11 September 1997 Edition

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Commission remit ``too narrow''

BY MICHEAL MacDONNCHA

Leinster House voted on the Ageement between the Dublin and London governments to establish an Independent Commission on Decommissioning. Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghin O Caolain voted against ratification on the grounds that the remit of the commission as constituted is too narrow.

O Caolain spoke during the debate which was badly attended by TDs and overshadowed by the Ray Burke and McCracken Tribunal controversies. He said that while Sinn Fein could not endorse the ratification, the party would work with any commission which is established in the interest of the peace process.

Speaking in Leinster House on Wednesday O Caolain said:

``Sinn Fein has a much broader view of the need for demilitarisation in the Six Counties. All armed groups must be included, most especially the largest and most heavily armed section - the British crown forces. There is also the neglected issue of the huge number of legally held firearms in the unionist community, estimated to be around 140,000.

``All the guns need to be removed from Irish politics. That includes the plastic bullet guns which were used against nationalists across the Six Counties during tihs past summer.''

O Caolain cited the finding on Tuesday of a British Army spypost hidden in a derelict house along the border in South Armagh near the road from Castleblayney to Dundalk:

``This is only the the most recent example of continuing British military activity, both overt and covert, along the border and across the Six Counties. This has included the reinforcement of the monstrous hilltop post overlooking the main Dublin to Belfast road in South Armagh.

``All these issues must be addresed under the heading of demilitarisation. They must be dealt with in the context of real peace negotiations where agreement and trust will form the basis for forward movement.

``Sinn Fein will of course work with any Commission which is established in the interest of the peace process. We look forward to progress on every aspect of the historic negotiations now before us.''

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