IRA issues fresh warning on peace process
The IRA has released a fresh statement warning London and Dublin not to underestimate the seriousness of the current peace process situation.
Irish state broadcaster RTE disclosed the contents of the second statement last night.
On Wednesday, the IRA announced it had withdrawn its offer to enter into a “new mode” of decommissioning – after it was blamed repeatedly for carrying out the £26.5m Northern Bank raid in Belfast in December.
In 2004, the IRA carried out three acts of weapons decommissioning and said it would honour the ceasefire. But links to the December 20th bank raid have led some to question its intention of giving up criminality and violence.
The new statement said: “The two governments are trying to play down the importance of our statement because they are making a mess of the peace process.
“Do not underestimate the seriousness of the situation.”
Irish Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, said the latest statement was “tantamount to a threat against the Irish people and its state”.
The statement came as the Independent Monitoring Commission handed its report on the robbery to the British and Irish governments; the contents are expected to be made public next week.
The IMC is expected to back Ulster Chief Constable Hugh Orde’s belief that the terror group orchestrated the heist.
The IRA vehemently rejects the allegations. The Sinn Fein leadership have said they believe the IRA, claiming the allegations are an attempt to smear the party.
After a meeting the Tony Blair on Thursday, Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said it behoved the IRA to put its weapons beyond use for good as the issue was not about “confrontation” but ending “criminality”.
“[The IRA] have to accept that is what is dealing a great blow at the moment, both to the peace process and the political process in Northern Ireland,” he said.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan interpreted the IRA’s stance as saying “don’t dare criticise us or question us or the peace process gets it”.
“The IRA is in no position to lecture governments or anyone else about making a mess of the peace process,” he said.
After talks with the Prime Minister yesterday, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said the leaders had concurred that the IRA’s withdrawal ought to be treated with “contempt”.
“It underlines the fact that bringing extremists to the centre stage to resolve problems does not work.”
But, both the British and Irish governments downplayed the chances of the IRA returning to violence.
Downing Street said IRA criminal and paramilitary activity was the “sole” obstacle to a lasting peace settlement in the province.
