|
|
Blog Feeds
The SakerA bird's eye view of the vineyard
Public InquiryInterested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
Human Rights in IrelandPromoting Human Rights in Ireland
Lockdown Skeptics
|
Nationalists don't need the Provos national |
miscellaneous |
news report
 Tuesday March 18, 2003 16:19 by Robby - RN rob_s57 at hotmail dot com Dungannon
 BY what democratic right do Sinn Fein justify the continuing existence of the Provisional IRA. They are quick to demand that there democratic mandate is respected but totally fail to see how other's democratic rights have to be protected from influences of the of paramilitary organisations. The PIRA "army counsel" wields a huge amount of undemocratic power. Note how Sinn Fein are happy to eclipse the SDLP in talks, not because it has been democratically decided (at the last assembly elections the SDLP got far more votes) but because they unashamedly use the PIRA weapons and threat of return to violence as a negotiation tactic. People might not mind the use of the threat of the IRA as a negotiation tactic because it gets some results but, as well as being immoral. Think of the problems this causes. It is extremely divisive as it gives the impression that it is Sinn Fein/IRA on one side and unionists on the other; thus not showing to unionists that a very separate moderate nationalism that doesn't believe in blackmail with violence exists. It takes away from the moral right of nationalists to an equal society as we are using an immoral means to try and achieve it. It gives the impression that we are only getting these things because of violence and the threat of violence rather than the fact that today's laws and European values dictate that equality in society is a must and the discrimination of the past is no longer acceptable. Sinn Fein say they can't be tied to any sanctions that may link them to the behaviour of the PIRA. But surely if Sinn Fein are using them as a negotiation weapon, then if they fail to live up to there side of the bargain they should be sanctioned. The main stumbling blocks for unionists have not been the equality agenda but have been decommissioning, prisoner releases, on-the-runs, end of war, Columbia, spying... We have seen the peace process stumble on all these issues and nearly fail. As a constitutional nationalist I want to see total decommissioning. I didn't like the bombers being released. I think the on-the-runs (which include Enniskillen bombers) should face court for their crimes. I think spying on government is not acceptable in a democratic society. I find the idea that the PIRA is probably exporting the explosive knowledge that drove the counter productive violent divisive "war" as highly immoral. If we are ever to be a normal society the influence of the paramilitaries must cease. We can fight injustice much more successfully with the media and the law than the PIRA ever could with bombs and guns. We can negotiate with unionists as friends much better than we can as war opponents. The idea that the PIRA is needed now is a myth perpetuated by those who have become too accustomed to power they have no right to yield.
|
printable version
Digg this
del.icio.us
Furl
Reddit
Technorati
Facebook
Gab
Twitter
|
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7But all of them are predicated on the point that we are using the IRA as negotiating leverage. We're not. The IRA is best able to speak on its behalf.
Since the central fact your argument is based on is false, the rest falls.
Until the SF gives up the IRA, your whole premise is false and it is your very weak argument ("the IRA is able to speak for itself" - ha! Is that when Adams is talking to himself in the mirror?) that does not hold up under scrutiny.
Don't get me wrong I respect your politics and your right to support SF but don't be so naive or demand that the rest of us believe the lies your leadership insultingly peddles.
My aim is not to insult people with my arguments or anything like that. Sinn Féin cannot be held responsible for the actions of the IRA because as a party, we have no control over them. The point was repeatedly made during every phase of the neogitations that Sinn Féin by itself could not deliver the IRA. We've never claimed to speak for them or guranteed their behaviour or actions.
Sin é. I'm not denying that there are SF members who are also IRA members, simply stating whatever cross-over there might be at whatever level, does not make them one and the same organisations.
The Provisional IRA has no place in a civilised, democratic society. Disband the IRA
In long term, all factions of the IRA are as much of a threat to the Republic as they are to the Brits. We just can't have shadowy, unconstitutional organisations running around with guns and bombs. They have to go on both sides of the border - or be made to go.
IRA have not be operative militarily since the ceasefire, you don't see provies armed to the teeth patroling the streets. But you do see brit soldiers and RUC personnel armed to the teeth on our streets. So Whilst we're disbanding the IRA, the brit army and security forces should also be disbanded. All working class paramilitaries be they republican or loyalist deserve to hold on to their weapons, if only for personal safety and protection, whilst armed members of FRU and RUC special branch informers are still on the prowl. I know we've got rid of Adair, coco and company but some remnants of their scum element LVF are still armed to the teeth and are still a threat to the UDA and loyalist people.
In it's infancy.