IRA Bad Faith

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday April 11, 2003 06:57 by Finbarr

The IRA shows once more that it is just another crappy terrorist gang.

IRISH INDO: Final demand puts gun to IRA's head

Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair issued the IRA with a final demand last night for "absolute clarity" about its total commitment to peace.

The exasperated leaders issued the call as their officials worked feverishly through the night to put the peace process back on the tracks.

It was derailed yesterday when republicans refused to give a clear-cut undertaking that their war is over.

The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister left no doubt that only a unambiguous IRA commitment could secure the return of devolved government to the North and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Only if they are certain that an irrevocable understanding has been reached on this "make or break" issue will the leaders travel to Hillsborough today to unveil their blueprint for the North's future.

The leaders' abandoned plans for a Hillsborough declaration yesterday when they decided that a draft IRA statement shown to them did not go far enough in clarifying the organisation's intentions about abandoning violence for good.

Last night, they issued what amounted to a stark ultimatum to the IRA that the peace process now demanded nothing less than "absolute clarity" about its total commitment to peace.

Their firm stance was reinforced by news that President Bush's special envoy Richard Haas is expected in Belfast later today to deliver a blunt message from the White House to all the parties that this is the endgame.

The move comes just three days after Mr Bush had personally endorsed the two governments' plan and told the parties it was time to "seize the opportunity for peace".

The crisis arose yesterday when the text of a proposed IRA statement was judged by both prime ministers to fall well short of the "acts of completion" which they have been asking republicans to produce.

The deal was expected to be the crowning moment of a carefully choreographed week. But it collapsed after the draft IRA statement, shown to Mr Ahern, was dismissed by both governments as totally inadequate.

It is believed that the draft did not promise further IRA disarmament, but only that it would re-engage with General John de Chastelain's independent decommissioning body.

The two governments were so disappointed with the statement that they did not send it to the Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble. It had been hoped that the IRA declaration would be impressive enough for Mr Trimble to take it to his party and persuade doubters in the ranks to go back into government with Sinn Fein.

Mr Trimble said the two governments realised the statement was "wholly inadequate". Fragments of it had been read to him, he said, "and from what I've heard it's not even in the ballpark".

The Ulster Unionist leader said the process could be put back on track but only if there was "massive movement from the republican movements in the next day or two".

At Downing Street, Mr Ahern said they needed "certainty, clarity, trust and confidence" and an ability for people to work together with the two governments in order to move forward in a peaceful environment.

"I would hope we can sort the difficulties out overnight," said the Taoiseach.

Mr Blair said: "There are outstanding issues." But he added that the two governments were in complete agreement about the right way forward.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said: "If they are concerned about the IRA, which appears to be the focus, let them put it up to the IRA, put out the joint declaration and see how everyone responds."

The governments' blueprint, which is believed to run to around 20 pages, covers not only paramilitary "acts of completion" but other issues such the scaling down of the British army presence in Northern Ireland.

Also dealt with are equality, human rights, a bill of rights, criminal justice reform, policing and the devolution of justice and policing powers to a power-sharing administration at Stormont.

Proposals to ensure the stability of the political institutions against further suspensions or collapse are also included.

It is understood there are two other "annexes" to the document. The first will deal with the issue of on-the-run paramilitaries.

The second "annex" will propose the setting up of a four-member commission, one each from North and South and one each from Britain and the United States. They will examine how parties are honouring their commitments under the Good Friday Agreement and would report anyone who reneges on their commitment to an implementation group of the Northern parties.