Long Kesh peace centre back-tracking by DUP a sign of ‘weak political leadership’

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘This raises very serious questions about the commitment of elements of the DUP to conflict resolution and peace building. That is a question which the DUP now need to address’

THE back-tracking by DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson halting progress on the peace and reconciliation centre at Long Kesh has been described by Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney as “cowardly”. It is a caving in to unionist paranoia whipped up by the hardline, anti-Peace Process elements led by Willie Frazer and Jim Allister of Traditional Unionist Voice, he said.

Raymond McCartney said:

“People will find it strange that the DUP are now turning their back on such a project and it does raise very serious questions about the commitment of elements of the DUP to conflict resolution and peace building. That is a question which the DUP now need to address.”

Bizarrely, Peter Robinson said there must be “a change of attitude” by Sinn Féin, especially to victims of IRA actions, before the £300million Long Kesh/Maze centre project can resume, providing a potential 5,000 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs.

Peter Robinson’s virtual invisibility in recent weeks on the issues of parades and emblems and his failure to say anything at all on the unionist mob attack on Belfast Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir led Raymond McCartney to accuse the DUP leader of “weak political leadership”.

“He pens a letter telling how he is standing up to the TUV and UUP, yet what he is actually doing is following the agenda they have set for him. It is further evidence of weak political leadership.

“He talks about building a consensus at the same time as he talks up a veto. It is a nonsensical position.”

The Sinn Féin MLA added:

“It is up to the DUP to explain to people why at a time of significant economic challenges they are prepared to squander this opportunity for investment and job creation on the pretext that anti-peace unionism has mobilised against it.”

He said that, for Sinn Féin, the job of building peace and securing jobs and investment goes on.

“We are not scared of hard work or to lead from the front. That means breaking down barriers and division, not letting those forces who thrive on conflict to set the agenda.”