Peace
in Our Time? The 1998 Agreement
by Steve Bruce
And all have continued to use violence to discipline their own people and
to neutralise threats from within their own communities. Although it cannot
state it openly, the government view seems to be that so long as the IRA
and UVF are not 'structurally involved' in political violence (as distinct
from racketeering, for example), Sinn Fein and the PUP will be allowed to
operate as legitimate parties.
This will cause considerable difficulties for Trimble who has repeatedly
insisted that Sinn Fein cannot take part in government until it has completely
given up violence. Even if he is prepared to live with the expected fudge,
it is always possible that 7 or 8 of his members might not be so willing.
But Sinn Fein cannot be entirely unaccommodating this early in the new era.
With the SDLP supporting Trimble, and the Dublin and London governments
determined to ensure that the Executive begins work in 1999, Sinn Fein will
not find it easy to resist pressure for some sort of declaration that the
war is over. |
