19 February 1998 Edition
A fight against those who fear change
There is no mistaking the anger among republicans and nationalists at attempts to expel Sinn Féin from the talks process.
George Mitchell and David Andrews spoke this week about the need for `fairness' and Bertie Ahern says there must be `due process.' But where is the fairness and due process? Sinn Féin has been charged at the behest of the RUC and the Ulster Unionists and without being allowed to see the evidence or hear witnesses. No-one has demonstrated in any way that Sinn Féin has done anything wrong. Dublin Castle has held a kangaroo court this week.
It has been a shameful week for the talks process and those participants who have colluded in trying to wreck this opportunity for peace. In a period when it would be thought that the NIO should be taking steps to build confidence among nationalists, what instead is seen is a British government once more dancing to the tune of a Unionist drum.
With uncanny speed and without producing evidence to substantiate its allegations, the RUC accused the IRA of involvement in two killings. David Trimble demanded Sinn Féin's expulsion from the talks, threatening that he would otherwise walk out of them himself.
The duplicity of both Trimble and Ronnie Flanagan did not go unnoticed by nationalists.
The Unionists tried to prevent the peace process starting and have since repeatedly tried to derail it. Some attitudes have changed little since the heyday of Stormont.
But the most important questions are: where do people think the peace process is going if Sinn Féin is expelled? How could the process possibly benefit from the expulsion of the party which initiated the process and led the way in pushing it forward?
Those are the questions that people throughout Ireland and around the world are asking. What has been served by this week's expulsion attempt except to further dent people's already fragile confidence in the peace process?
Sinn Féin has acted courageously in standing up for the rights of their voters. When Martin McGuinness said on Monday that his party would fight the attempt to expel them ``every single step of the way'' he received support from all nationalists in Ireland. People recognise the genuine commitment of Sinn Féin to their peace strategy.
In the days and weeks ahead it is absolutely essential that people rally in their support. This peace process should not be surrendered without a desperate struggle.
George Mitchell and David Andrews spoke this week about the need for `fairness' and Bertie Ahern says there must be `due process.' But where is the fairness and due process? Sinn Féin has been charged at the behest of the RUC and the Ulster Unionists and without being allowed to see the evidence or hear witnesses. No-one has demonstrated in any way that Sinn Féin has done anything wrong. Dublin Castle has held a kangaroo court this week.
It has been a shameful week for the talks process and those participants who have colluded in trying to wreck this opportunity for peace. In a period when it would be thought that the NIO should be taking steps to build confidence among nationalists, what instead is seen is a British government once more dancing to the tune of a Unionist drum.
With uncanny speed and without producing evidence to substantiate its allegations, the RUC accused the IRA of involvement in two killings. David Trimble demanded Sinn Féin's expulsion from the talks, threatening that he would otherwise walk out of them himself.
The duplicity of both Trimble and Ronnie Flanagan did not go unnoticed by nationalists.
The Unionists tried to prevent the peace process starting and have since repeatedly tried to derail it. Some attitudes have changed little since the heyday of Stormont.
But the most important questions are: where do people think the peace process is going if Sinn Féin is expelled? How could the process possibly benefit from the expulsion of the party which initiated the process and led the way in pushing it forward?
Those are the questions that people throughout Ireland and around the world are asking. What has been served by this week's expulsion attempt except to further dent people's already fragile confidence in the peace process?
Sinn Féin has acted courageously in standing up for the rights of their voters. When Martin McGuinness said on Monday that his party would fight the attempt to expel them ``every single step of the way'' he received support from all nationalists in Ireland. People recognise the genuine commitment of Sinn Féin to their peace strategy.
In the days and weeks ahead it is absolutely essential that people rally in their support. This peace process should not be surrendered without a desperate struggle.