Analysis: Unionists creating crisis

Date: 3rd Sept '02

Name: RM Irish news article

Analysis: Unionists creating crisis

By Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams MP

Once again elements within the Ulster Unionist party seem
determined to create another crisis within the peace process. The
latest episode of this is being flagged up for yet another
meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council later this month. It may
be that this will become a real crisis. In fact those involved
have made no secret of their determination to get rid of the Good
Friday Agreement.

This is not a time for pandering to the NO men of unionism. It is
a time for democrats, including YES unionists, to assert the
imperative of that agreement. Given the nature of society here
there was always bound to be difficulties about creating the
conditions for the changes that are required and which should be
the birthright of all citizens.

The responsibility of all the pro-Agreement parties, and this
includes both governments, is to manage this process of change in
a way which minimises the difficulties and avoids the potential
for crisis. Unfortunately despite some good and positive work
neither the unionist parties or the British government have
adopted this approach with the consistency that is required.

The result has been that difficulties for unionists have become a
crisis within unionism which regularly threatens the over all
process. The problems in the time ahead for the process are
rooted firmly in the divisions and the power struggle within the
Ulster Unionist party. If these problems grow into crisis
proportions it will also be because the British government has
failed to honour commitments it made both in the Good Friday
Agreement and just over a year ago in the Weston Park talks. This
has created the space within which the crisis within unionism is
has festered.

The vacuum, which has accompanied this, has been filled by
sectarian violence from anti-agreement elements within the
loyalist paramilitaries, not only in Belfast interface areas,
although this has been a main focus, but in other parts of the
north as well.

The failure of David Trimble to lead a united pro-Agreement
campaign against this has been a failure of his position as First
Minister. I have made a number of suggestions and proposals to
him in this regard, going back over some time. He has failed so
far to respond positively. Despite this I and all Sinn Fein
representatives are prepared to work with the other pro-Agreement
parties and to support Mr. Trimble in his capacity as First
Minister in putting in place strategies and structures to calm
the situation and to confront sectarian divisions.

Republicans have not been involved in orchestrating or fomenting
violence at the interfaces or anywhere else for that matter. Our
opposition to sectarianism is absolute. All of our efforts have
been to try and end the totally intolerable situation for the
benefit of all the people who are victims of these attacks. Given
the failure of the First Minister to act we have also made a big
effort to get the British government to ensure, as the Agreement
asserts, that people have the right to live free from sectarian
harassment.

It may be in the weeks ahead that there will be another frenetic
round of crisis management meetings to deal with whatever
obstacles unionism tries to invent. It could also be that we will
see yet another round of the blame game unfolding. No one really
knows how the crisis within unionism will play out but I want to
make it very clear that the Good Friday Agreement will be
implemented in full because the principles that underpin it are
the minimum entitlements for all citizens. So, whether or not the
anti-agreement camp realises it at this time, the truth is that
the No-Camp can only delay, but they cannot stop the changes that
are coming.

None of us can evade our responsibilities as political leaders in
these difficult times. The Sinn Fein party is wedded to this
process. We have a long term and strategic view which sees beyond
the current difficulties. Bringing about change was never going
to be an easy enterprise. Positive elements within unionism need
to assert themselves in proclaiming, defending and promoting the
Good Friday Agreement.

There is also a primary responsibility on Mr. Blair to implement
the commitments of his government. Unionism needs to be
encouraged that there is only one way forward. They need to know
that here is no alternative. Only the British Prime Minister and
his government can deliver that message. That means delivery on
the Agreement.

c. RM Distribution and others. Articles may be reprinted with credit.

RM Distribution
Irish Republican News and Information
http://irlnet.com/rmlist/

PO Box 160, Galway, Ireland Phone/Fax: (353)1-6335113
PO Box 8630, Austin TX 78713, USA mailto:rmlist-reply@irlnet.com

Back to discussion page                    RA home page