Peace process - Unionists can’t keep stalling

DESPITE the scepticism from some quarters — unionists in general and the DUP in particular — which greeted the IRA’s statement that they had ended the armed struggle, the fact remains that the organisation will be scrutinised by two independent bodies which will be able to audit their intent.

One is General John De Chastelain's International Independent Commission on Decommissioning, with a provision that Catholic and Protestant clergymen will be invited to attend acts of decommissioning.

The second is the Independent Monitoring Commission, comprised of representatives of the Irish, British and US governments, which will deliver reports next October and January.

As well as those monitoring bodies, both Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have been unequivocal in their insistence that decommissioning of IRA weapons will be completed quickly.

An indication of how the IRA's earnestness is viewed by the security forces can be gauged from the fact that the British army moved within 24 hours to begin its programme of security normalisation.

It was the joint decision of Lieutenant General Sir Reddy Watt, the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland, and PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde that, in light of Thursday's declaration, that a further reduction in security profile was possible.

Preliminary work commenced yesterday in south Armagh on the removal of the hilltop observation tower at Sugarloaf Hill, on the vacating and closure of the base at Forkhill, and on the removal of a look-out post at Newtownhamilton police station.

That development drew instant unionist criticism. The DUP's Arlene Foster described it as "criminally irresponsible", while Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy said it was "absolutely outrageous".

They seemed to have forgotten, or ignored, the unprecedented move made by the IRA, or else they expected it to happen in a vacuum.

It is significant that the two most senior security figures vested the declaration with sufficient credibility as to begin dismantling some of the military installations, especially in the sensitive area of south Armagh.

Although unionist criticism of that decision may be symptomatic of the siege mentality, it may also be construed as unionist apathy towards the concerns of the nationalist and republican community.

It may have escaped the notice of the wider unionist population that violence, including murder and criminality, is not the domain solely of republicans.

While the IRA has vowed to pursue its objectives through democratic and purely political means, armed loyalists remain an inherent threat to peace and there is remarkably little pressure on them to do what is expected of the IRA.

The Ulster Volunteer Force and the Loyalist Volunteer Force are engaged in a feud which has resulted in murders, shootings and punishment beatings which would outrival in recent years anything for which the IRA was held responsible.

Such is the violence in some areas that several

Protestant families have been driven to move out of their neighbourhoods in dread of their lives.

Last weekend Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine was quoted as saying that the feud was going to get worse, and also revealed that the UVF had abandoned, at least for the time being, any move to embrace peace, as the IRA has.

Yet unionist leaders of all shades are seemingly more worried about republicans' commitment to the stand-down than the relentless violence their own communities are subjected to by loyalist paramilitaries.

DUP leader Ian Paisley is a potent figure in the political landscape of the North, but his obsession with the IRA currently prevents him from seeing hope instead of being blinded by suspicion.

Little is heard from him on the criminality of loyalist groups, yet he is in a powerful position of influence to vociferously condemn it.

Instead, his negativity prompts him to unreasonably, and mischievously, demand photographs of decommissioning acts which will be witnessed by an internationally respected commission.

Given previous statements from the IRA, it is understandable that Mr Paisley is somewhat sceptical of this week's announcement, yet a perpetual condition of scepticism will retard any possibility of progress towards permanent peace in the North.

Ultimately, that must be the objective, and it represents the wishes of the vast majority of people on this island that it be achieved.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan was quite right when, after a meeting with the Taoiseach yesterday, he insisted that the DUP must not be allowed to delay talks on the restoration of the North's political institutions.

He was also right to insist that Sinn Féin get involved in the new policing arrangements as there could not be a "twilight zone" between criminality and law.

For the North ever to arrive at a state of permanent peace, there must be a cessation of violence in all quarters and a recognition that there can be only one police force and that one force is entitled to cross-community support.