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IRA statement knocks governments

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

“The leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party and the two governments,” it said, had “acted in bad faith.”
“Yet again the two governments are attempting to move the goalposts,” the statement said. “This has caused justifiable anger. It is unacceptable that other protagonists should try to dictate the terms of our cessation. The honoring of agreements is critical in instilling confidence and demonstrating that politics can work.
In an apparent criticism of the Republic’s justice minister, Michael McDowell, the IRA also said there was now an attempt to “criminalize and demonize republicans” for “selfish electoral reasons” and that this would fail.
The statement came just before the start of this year’s loyalist marching season, which has, so far, been relatively peaceful.
The SDLP has appealed to the Orange Order to speak directly to nationalist residents about contentious parades. Sean Farren, its North Antrim assembly man, said: “I look forward to the day when all such matters can be resolved in a spirit of respect for traditions in each section of our community.”
Meanwhile, in the wake of the LVF’s continued erection of paramilitary flags, SDLP spokesperson Martin Morgan has unveiled a seven-point plan to end the “fear of flags,” warning that unless action was taken “we risk another long, hot summer of sectarian hatred.”
Morgan said: “Across Belfast, and across the North, communities are forced to live in the shadows of paramilitary flags and graffiti. These shallow shows of sectarianism bring fear to our streets and spread tension throughout the community.
“We are calling for all the statutory bodies concerned to agree a common strategy for the removal of flags. That should be backed up by a dedicated budget to remove flags. Where necessary, private contractors should be brought in, supported by the police, to get flags taken down.”
Sinn F

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