The suspension of the devolved Stormont Assembly is entirely
due to the total intransigence of the I.R.A. in refusing to
decommission its illegal terrorist weaponry. The tragedy is
constitutional democrats are being unfairly punished for the
failure of criminal gangs to hand in their arsenals of murder
and destruction.
Unionists of all shades, and many others who believe in real
peace and stability, remain opposed to Sinn Fein's participation
in government without meaningful and verifiable decommissioning
of I.R.A. terrorist weaponry, and a public declaration that
the campaign of violence is now at an end.
The time for fudging, official double-speak and appeasement
of terrorists is over. Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Government
must honour the promises they gave to the Northern Ireland
public that the political process will continue without those
who are still inextricably linked to the Armalite and the
Semtex.
British democracy and justice in this part of the United
Kingdom was quite appallingly stood on its head for two months
to allow the representatives of armed and active terrorists
to masquerade as Government ministers.
In the short period of the Assembly Executive, the two Sinn
Fein "ministers" used every opportunity to promote
their narrow republican agenda, and they unilaterally took
significant decisions that were to the detriment of the unionist
position in this Province.
There is a general relief within the unionist community that
this perverse form of Executive rule has been put into suspension,
and there is an insistence that the legislative cannot be
allowed to return in its present composition and modus operandi.
The Irish republican movement has so far not shown in any
of its work or deeds that it is closer to dismantling the
illegal weaponry that caused such pain and suffering to so
many innocent people over the past 30 years. Equally, the
loyalist terror groups are stubbornly resisting demands to
hand over their murderous weapons.
The "no guns, no government" stance of the mainstream
unionist parties is a moral imperative which enjoys the full
support of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, and unless there
is demonstrable evidence of product Sinn Fein/I.R.A. can have
no role in the future government of our country.
The scenario of unreconstructed terrorists in government
would never be allowed in any other democratic country in
the world, and there can be no justification for permitting
this in Northern Ireland.
The Ulster Unionist Council decision to use the proposed
review of the Belfast Agreement for significant modifications
to the Patten report in policing in Northern Ireland is in
accord with the wishes of the unionist grassroots community.
The Patten report, like the early release of convicted terrorist
prisioners and the admittance of Sinn Fein/I.R.A. into an
Assembly executive, is the diseased outworking of the Belfast
Agreement and its recommendations on the title and symbols
of the R.U.C. must be overturned.
Democracy and accountable government are essential for the
future well-being of Northern Ireland, but this can only be
achieved in devolved form if all of the participants are there
solely on the strength of their electoral mandate.
|
