February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Ray O’Hanlon
A number of leading Irish American organizations are protesting a spate of recent newspaper editorials that, they say, have been overly critical of Sinn Féin and the IRA.
In a statement that also urges rapid and full implementation of the Good Friday agreement, the organizations, nine in all, state that it of great concern to them that, "in light of continued loyalist violence throughout Northern Ireland, the sole burden for salvaging the peace process at this time continues to be placed on those whose weapons have been silent for many years and on a political party, Sinn Fein, which has clearly used its influence to achieve all the terms of the agreement."
The statement, which has been sent to a number of newspapers, argues that editorials that have sought to burden Sinn Fein with the primary responsibility for salvaging the Northern Ireland peace process were "misguided, ill-informed and, most importantly, counter-productive."
The statement, while acknowledging that removal of all weapons from the Northern Ireland equation was a necessary goal of the Good Friday agreement, argued that it was "inaccurate" to suggest that the agreement required actual arms decommissioning by any paramilitary group.
"The decommissioning of IRA weaponry is being portrayed as the main stumbling block to the implementation of the Good Friday agreement. This is misguided," the statement said.
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The statement has been signed by leaders of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish American Unity Conference, Lawyers Alliance for Justice, Irish Northern Aid, Americans for a New Irish Agenda, the Brehon Law Society, Irish American Republicans, Irish American Democrats and the Irish American Labor Coalition.
"I thought we were past the stage in this country where the IRA is to blame for everything," AOH National President Tom Gilligan said in reference to the statement.
The statement accuses the British government of failing to live up to promises made over a year ago with regard to reform of the RUC and demilitarization.
It calls for such a demilitarization and creation of a civic police force that can command the respect of both communities.
Taking words directly from the GFA, the statement calls for all parties to "work constructively and in good faith with the Independent Commission and to use any influence they may have to achieve the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms," this to be achieved "in the context of the implementation of the overall settlement."
James Gallagher, national president of the IAUC, said: "We are united as never before with the majority of the people of the island of Ireland in demanding politicians produce results not alibis. Where are the results of the loyalist and British commitments."