Conference tallis::celt

1590.0. "Article from Irish Times by Gerry Adams" by GYRO::HOLOHAN () Mon Jun 24 1996 10:08

                                 [Sinn Fein]

                                20 June 1996

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                      Newspaper article by Gerry Adams

The following is an article written for The Irish Times by the Sinn F�in
President, Mr Gerry Adams:

THE bomb attack in Manchester last Saturday and the killing eight days
earlier of Garda Jerry McCabe have clearly caused personal anguish to the
family and friends of Garda McCabe and to those injured in Manchester, as
well as grave political difficulties.

Sinn F�in has made its position absolutely clear on both these incidents.

Obviously, these difficulties need to be addressed and overcome. This
requires an even greater urgency and application to the task of restoring
the peace process. They cannot become a cause of paralysis or worse still
return us to the old and failed agenda of sustained exclusion.

The road to peace was always going to be difficult. What we are attempting
to do is very ambitious, as well as risky and dangerous. We are seeking for
the first time in Irish history and in the relationship between Ireland and
Britain, to successfully resolve the deep-rooted issues which lie at the
heart of the conflict.

Of course, that was never going be easy but Sinn F�in's priority and the
solemn promise which our party made to the electorate in the North two weeks
ago is to do all we can; to leave no avenue unexplored; to raise no
obstacles to dialogue and to pursue vigorously and with determination the
restoration of the peace process, an agreed peace settlement and a permanent
end to all armed actions.

We do not yet have an end to conflict but Sinn F�in's contribution to the
efforts to bring about a peace settlement has been significant, consistent
and central to creating the opportunity which I firmly believe still exists.
I am determined that Sinn F�in's focus will not be deflected from our
endeavours nor will we allow the commitment which we have brought to the
search for a lasting peace be devalued or discarded.

I am asked if Sinn F�in support the armed struggle of the IRA. I want to see
an end to all armed actions. Some members of Sinn F�in, like those in other
parties, may have a different view, but Sinn F�in policy on the conflict is
contained in our peace strategy. Sinn F�in is not the IRA. Sinn F�in is not
involved in armed struggle. Sinn F�in does not advocate armed struggle. We
are totally and absolutely committed to democratic and peaceful methods of
resolving political problems.

The core element in our peace strategy is establishing a way to do this.
Sinn F�in has, since 1987, pursued that strategy, which was a key element in
the creation of the Irish peace initiative and the eventual development of
the Irish peace process. Those who put together the peace process in 1994
did so in very difficult circumstances and against a backdrop of
substantially greater conflict. Our collective efforts at that time brought
about the political conditions which resulted in the IRA deciding to enhance
the opportunity for peace by calling a complete cessation of military
operations.

For 18 months the IRA cessation held, creating an unprecedented opportunity
for real and meaningful negotiations. Yet despite all the promises and
commitments publicly given there was not one word of negotiation during that
18-month period. The British government erected one obstacle after another.
These difficulties, too, must now be overcome. Confidence must be created.

The gulf of distrust which now exists must be bridged. In all of this Sinn
F�in is seeking no special favours. We are imposing no preconditions. We
seek only the opportunity to engage on the same basis as every one else in a
process of democratic negotiations. The right of voters to elect
representatives of their choice is a fundamental democratic principle which
cannot be set aside because governments don't like the outcome of an
elective process which the British government imposed.

The Irish government has a responsibility to defend the principle of
equality and to uphold the rights of all voters on this island. Political
isolation does not work. Exclusion does not work. These are failed policies.
They can make no constructive contribution to thedevelopment of a real
process of negotiation. It is illogical to believe that peace can be built
on a policy which deliberately ignores the voice of a significant section of
people on this island.

Dialogue provides the only real hope for progress in the present difficult
circumstances.

Restoring the peace process therefore is not just our responsibility.
Everyone has a role to play and especially the two governments. In recent
months I have remained in contact with John Hume and with the White House.
There has also been an intense and substantive dialogue between Sinn F�in
representatives and with the Irish Government. During its recent review of
its contact with Sinn F�in the Government asked had I gone to the IRA ``to
ask for a cease-fire, and if not, why not?''. The Government knows that I
have been in regular contact with representatives of the IRA leadership in
an effort to restore the peace process. I was not acting as a conduit
between the IRA and the Irish Government so although I understand the
difficulties facing the Government I was surprised by their question and by
the way it was put. Perhaps they thought there wasn't enough progress or, in
the wake of the killing of Garda McCabe, that they could do no more at that
time. But all of Sinn F�in's efforts and the efforts of everyone we were in
contact with was with the clear aim of rebuilding the collapsed peace
process. Up until the tragic killing of Garda McCabe the engagement with the
Irish Government was particularly constructive. We were making progress. It
is also my view that the Government was much more focused recently than at
other times, especially in their negotiations with the British leading up to
the agreement of June 6th.

From my contact with the IRA representatives it is clear that they view the
British government's stance as the biggest obstacle to any effort to bring
about a restoration of their cessation. The British government's bad faith,
so evident during the 18 month cessation, is at the core of all of this.
Their refusal to have any contact with republicans exacerbates this
difficulty for those of us who want to play a constructive role in resolving
these difficulties.

In the present circumstances it is a matter of even greater urgency that
these difficulties are resolved. That needs to be our primary focus at this
time.

This is an enormous task. It is a difficult task. However, I am convinced
that working together we can achieve what previous generations failed to win
- a permanent peace built on a solid foundation of agreement, justice and
democracy.

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>Sinn F�in has made its position absolutely clear on both these incidents.

I must have missed that.  Could someone please tell me where and when Sinn
F�in has answered - in one word - whether it condemns the Manchester bombing 
and the murder of the Garda officer?

Many thanks,

regards,
//alan

� The road to peace was always going to be difficult

Especially when it is lined with lorry bombs and has IRA
punishment squads waiting in the shadows.

    >Sinn F�in is not the IRA.
    
    Who wrote this article? The Brothers Grimm?
    
    
    CHARLEY

>>I am asked if Sinn F�in support the armed struggle of the IRA. I want to see
>>an end to all armed actions. Some members of Sinn F�in, like those in other
>>parties, may have a different view
    
    The nearest that Sinn Fein have ever come to acknowledging an internal
    split since 1970. I wonder which of the Sinn Fein memebers are of a
    different view, could it be Martin McGuiness (one time Head of Derry
    Brigade, one time Chief of Staff of IRA Army Council)...or is it Gerry
    Kelly (convicted IRA bomber, and who escaped RUC custody this weekend
    whilst wearing hadcuffs) ?
    
    >>Sinn Fein are not the IRA
    
    dingaling....dingaling, hey stop tugging my leg will yer.
    
    Shaun.

   
    >>>Sinn Fein are not the IRA
    
    >dingaling....dingaling, hey stop tugging my leg will yer.
    

I don't know whether SF are the IRA or not, what is the basis for this claim?

In Boston [circa 1775] there were over a dozen groups that were involved
in resisting the Crown. Though they all shared the same goals and some
individuals were members of multiple groups they were still nevertheless
separate groups.

M

    >I don't know whether SF are the IRA or not, what is the basis for this
    >claim?
    
    Gerry Adams admitted this accidently on a T.V. interview a few months
    back.
    
    
    CHARLEY

    M Thompson,
    
    The IRA/Sinn Fein of today are not comparable with some or several
    rebellious movements of centuries past. My note pointed out that three
    of Sinn Fein's so called peace candidates have all held quite powerfull
    positions in the IRA - hence the implication that Sinn Fein and the IRA
    are the same thing.....but you don't have to believe me, just ask the
    Irish Governement what its views are or read a reputable paper such as
    the Irish Times. Alternatively, obtain virtually any book from a
    resonable journalist and you will conclude likewise yourself.
    
    Shaun.

Even if some members are in both organizations that does not make them
the same thing.

Suppose they are the same, then as the SF people are all known they could
be followed, have phones tapped, etc.. That would reveal the identities
of the IRA. For these organizations to exist for so long there just must
be a very significant degree of separation between them. 

M

    M,
    
    All members of the IRA army council are known to both north and south
    security forces. If you don't believe that both organizations are just
    wings of the same then read a book....but don't bother trying to tell
    me otherwise untill you have found out more.
    
    Shaun.

Well I checked a book called 'The IRA' by Eammon Mallie. The script was
by another journalist who at the time (circa 1988) worked for the London
Daily Telegraph. The paperback version I have includes a review from
the the Irish Times (?) predicting it will become 'The standard reference'.

It describes the origins of the IRA (in America in 1866) and origins
of Sinn Fein (Griffiths et al 1905). It describes them as completely
separate organizations. They have a different purpose (SF went from
pressure group to political party and remains so). From their origins
in 1866 the IRA have always use violent means to pursue their goals.
Sinn Fein was to some extent the parent of Fianna Fail (sp?) 

I know the book is about 8 years old and perhaps SF and IRA have merged
since then. Any more recent references to when this happened appreciated!

M