11 December 1997 Edition
Historic London meeting
Today witnesses a historic milestone in Irish and British affairs when Sinn Féin representatives meet face-to-face with Tony Blair in Downing Street.
It is 76 years since a previous generation of Irish republicans spoke to a British Prime Minister in London. The subsequent imposition of partition failed to resolve the conflict afflicting both Ireland and Britain and resulted in a further eight decades of injustice, opression and intermittment violent conflict. Sinn Féin has made clear its determination to conclude the unfinished business of that period.
The Sinn Féin representatives will discuss with Mr Blair the need for his government to end the British claim to jurisdiction over a part of Ireland and to begin the process of ending British interference in Irish affairs.
The Sinn Féin delegation will also outline the immediate need for the British government to tackle the symptoms of conflict. This means means moving rapidly on the issue of political prisoners, demilitarisation in the Six County area and equality of treatment for Irish nationalists.
Sinn Féin is to be praised for its commitment to moving the peace process forward and to securing a just and lasting peace in Ireland. That can only be based on the Irish people as a whole determing the future of Ireland. Today's meeting in London is an important part of the struggle to achieve that right for our nation.
The reaction to the murder of Gerry Devlin speaks volumes about the reality of life for Irish nationalists in the Six Counties. The RUC's initial reluctance to admit that Gerry Devlin was the victim of a sectarian assassination and its refusal to divulge forensic and intelligence evidence concerning the murder weapon or where the getaway vehicle was found is reminiscent of its attitude following the murders of at least seven nationalist civilians by loyalist death squads in the past three years.
The RUC reaction is in stark contrast to the speed with which it rushes to press with accusations when it is believed that republicans have been involved in an incident.
The reaction of politicians and the media has been equally predictable and apalling. It has been noted that had Gerry Devlin been a member of the British forces killed in an IRA attack the newspapers and other media would have been inundated with condemnations from politicians and governments.
The fact of the matter is that the violent deaths of nationalists are not treated on an equal basis to other deaths in the Six Counties. Nationalists are subjected to second class citizenship in death as they are in life.
It is 76 years since a previous generation of Irish republicans spoke to a British Prime Minister in London. The subsequent imposition of partition failed to resolve the conflict afflicting both Ireland and Britain and resulted in a further eight decades of injustice, opression and intermittment violent conflict. Sinn Féin has made clear its determination to conclude the unfinished business of that period.
The Sinn Féin representatives will discuss with Mr Blair the need for his government to end the British claim to jurisdiction over a part of Ireland and to begin the process of ending British interference in Irish affairs.
The Sinn Féin delegation will also outline the immediate need for the British government to tackle the symptoms of conflict. This means means moving rapidly on the issue of political prisoners, demilitarisation in the Six County area and equality of treatment for Irish nationalists.
Sinn Féin is to be praised for its commitment to moving the peace process forward and to securing a just and lasting peace in Ireland. That can only be based on the Irish people as a whole determing the future of Ireland. Today's meeting in London is an important part of the struggle to achieve that right for our nation.
No equality in life or in death
The reaction to the murder of Gerry Devlin speaks volumes about the reality of life for Irish nationalists in the Six Counties. The RUC's initial reluctance to admit that Gerry Devlin was the victim of a sectarian assassination and its refusal to divulge forensic and intelligence evidence concerning the murder weapon or where the getaway vehicle was found is reminiscent of its attitude following the murders of at least seven nationalist civilians by loyalist death squads in the past three years.
The RUC reaction is in stark contrast to the speed with which it rushes to press with accusations when it is believed that republicans have been involved in an incident.
The reaction of politicians and the media has been equally predictable and apalling. It has been noted that had Gerry Devlin been a member of the British forces killed in an IRA attack the newspapers and other media would have been inundated with condemnations from politicians and governments.
The fact of the matter is that the violent deaths of nationalists are not treated on an equal basis to other deaths in the Six Counties. Nationalists are subjected to second class citizenship in death as they are in life.