9 April 1998 Edition
Unionists must embrace change
The performance of Unionists this week leaves open the question of whether they have accepted the need for fundamental change.
Since the publication on Monday night of the Mitchell paper, Unionists launched a major assault on its progressive elements, beginning in Number 10 Downing Street. They fought every inch of the way to institutionalise the Unionist veto and sought to excise from the document every and any move towards accommodation of the Irish nationalist position.
In particular, the unionist strategy was to substitute an entirely new formulation for all Ireland bodies. Sinn Fein fought tenaciously to prevent Unionists from holding back the progressive changes which must happen if Ireland is to become a democratic society.
In obstructing the process and attempting to avoid the essential moves towards justice the UUP followed the predictable and well-worn strategy of Unionism since the foundation of the Six County state.
However, despite Unionist objections the core issues which cannot be ignored in any peace process are British constitutional change, all-Ireland institutions and the need to remove the unionist veto from the political future of Ireland. The issues of demilitarisation, policing and political prisoners are also of critical importance. The success or failure of any political arrangement will be seen by its effects on the daily reality of people's lives and it is there where Unionist intransigence will be most sorely felt.
The British Prime Minister has massive responsibilities in all of this. It is he who must convince the unionists that they must come to terms with democracy. Tony Blair has to grasp the opportunity provided by his massive electoral mandate and that means making hard decisions in relation to unionism.
For their part, Republicans remain committed to finding a political way forward to peace with justice in Ireland. We will not ignore our responsibilities. The Unionists should now begin to embrace the idea that we are in times of change. They should help to manage that inevitable change.
Since the publication on Monday night of the Mitchell paper, Unionists launched a major assault on its progressive elements, beginning in Number 10 Downing Street. They fought every inch of the way to institutionalise the Unionist veto and sought to excise from the document every and any move towards accommodation of the Irish nationalist position.
In particular, the unionist strategy was to substitute an entirely new formulation for all Ireland bodies. Sinn Fein fought tenaciously to prevent Unionists from holding back the progressive changes which must happen if Ireland is to become a democratic society.
In obstructing the process and attempting to avoid the essential moves towards justice the UUP followed the predictable and well-worn strategy of Unionism since the foundation of the Six County state.
However, despite Unionist objections the core issues which cannot be ignored in any peace process are British constitutional change, all-Ireland institutions and the need to remove the unionist veto from the political future of Ireland. The issues of demilitarisation, policing and political prisoners are also of critical importance. The success or failure of any political arrangement will be seen by its effects on the daily reality of people's lives and it is there where Unionist intransigence will be most sorely felt.
The British Prime Minister has massive responsibilities in all of this. It is he who must convince the unionists that they must come to terms with democracy. Tony Blair has to grasp the opportunity provided by his massive electoral mandate and that means making hard decisions in relation to unionism.
For their part, Republicans remain committed to finding a political way forward to peace with justice in Ireland. We will not ignore our responsibilities. The Unionists should now begin to embrace the idea that we are in times of change. They should help to manage that inevitable change.