SF must be barred from power-sharing, warn unionists

Devolution in Northern Ireland will only return if the nationalist SDLP is prepared to exclude Sinn Fein from power sharing, a hardline Ulster Unionist insisted today.

As sources close to UUP leader David Trimble signalled they would probably stay away from multi-party talks this week, South Antrim MP David Burnside warned the British government unionists would not tolerate “token IRA gestures” in return for concessions to republicans.

“People in the Ulster Unionist Party are totally disillusioned with this process,” Mr Burnside told PA News.

“All the evidence so far is showing the Irish and British Governments are building up a whole raft of concessions to the IRA in return for some tokenism on decommissioning. That is totally unacceptable.

“What everyone should be doing is building up sanctions against IRA/Sinn Fein as they have proven themselves untrustworthy.

“Are we now being told to draw a line through IRA actions in Colombia? Should the break-in in Castlereagh police station last March be forgotten or the arms importation from Florida or, indeed, the Stormontgate spying allegations?

“If anyone in the government thinks a package of concessions to republicans and some form of tokenism will put Humpty Dumpty back together again, they are sorely mistaken.”

Mr Burnside is the second anti-Agreement sceptic in Mr Trimble’s party in recent days to express reservations about the UUP returning to power with Sinn Fein on the back of a third act of IRA disarmament or a statement declaring an end to paramilitary activity.

On Friday, UUP president the Reverend Martin Smyth said unionists would be “foolish” to take the Provisionals at their word and should allow a period of time to elapse before responding to any move from the terror group.

His colleague, David Burnside declared: “I can see no circumstances whatsoever where we can contemplate going into government with IRA/Sinn Fein - especially if there is tokenism.

“The only chance we have of Stormont coming back is if the SDLP is prepared to stand up to IRA/Sinn Fein and withhold support for the return of that part to government.”

Unionists have been pressing since the suspension of devolution last October for the IRA to complete its disarmament process and declare an end to all paramilitary activity including recruiting, training, targeting and importing weapons.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also warned republicans after the discovery of an alleged spy ring at Stormont that their “twin track” approach to the peace process must end, with them choosing between democracy or paramilitarism.

In return, Sinn Fein has been arguing that if the gun is to be removed from Irish politics, the government will have to honour its commitments in the Good Friday Agreement.

As an outline of a deal has started to take shape in London and Dublin, Sinn Fein has told Mr Blair they need more reforms on policing, a comprehensive programme for the dismantling of Army watchtowers, an amnesty for paramilitaries on-the-run and the delivery of commitments on equality, human rights and the Irish language.

Meanwhile Mr Trimble was under fire from nationalists for claiming there was “no value” in this Thursday’s round table meeting of parties on the Good Friday Agreement.

Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin claimed his approach called “into question his commitment to resolving the issues at hand. It also calls into question his willingness or commitment to a May Assembly election“.

Former SDLP Employment and Learning Minister Carmel Hanna accused the UUP leader of having “his head in the sand.

“How else can issues regarding the implementation of the Agreement be dealt with other than by all parties coming around the table?” the South Belfast MLA asked.