Irish Peace Negotiations-Progress Report: Week 5 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Wed, 22 Oct 1997 08:31:23 +0000 source: Paddy Newell The Irish People 25 October 97 Available on Tuesdays at: http://inac.org/IrishPeople/ ************************************************ Sinn Fiin Capitol Hill * Washington, DC 25 October 97 IRISH PEACE NEGOTIATIONS PROGRESS REPORT Week Five Despite a backdrop of increasing RUC harassment, loyalist violence and suspicion of collusion, the peace talks moved forward for the fifth consecutive week. Following is a summary of the week's progress and Sinn Fiin's positions. October 9, 1997: The Congressional Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, Chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) held hearings on the issue of Human Rights in the north. At the hearings, Congressman Smith in his opening remarks stated that "Visiting Belfast, it was evident that central to the conflict in Northern Ireland has been the failure of the government to guarantee an equal protection of rights to both the Protestant and Catholic communities, especially to the Catholic minority. The central responsibility for protecting rights and maintaining the rule of law belongs to the government -- in this case the British government. In the past, the government has failed in this regard and abuses have exacerbated the problem." Sinn Fiin President Gerry Adams speaking on the role of the United States Congress in the peace process stated: "Human rights abuses remain at the forefront of the issues Sinn Fiin wants to see addressed in the current peace negotiations ..... Congressman Smith's commitment to raising the level of discussion on human rights abuses in the north is to be applauded." October 10, 1997: Sinn Fiin submitted its proposals to Strand One of the peace talks. The following is a summary of the objectives and recommendations outlined in the proposal: 'Peace in Ireland: Freedom, Justice, Democracy, Equality' "Our approach to the preparation of this document, Principles and Requirements draws heavily on the Report of the New Ireland Forum, 1984, and the draft report of the Forum for Peace Reconciliation, 1996, as well as Sinn Fiin positions....Our objectives are to remove the causes of conflict, to set aside the failures of the past, to reach agreements which will provide lasting peace and stability for the people of Ireland and to normalise the relationships between the peoples of Ireland and Britain." A Failed Political Entity: "We seek to slam shut the door on past failures and begin anew by building new relationships based on equality and mutual respect." "We will be advocating and arguing for the creation of an Irish national democracy as the best means of achieving this....The northern state is beyond redemption, is corrupt, and that there can be no internal settlement based upon this failed structure....the six counties is a gerrymandered statelet which is fashioned by sectarian power and privilege and in which wholesale suppression and discrimination was and is practised....Britain's policy created a sectarian state....It is British policy which today labels nationalists as inferior and second class." "Every human rights agency in the world, from Amnesty International to Helsinki Watch, have accused Britain of torture, summary execution and extensive violations of human rights....having been found guilty before the European Court of Human Rights more often than any other signatory since 1950." "Equality should now be at the heart of the British government's decision making and it must underpin our deliberations....this equality ethos needs to map out how we can ensure equality in employment; in economic investment; for the Irish language and culture; in education and for political representatives. It must tackle the difficult issue of cultural symbols, of flags and emblems and of policing." "We do not wish unionists to suffer as nationalists have suffered in this statelet.... Inequality and social exclusion are the enemies of peace....Marginalising and demonising and refusing to talk to others reinforces intolerance and prejudice and intransigence." Principles and Requirements *A national political consensus is best expressed in the form of a national representative democracy. The first principle must be the right to lasting peace and stability based on justice. *Britain's policy of maintaining the union between Britain and the six counties is a direct impediment to and interference with the right of the people of Ireland alone to determine their development. It is a direct barrier to reaching the necessary democratic agreements by the people of Ireland alone. *A democratic agreement....a national political consensus.... is an issue of national self determination. *Britain must help to create the conditions which will allow the negotiation process to flourish. *Consent must be universally applied to the people of Ireland. Universal application of consent precludes any sectional approach. *Equality political, social, economic and cultural is a fundamental right ....they do not require any negotiations....The British Government should, independently of the process of negotiation, outline a programmatic approach on issues of equality. *All prisoners must be released. *It is essential that the commitment of the Irish and British Governments remove the causes of conflict and that they work in close partnership and collaboration. *Lasting stability can be found only in the context of new structures in which no tradition will be able to dominate the other. *Civil and religious liberties and rights must be guaranteed. *New arrangements must provide structures and institutions including security structures with which both nationalists and unionists can identify on the basis of political consensus. *New arrangements must ensure the maintenance of economic and social standards and facilitate integrated economic development. *Cultural and linguistic diversity of the people of all traditions north and south must be preserved and fostered. *People of the south must wholeheartedly commit themselves and the necessary resources. *Nationalists desire of a united, sovereign and independent Irish state achieved peacefully and by agreement, would be different from both the existing Irish state and the existing arrangements in the six-counties and would accommodate both traditions. *Participation in the negotiations is a right dependent only on the democratic mandate of the participants. The participation of duly mandated parties is not a privilege to be given or withheld. *The process of negotiations should be as transparent as possible so as to build confidence in the process itself and to create a sense of public ownership. *There must be a rejection of any concept of victory or defeat. *Constitutional changes should be such as not to diminish in any way existing citizenship rights and birthrights, being British or Irish or both acceptable, as appropriate and desired. *Consent of the governed is essential to the stability of any political arrangements. *Human Rights should be guaranteed, including if necessary incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the enactment of a comprehensive Bill of Rights. *Particular attention must be paid to the protection of the rights and identity of any minority community. *Eradication of discrimination; *Empowerment and inclusion of marginalised and deprived communities and groups. *In the matter of schooling, parental choice should be respected and facilitated including the preferences of those parents who choose integrated and Irish-medium education for their children. *There is a need to extend and strengthen programmer that increase contact between pupils and teachers within the six-counties and between schools North and South and in Britain. *New arrangements should also incorporate a strong European dimension. *Each of the foregoing principles and requirements would apply and have equal validity in all constitutional situations and under all of the institutional frameworks, which may be envisaged. "A viable opportunity now exists to remove the causes of conflict, to overcome the legacy of history and to heal the divisions which have resulted....Our long standing position has been one of willingness to enter into dialogue with a view to removing the causes of conflict." October 13, 1997: The 4:00 PM Monday meeting between Sinn Fiin President Gerry Adams and Prime Minister Tony Blair was the first between a British minister and a Sinn Fiin leader since 1921 when Lloyd George met with Michael Collins to discuss the partition of Ireland. The Sinn Fiin delegation also included Sinn Fiin Vice President Pat Doherty, Martin McGuinness and Siobhan O'Hanlon. Joining Mr. Blair were Marjorie Mowlam, Paul Murphy and Jonathan Stephens. Speaking to journalists, Sinn Fiin Vice President said "Gerry opened Sinn Fiin's contribution by acknowledging the speed with which this government has moved....pointed to Sinn Fiin's long record of commitment to the search for peace and said we want you to be the last British Prime Minister with jurisdiction in Ireland....From our point of view the biggest cause of conflict is British government involvement in our country. Gerry Adams also informed Mr. Blair that he intended raising the Brian Nelson affair and the role of British intelligence in importing weapons for loyalists to kill Catholics." Martin McGuinness said "the British need to move beyond the security agenda." Raising the issue of Bloody Sunday Martin told Mr. Blair that the relatives do not want an apology. "They want an international public inquiry." Describing his impression of the meeting, Pat Doherty said "I'm convinced that this was a real engagement; not a repeat of past meetings with Tory Ministers where they simply went through the motions." October 14, 1997: Sinn Fiin President Gerry Adams met with the new Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, David Andrews. Martin McGuinness MP met with Ambassador Lader, the United States Ambassador to Britain, at the US Consular Home in Belfast. Sinn Fiin welcomes the United Nations announcement of their human rights envoy to Britain and the north. The ten-day visit commences October 20, 1997 and will include an investigation into numerous allegations on the police harassment of defense attorneys and detainees, emergency legislation, the judiciary, and prison conditions. Findings will be published in a report to the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva, currently headed by former Irish president, Mary Robinson. October 15, 1997: Sinn Fiin President Gerry Adams presented a document inside the Strand Two negotiations. "We don't need British ministers to rule us" Mr. Adams said. "Are we not more capable, do we not have a greater incentive, than British ministers who fly in and out, to determine the needs and harness the resources and make the decisions necessary to improving the quality of life of our people?" October 17, 1997: Responding to criticism from John Bruton on his comments surrounding the Irish Presidential election, Gerry Adams said: "Mr. Bruton and colleagues should withdraw their criticism and accept that the Irish people whether from the north or the south have a right to stand in this election and that everyone....has a right to express an opinion on who is best suited for the challenging role of Irish President." October 19, 1997: The Dublin government announced that they are initiating an investigation into the leaking of sensitive documents relating to the peace process. Other Developments: The Clinton Administration announced plans for a November visit to the north by Secretary of Commerce Daly. Assistant Commerce Secretary for Trade and Development, Ellis Mottur led a trade mission to the north. During the four-day visit seventeen U.S. business executives met with potential business partners in Belfast and Derry. During the week, three Sinn Fiin Councillors and Siobhan O'Hanlon, a member of the Irish Peace Negotiations delegation were detained in separate incidents by the RUC. Delegate O'Hanlon was returning from Stormont when she was stopped by the RUC and held for over thirty minutes while RUC members read confidential papers related to peace talks committees. Sinn Fiin's President described Ms. O'Hanlon's detainment as "a clear breach of confidentiality." On Sunday a crowd of 500 loyalists angrily abused RUC members and overturned an RUC jeep during a commemoration. The RUC reported that personal files on nationalists that were hidden in the hat of an on-duty RUC member were stolen by loyalists. An RUC spokesman confirmed that a number of people were advised about their personal safety. Sinn Fiin Councillor Gerry McHugh said the incident is worrying: "I am concerned that this information will now be used for targeting purposes." Stopping by a local shopping centre on Monday, Prime Minister Tony Blair was pursued by protesting loyalists shouting "scum" and "traitor." Angry over the Prime Minister's handshake with Gerry Adams, protesters wearing rubber gloves urged the prime minister to "go on back to England" and threw the gloves at him. Continuing their boycott of the talks, DUP Deputy leader, Mr. Peter Robinson, and UK Unionist leader Mr. Nelson McCausland held a rally on Thursday, October 16. The main theme of the rally was uniting unionists against the talks by dividing the Ulster Unionist Party. -end- ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-10.23.97-01:43:09-17757