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TITLE: Adams: Britain's IRA Weapons Fixation |
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DATE: March 11, 2001 |
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Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams has accused the British government of having "a fixation about IRA weapons" that could unravel much of Northern Ireland's three-year-old peace accord. Speaking to Dublin delegates of his party,Mr Adams said the IRA wasn't to blame for the deadlock in efforts to bolster the Good Friday accord. But he emphasised that the IRA would not scrap its hidden arsenal - as the 1998 Good Friday pact said should happen - in response to pressure from Britain or the Ulster Unionists. "The flaw in the handling of the peace process by the British government is contained in its fixation about IRA weapons, even though these weapons are silent," Mr Adams said in reference to the 1997 cease-fire. "The political process could still fall if this issue is not handled properly," he added. His remarks followed last Thursday's announcement by the IRA that its negotiator intends to meet again soon with an independent disarmament commission. That step has been sought by Britain and the Ulster Unionists ever since the IRA abandoned face-to-face talks in February 2000, just weeks after they'd begun. Britain has indicated a willingness to give ground on Sinn Fein demands - particularly on further troop withdrawals and army base closures - but only if the IRA finally began disarming. Gerry Adams dismissed this as a back-to-front approach and insisted Britain needed to keep scaling down its military presence regardless of IRA actions. "There is no place in Ireland for the British army," Mr Adams declared to applause from the 200-member crowd of Dublin party activists. Sinn Fein insists its message is that the IRA might voluntarily disarm someday, but won't be seen to bow to pressure. Many of the IRA's Protestant critics say the IRA never intends to disarm. At stake is the survival of Northern Ireland's t government, the centrepiece of the 1998 pact. The dissident group, the Real IRA has bombed several military bases and civilian railway lines in Northern Ireland in the past year, and is believed to be responsible for last weekend's car bomb outside the BBC studios in West London. The dissidents have accused Adams' Sinn Fein of betraying their past sacrifices. Angered by these accusations, Sinn Fein adorned its conference room with pictures of IRA prisoners who starved themselves to death in 1981. "I acknowledge and commend the discipline of IRA volunteers. But I know that these are all difficult matters for republicans," Mr Adams said, referring specifically to the IRA's intention to resume disarmament negotiations. "I know that many will have been shocked and confused when they hear of this latest move, and I appeal for the utmost unity and commitment." END |