Republican News · Thursday 1 August 2002

Outlook bleak

THE ACCELLERATING withdrawal of unionism from the peace process continued this week when UUP, DUP and other unionist representatives boycotted a meeting on sectarian violence called by Belfast Mayor Alex Maskey.

When Maskey last week called together community representatives, trade unions and politicians to discuss the fight against sectarianism, only one unionist representative turned up, David Ervine of the PUP.

There is a deep frustration in the nationalist community. They are routinely blamed for the nightly onslaughts by loyalist mobs on their communities and homes. Compounding this frustration is a sense of disbelief - at British and unionist hypocrisy, and at a mendacious, irresponsible, compliant media.

This week, as loyalism continued its onslaught against the nationalist community, each of the above played its part in sustaining that onslaught.

As the UDA attacks were in full-swing, British Secretary of State John Reid considered the validity of the IRA cessation. Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, the UUP's Reg Empey spoke of the "tremendous dilemma" his party faced in sharing power with Sinn Féin as unfounded allegations of IRA activities continue. The establishment media was compliant, fitting the phenomenon of hundreds of loyalist attacks against nationalists, over 90 per cent of all attacks, neatly into its generic understanding of violence in the Six Counties: "tit-for-tat".

All this adds up to more deaths, more violence and a political process that is spiralling out of control.

The political outlook is bleak.

Reform the Gardaí

THE DECISION by the Court of Criminal Appeal to declare a miscarriage in the case of Donegal nightclub owner Frank Shortt has major implications for the Garda Síochána.

Given the other allegations of garda corruption in Donegal and a significant number of further controversies involving the gardaí, including the Abbeylara shooting and the nature of evidence provided in high profile cases before the Special Court, the case has never been stronger for policing reform in the 26 Counties.

yone who has ever had the misfortune to have dealings with the Garda Complaints Board will affirm that accountability and transparency must be an integral part of that process.