IRA statement release 'could help process'

The release of the latest IRA statement would give Northern Ireland’s parties a basis for moving the peace process forward, an Assembly member with the Women’s Coalition suggested today.

South Belfast MLA Monica McWilliams called on the provisionals to publish the statement they passed confidentially to the British and Irish governments two weeks ago as the clock counted down towards tonight’s midnight deadline for the dissolution of the Assembly.

As Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams prepared to deliver a keynote address at Stormont, Professor McWilliams said: “The total absence of clarity in this process is causing great anxiety.

“We are asking that the IRA statement be made public because at least that would give us something to work from.

“My gut reaction is that we are so close to a deal, it is within our grasp and we should not let this go.

“If we do, we will be letting people down once again. We will be pushing people further away from the political process and must prevent that from happening.”

With the British government facing a tough judgment call on whether to proceed with Assembly Elections on May 29 in the absence of a political breakthrough, speculation has been mounting at Stormont that republicans may release an IRA statement.

A Stormont source told PA News: “There is a belief that the IRA could be about to do something but nobody is confident it will be enough to revive the process.

“The Ulster Unionists have been very clear that if it is just a disarmament gesture that will be not enough. The IRA will have to declare an end to its private army.”

British and Irish government officials were focusing on what Mr Adams could say at Stormont.

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness fuelled speculation about the Adams speech and the possible release of an IRA statement by hinting yesterday the public would soon know the provisionals’ position.

“It’s my view that the public deserve to have a sense of what the IRA put to the two governments and the leader of the Ulster Unionists (David Trimble),” the Mid Ulster MP said.

“The public are entitled to have a clear understanding of the present situation.

“It will be incumbent on everybody to publish the joint declaration which deals with critical issues around the rights and entitlements of people.”

On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair publicly put three questions to the IRA in a bid to get more clarity from the organisation.

He asked: “When the IRA say that their strategies and disciplines will not be inconsistent with the Good Friday Agreement, does that mean an end to all activities inconsistent with the Good Friday Agreement including targeting, procurement of weapons, so-called punishment beatings and so forth?

“Secondly, when they say that they are committed to putting arms beyond use through the decommissioning commission, does that mean all arms so that the process is complete?

“And thirdly, when they say that they support the Good Friday Agreement and want it to work, does that mean that if the two governments and the other parties fulfil their obligations under the Good Friday Agreement and the joint declaration, does that mean the complete and final closure of the conflict?”

Sinn Fein leaders reacted angrily, insisting that the IRA statement was clear and unambiguous.

Mr McGuinness said it was Sinn Fein’s view that the statement passed confidentially to the two governments was unprecedented, unparalleled and final.

Sinn Fein, the SDLP, Women’s Coalition and anti-Agreement Democratic Unionists have called for the Assembly elections to go ahead regardless of what happens.