SF slams sanction move by unionists
From NEWS LETTER October 30th, 2000
MERVYN PAULEY
THE rift between the Ulster Unionists and nationalists in the power-sharing
government deepened last night as Sinn Fein slammed moves to impose sanctions
on its ministers. Amid growing fears that the new crisis could spin out
of control, efforts were intensified to push forward talks between Prime
Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern. Dublin foreign
minister Brian Cowen was quick to voice his government's concerns after
the UUP's ruling council voted for David Trimble's plan to force an IRA
move on the decommissioning issue. Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams angrily rebuked
the First Minister yesterday, claiming the UUP was making ''stupid and unattainable''
disarmament demands. But Ulster Unionist arts minister Michael McGimpsey
accused him of ''hysterical over-reaction'' to his party's plan to ban Sinn
Fein from North South Ministerial Council meetings. Deputy First Minister
Seamus Mallon has also reacted furiously to the Trimble proposals, questioning
the legality of the blocking tactic and warning it could have serious implications
for the Agreement. Mr Trimble insisted yesterday his sanctions - his reply
to arch critic Jeffrey Donaldson's exit strategy if the IRA failed to meet
a November 30 disarmament deadline - were ''perfectly legal''. Mr Adams,
speaking after he met members of his party's national executive in Co Louth,
protested that the Ulster Unionists had ''arrogantly'' failed to take account
of the significance of the Provisionals' commitment in May to put their
weapons beyond use. He said: ''Sinn Fein does not hold executive position
by dint of patronage from the UUP. We have a mandate and the citizens whom
we represent must have exactly the same rights as all other citizens. ''Could
it be that Mr Trimble's move today is a tacit acknowledgement that unionism
isn't up to the challenge of working alongside other citizens or of developing
and sustaining a peaceful future based upon equality? ''Could it be that
he is unable to rise above the role of a party leader, the leader of the
UUP, to be a First Minister for all the people?'' But Mr McGimpsey defended
his party's six point plan, insisting it offered no threat to the peace
process. Under it, the UUP would block Sinn Fein ministers Martin McGuinness
and Bairbre de Brun from taking part in North South Ministerial Council
meetings. It is also seeking to force the de Chastelain arms body to be
more pro-active, reporting at least once every month and setting disarmament
deadlines and timetables. The plan prompted Martin McGuinness to demand
a meeting of the power-sharing cabinet. However, Mr McGimpsey said: ''This
is a measured response by our party which does not threaten the Agreement.
I and all my cabinet colleagues will be back at their ministerial desks
tomorrow. ''What this does is bar the Sinn Fein ministers from attending
the north south bodies and it places on republicans the obligation to do
what they said they'd do on the arms issue and that is to put their weapons
beyond use. "So far they haven't done anything. They are now being given
a number of weeks to do just that." |
