to sustain the dynamic that could be tragically lost.