IRA: Photographs would be a humiliation – but peace possible
A total end to IRA activities and the destruction of all arms is on the cards, but the taking of photographs is unacceptable and would be a humiliation.
The declaration from the IRA has come in a statement to the Republican newspaper An Phoblacht, following Wednesday’s publication of the negotiating documents for a final settlement in Northern Ireland.
In a joint press conference last night, the UK and Irish prime ministers presented a united front as they sought to stress how close they had come to a final deal and peace settlement in Northern Ireland.
Tony Blair told the assembled media that there had been “remarkable” progress and agreement on a number of issues. This includes that: arms would be decommissioned – in front of independent observers; that the DUP would agree to share power and Republican involvement in the policing service of Northern Ireland.
But the sticking point remained DUP leader Ian Paisley’s insistence that there should be the publication of photographic evidence of the IRA’s decommissioning of weapons. The IRA viewed this as unacceptable and an attempt to force a humiliating surrender.
And the compromise had been mooted by the British and Irish governments that photographs should be taken, but not published until the devolved assemblies were again active.
However, this could not be agreed – although both leaders were keen to stress that there had been no “bad faith” during the negotiating process and pay tribute to the “political courage” of the negotiating parties.
In response, the IRA said that photographic evidence had never been on the cards. It pointed to its commitment to “support a comprehensive agreement by moving into a new mode which reflects our determination to see the transition to a totally peaceful society”.
It also states that all “volunteers” would be instructed not to engage in activity that might endanger the agreement, that all weapons would be “verifiably” put beyond use – if possible by the end of December, and that: “To further enhance public confidence we agreed to the presence of two clergymen as observers during this process.”
On the issue of photographs, it said: “For his part, Ian Paisley demanded that our contribution be photographed, and reduced to an act of humiliation. This was never possible. Knowing this, he made this demand publicly as the excuse for his rejection of an overall agreement to create a political context with the potential to remove the causes of conflict.”
Negotiations between the British and Irish governments and Sinn Fein and the DUP will continue, with the governments hoping a way can be found around the impasse.
