No climate for key move by IRA - Adams
There is not the climate in Northern Ireland for a significant move by the IRA, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams claimed today.
With the IRA under pressure on all sides to make the “big move” and disarm and stand down, Mr Adams insisted the current crisis in the peace process was not about the IRA.
He told activists from across Northern Ireland attending a conference in west Belfast’s Falls Road the underlying problems were about unionist resistance to change and the role of Sinn Fein as an engine for that change.
He cited the suspension of the devolved administration at Stormont, continued unionist opposition to change, what he called the targeting of republicans by “British Securocrats” and loyalist attacks on the Catholic community.
“Is this the climate for a significant move by the IRA? I hardly think so,” said Mr Adams.
“Does anyone think there will be a movement unless everyone moves? Unless the British government honours its obligations?” he asked.
The Sinn Fein leader added: “The current crisis in the peace process is not about the IRA. Of course the existence of the IRA is an affront to its enemies.
“But this process is about changing all that in a way which will bring an end to all the armed groups.
“Can that be achieved by ganging up on republicans? Or by making movement towards basic rights conditional on movement by the IRA? Or by punishing Sinn Fein voters and other citizens if the IRA doesn’t comply with unionist demands?”
He left his questions hanging.
The underlying problem was not the IRA but resistance to change and Sinn Fein’s role as the engine of change.
“It is about trying to delay the equality agenda. It is about the growth of republicanism across this island,” he said.
That was why unionists were boycotting negotiations and why they were lobbying for the postponement of elections to the suspended Assembly due to be held in May, he claimed.
For many republicans and nationalists there was a serious question mark over whether Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble was either willing or able to lead unionism in support of the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Adams insisted it was the unionist resistance to change which had created the current crisis in the political process and that after four months there was no sign the government was willing to move effectively to deal with the problem.
“It is apparent that the British government are pursuing a strategy whereby the survival of David Trimble as leader of the UUP is more important that the survival of the Agreement itself,” he said.
