19 June 1997 Edition
Screaming for condemnation
Since the IRA killed two members of the RUC on Monday, there has been a sustained attack on Sinn Féin. It merely proves that the political opponents of republicanism still do not know - or want to know - what peace means or what is involved in constructing a peace process.
They wish to set up a simple scenario in which Sinn Féin leaders can click their fingers and there is peace. They live in a black and white world of all or nothing. They do not wish to acknowledge that reality is much more complex than that.
They want to hear the word `condemn', as if that will solve everything. Condemnation is, for them, nothing but a political virility test. It has become meaningless. During the IRA cessation when republicans took to the streets in peaceful protest, there were still politicians who condemned the protestors ``in the strongest possible terms''.
Nationalists are correct to question the bona fides of those in the media and the political establishment who merely tut tut and register disapproval when loyalists kill innocent nationalists but scream abuse when republicans kill the armed upholders of the Unionist state.
And the Sinn Féin leadership is correct to ask where these commentators have been since Sinn Féin began the slow, difficult work of constructing a peace process. For the most part, these so-called liberals have blocked - and condemned - any moves towards a credible talks process. They are the same people who would have us believe that peace equals an IRA ceasefire. But it has been proved that peace is not merely an IRA ceasefire. Peace can only come through a properly constructed process which addresses the root causes of the conflict. If every member of the IRA was to surrender every IRA weapon and emigrate, there would still be conflict because the very nature of the Six County state gives rise to conflict.
Therein lies the complexity of the task ahead. The cosy media and political establishment can scream all they like but they will not advance the peace which they claim to hold so dear until they start screaming for an inclusive, credible process which will genuinely address the root causes of the conflict in Ireland.
They wish to set up a simple scenario in which Sinn Féin leaders can click their fingers and there is peace. They live in a black and white world of all or nothing. They do not wish to acknowledge that reality is much more complex than that.
They want to hear the word `condemn', as if that will solve everything. Condemnation is, for them, nothing but a political virility test. It has become meaningless. During the IRA cessation when republicans took to the streets in peaceful protest, there were still politicians who condemned the protestors ``in the strongest possible terms''.
Nationalists are correct to question the bona fides of those in the media and the political establishment who merely tut tut and register disapproval when loyalists kill innocent nationalists but scream abuse when republicans kill the armed upholders of the Unionist state.
And the Sinn Féin leadership is correct to ask where these commentators have been since Sinn Féin began the slow, difficult work of constructing a peace process. For the most part, these so-called liberals have blocked - and condemned - any moves towards a credible talks process. They are the same people who would have us believe that peace equals an IRA ceasefire. But it has been proved that peace is not merely an IRA ceasefire. Peace can only come through a properly constructed process which addresses the root causes of the conflict. If every member of the IRA was to surrender every IRA weapon and emigrate, there would still be conflict because the very nature of the Six County state gives rise to conflict.
Therein lies the complexity of the task ahead. The cosy media and political establishment can scream all they like but they will not advance the peace which they claim to hold so dear until they start screaming for an inclusive, credible process which will genuinely address the root causes of the conflict in Ireland.