The history of the peace process is that the Good Friday Agreement marked a turning point for what up to then could authentically be termed the republican movement. At that point many who had been recognised as leaders of that movement accepted the legitimacy of British rule in the six counties by virtue of a majority of the people living there wishing to remain a part of the UK, under what was called the principle of consent. Until then the republican movement considered the 32 counties as representing the Irish nation and that a national minority should not have a veto over the wishes of the majority of that nation. This was also a belief that was enshrined in the free state constitution at that time but more importantly it was the basis for the legitimacy for armed actions against British forces and institutions in Ireland and Britain.
The acceptance of a unionist veto under the ‘principle of consent’ by former republicans was sold as a pragmatic alternative to the armed struggle and a ‘new phase of a continuing struggle’ but it was rather more than that. It represented a fundamental ideological shift that could only represent the previous armed campaign as illegitimate and criminal. By way of demonstrating the gradual accommodation of that ideological transformation, former republicans engaged in a unilateral process of disarmament under ‘decommissioning’, recognised the legitimacy of the institutions of law and order including the ‘police’ and participated in devolved institutions whose remit is circumscribed by the British government.
The offensiveness of this to people who previously accepted the narrative by the republican movement that Britain’s presence here was illegitimate cannot be underestimated especially since those who most accepted it experienced great personal suffering but probably no more so than the hunger strikers and their families and this ‘pragmatic’ strategy could be no greater insult to that sacrifice.
For those so-called republicans who appeared at the highly publicised event to recruit new PSNI members, let me just say this – if any of your family members applied for these posts and were detected as being associated with you they would be automatically considered unfit. Meanwhile, there appears to be a surge in Sinn Féin support south of the border. How much of that is based on the radical programme for government in the Sinn Féin manifesto is hard to gauge but one thing is certain, that with only fielding 42 candidates, Sinn Féin never expected that it would ever be in a position to deliver this programme, in other words, like so many other Sinn Féin promises, it is all for the optics.
SEAN O’FIACH
Belfast BT11
What does bringing Sinn Féin in from the cold really mean?
The Republic is reaching a crossroads with Sinn Féin in deciding whether or not they are fit for government. It should be remembered why they are running in democratic elections. The whole idea of the peace process was to bring Sinn Féin in from the cold and their military wing the IRA. What seems to be happening is that the whole idea has altered from that, to a situation where they are being made accountable, or being put on trial for every murder or atrocity they are alleged to have committed.
So, the question is – what does bringing them in from the cold really mean? Sinn Féin and the broader republican movement rooted to the idea of 1916 and united Ireland should know how far they are going to be brought in from the cold, or if they are being brought in at all? Are they wasting their time going in elections in the Republic because no other party really wants them in government, even though the establishment wanted to bring them in from the cold? Are voters wasting their votes on them because they will never be in government south of the border? These are fundamental and crucial questions. There is no getting away from this dichotomy by attempting to warm them up while at the same saying: “You will never be one of us and how can a party go into government with you given your past and association with the IRA.”
How can Sinn Féin and the republican movement come in from the cold and deal with slating over paramilitary activity at the same time?
The Republic is not as flexible as Northern Ireland regarding Sinn Féin it would seem. If the whole idea of bringing Sinn Féin in from the cold is to put them on trial for wrongs done in the past, then nothing has really changed.
MAURICE FITZGERALD
Shanbally, Co Cork
Britain has lot to answer for
There were no Manchester arena, London or Westminster bridges nor a Sunday high street Streatham atrocities prior to Britain’s involvement in killing, injuring and terrorising millions of innocent citizens of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, The Yemen etc. Indeed if truth be told there were few, if any refugees, prior to the above – definitely no refugee camps at Calais nor drownings in the Mediterranean. And to think Britain voted for Brexit because of refugees fleeing the above British-led wars. The British army, navy, air force, drone operators have a lot to answer for. Medals, hero worship, nor protecting them from investigation or prosecution, would be the last thing I would be offering them. While I condemn without reservation the actions of the local radicalised terrorists, I equally condemn the actions of the British in the above named countries plus of course their agitating and provoking for more wars. When, oh when, will they ever learn that more wars abroad means more loss of innocent lives in the home countries.
PETER McEVOY
Banbridge, Co Down
Dystopian experiment
Louis Shawcross writes that the US military threatened to engage in false flag sniper shootings of protesters and security personnel if the Iraqi administration didn’t agree to concede 50 per cent of oil revenue to America (January 31). Such tactics are nothing new to the unionist and nationalist people of the six counties.
It has recently been reported that Robert Nairac (who attended England’s top Catholic private school) was linked to the planning and execution of the Miami Showband massacre.
The Irish News has reported on claims that the commander of the Ardoyne IRA was working for the military all along.
A former member of the Derry IRA has claimed that the Provisionals were “created by MI5”.
Countless reports and inquiries have shown that most unionist paramilitaries were run by undercover army units.
Airey Neave is on record as having said that the six counties was nothing but “a training ground for the British army”. It wasn’t just the hooded men who were used as guinea pigs. It’s becoming increasingly clear that everyone (unionist and nationalist) were part of a macabre, dystopian experiment conducted from London.
MICHAEL O’FLYNN
Cork City
