joint authority only real alternative

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday June 29, 2002 11:47 by sean o pleamonn

If the present intransigence of the Unionist parties continue nationalists in the north need to look at political alternatives to the Good Friday Agreement. Joint Authority should be the bottom line.

There is growing anger and frustration among nationalists in the north at the way in which the political process is moving. The UUP is threatening once again to collapse the executive and the DUP continue to pose as anti-Agreement while all the time laying the blame for this society's ills on Sinn Fein and the policies of the UUP. The DUP have always been a deeply sectarian influence in this society who have created much of the conditions in which violence could take hold, only to wash their hands of the consequences of their hate speech and actions later, and claim at the same time to be democrats committed only to peaceful means.

It is my view that the political process cannot be held to ransom by unionism refusing to accept the need for political compromise- especially on the issue of sovereignty. An alternative must be in place if the Agreement collapses and nationalists should be adamant in calling for such an alternative. Joint Authority I believe should be the bottom line in this case .Irish nationalism is at present confident and dynamic and will remain in the political ascendancy for foreseeable future. Unionism on the otherhand will continue to fragment and self destruct as the various factions within it try to outdo each other in their anti -Catholic attitudes and bias.

Since the Agreement was signed there have been countless murderous attempts on Catholics. Unionism seems genuinely unable to confront this violence and recognise how their anti-Catholic rhetoric creates a culture of violence against the Catholic community. So -called respectable Unionists were able to come out and support a 'protest' in North Belfast which resulted in children being terrorised on their way to school. When people can justify this it is a very sad stage indeed in our history. Unionism must find people who are prepared to challenge the anti-Catholic hatred and mindset that permeates much of society here and is reflected in many churches , the Orange and loyal orders. The Catholic community in East Belfast is now the latest community on the receiving end of this hatred and have been made the scapegoats for the latest violence by all sections of Unionism.

Joint Authority will recognise nationalists as equals. Structures should be put in place so that parties can influence the two governments on all-Ireland policies and initiatives - such structures should reflect the essence of the Agreement itself through various north-south bodies and partnerships .A return to direct rule could not be justified as it would be seen as a reward to Unionism for obstructing political compromise . Joint authority would also free up nationalists , north and south, to harness the growing support and enthusiasm that exists now for a unified Ireland and could result in energies being channelled into pursuing a fair and truly representative police service in the north- not one over 90% Unionist, better human rights and equality legislation and greater recognition for the Irish language and Irish cultural identity. I believe nationalists wish for a future as equals alongside Unionists in the north. The reality though is that ever since the foundation of the N.Ireland state the nationalist/catholic experience has been one of discrimination, marginalisation and second class citizenship. This can and is no longer tolerated. Unionism may wish for the good old days to return when Catholics 'knew their place', but there is no going back now to majority takes all and to hell with the minority. If Unionists wish to pursue the agenda of domination over their Catholic neighbours then they must be left behind and this must be made abundantly clear to them by the London administration.