[net.nlang.celts] New British Peace Initiatives in Northern Ireland

jmm@bonnie.UUCP (Joe Mcghee) (08/28/84)

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	A new bill which would set a timetable for British withdrawal from
Ireland, based largely on the Palestine Act of 1948, is being drafted by
Tony Benn, Labour MP (member of Parliament) for Chesterfield, England and
a supporter of Irish unity. His decision to introduce the measure stems from
a conviction that current British policy for Ireland is ill-conceived and
unworkable. At Westminster he recently said:

		"Power sharing, direct rule, internment without trial,
	anti-terrorism measures and talks with the Free State (Irish
	government), all avoid the central issue of partition."

	Mr. Benn's father and grandfather were also members of Parliament and
also opposed harsh measures by the British government in Ireland in the past.
As he sees it:

		"What we are maintaining there is a curious sort of cul-de-sac
	(dead end) frontier of NATO. I am absolutely certain that if the Free
	State (Ireland) were to join NATO... the whole argument would change
	in 24 hours, and the veto (against Irish unity) would simply melt away."

	Benn will be working on the draft of his bill over the next few
months. Essentially it will contain a central statement of intent to withdraw,
not later than a specified date, and will contain normal provisions for law
and order and financial support.

		"Once this is made clear, I think an awful lot of discussion
	will begin. I think there would be overwhelming support in Britain for
	such a bill. I certainly don't think there are many people in Britain
	who believe that the problem will be solved with existing policies,
	nor do I think the majority of people in Britain want us to remain in
	northeast Ireland."

	He accepts, however, that the shock effects of Britain's declaration
of intent to withdraw will be quite dramatic.

		"But I believe that the issue will be faced - the Protestant
	leadership know they will have to turn their mind quite rapidly to an
	accomodation with the nationalists in the north. I think even in
	Northern Ireland Protestants believe, quite correctly, that the
	British establishment will ultimately go. Even Labour ministers would
	say privately that they knew in the end there could only be unity, but
	it would be dangerous to talk about it openly".

..........................................................................

	The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), the political wing of the
loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), recently called for a
ceasefire between "conflicting parties", a withdrawal to barracks of British
troops, and an all-party conference to discuss a settlement in northeast
Ireland.
	The group has made similar suggestions before, but its latest
statement comes as talks are anticipated between the Official Unionists
(OUP - loyalist) and the Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP - nationalist).
The last part of the statement, calling for a phased amnesty for prisoners,
reflects the concern now felt in loyalist paramilitary circles about the
numbers jailed, largely as a result of the "supergrass" (paid informer)
system.
	The party says there is no chance of ending the conflict without a
determination by all political groups "to secure a political framework that
would basically recognize the needs of the common people throughout the
whole community."
	It adds:
		"The PUP calls for the support of all political parties and
	paramilitary groups to obtain a way forward through a four-point plan:
	1. There should be a ceasefire of all the conflicting parties;
	2. British troops should be withdrawn to barracks in northeast
	   Ireland;
	3. The RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) should be accepted as a
	   police force; and
	4. There should be an all-party conference convened by the British
	   government."
		"The PUP recognizes that such a conference should take place
	without agenda preconditions. The PUP, however, indicates that any
	political initiative designed to bring about broad agreement and
	community reconciliation would be a failure without agreement to
	open negotiations surrounding the issue of a phased political
	amnesty as an essential ingredient to any settlement."


					bonnie!jmm
					J. M. McGhee