BY TONY HUNT
LONDON - An agreement was reached December 18 to establish
new political structures governing British-occupied Northern
Ireland, as well as new all-Ireland bodies. The deal struck
between pro-British Unionists and Irish nationalists comes
after months of delaying tactics by Unionists over the
implementation of the April 10, 1998, Belfast Agreement, which
registered the advances made by the struggle for Irish freedom.
However, the Ulster Unionist Party, (UUP) indicated January 12
that the deal should merely be "acknowledged," delaying its
ratification.
The deal, which also has to be approved by the British and Irish Parliaments, would establish 10 local government departments or ministries under the jurisdiction of the new Northern Ireland Assembly established by the Belfast Agreement. These will be evenly divided between Unionists and nationalists. Sinn Fein, the party leading the fight for a united Ireland, will be allocated two of these ministries based on the size of their vote in elections to the assembly. Also agreed to are six all-Ireland "implementation" bodies, including one on Irish language, and there was an agreement on six areas "for cooperation."
In an article January 8, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said the December 18 agreement marked progress. But he had "considerable reservations." In December he criticized the Unionists and the reformist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) - the largest nationalist party - for blocking the creation of a Department of Equality. Discrimination against Catholics has been one of the hallmarks of British rule for centuries and, in particular, of the Northern Ireland statelet since its creation nearly 80 years ago. This discrimination is systematically reinforced by the British rulers to keep the area within the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist Party leader and First Minister-designate David Trimble continued to insist that Sinn Fein will be excluded from the assembly's "shadow" executive unless the Irish Republican Army (IRA) begin surrendering weapons. Trimble was speaking after the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) - a rightist death-squad - carried out a stage- managed "decommissioning" of a small quantity of weapons, reportedly to put pressure on the IRA to do likewise.
The IRA is maintaining a cease-fire in its armed campaign against British occupation of the six northern counties and for the unification of Ireland. But the IRA rejects turning over its weapons as long as the British troops and the pro-British Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) police force remain. A December 11 statement by the IRA reiterated this stance.
Meanwhile, British prime minister Anthony Blair rejected calls from another Unionist, John Taylor, and from the opposition Conservatives to stop the release of political prisoners until the IRA gives up weapons. The Conservative demands marked a break from the usual bipartisanship on Ireland among capitalist parties in London.
Rightist provocations continue
The Orange Order and other right-wing "loyalist"
organizations have continued their thuggery and intimidation
aimed at Catholics, as the prospect of Irish unity edges
closer. The Orange Order's campaign to march through
nationalist areas has led to more than 300 attacks on Catholic
homes and four murders this year. Five thousand right-
wingers - half the number expected -rallied December 19 in
Portadown. They were banned from marching down the nationalist
Garvaghy Road by the Parades Commission, a ban enforced by a
barricade erected by British troops. Some 200 nationalist
residents stood in protest as the triumphalist march went by.
In July the Orange Order had been humiliated when its attempt to force its way through the nationalist area disintegrated. It has, however, maintained a camp at the entrance to the Garvaghy Road area to this day. A color party from the Ulster Volunteer Force - another death squad - participated in the December 19 event.
The sectarian parades and violent assaults by loyalists on Catholics continued throughout the holiday period.
On December 12 the loyalist Apprentice Boys shut down the city center in Derry, an overwhelmingly nationalist city, with a sectarian parade. The rightists had rejected efforts to reach an agreement with the local Bogside Residents Group. Violent clashes between the RUC and nationalists continued for several hours after the parade. Another right-wing death squad reemerged late November called the Orange Volunteers. They said they would target for assassination released nationalist political prisoners.
Sinn Fein has begun a campaign of street protests calling for the disbanding of the RUC. Further evidence emerged December 1 of the collusion between the sectarian force and death-squads. At the inquest for Terry Enright, a Catholic killed by the LVF, it was revealed that the gun used belonged to British occupying forces. The Sinn Fein street actions have been attacked by the RUC.
Meetings in nationalist areas of a commission to review policing in Northern Ireland, set up under the April 10 agreement, have been the scene of "overwhelming opposition" to the RUC according to The Times.
In an interview with The Times published December 21, RUC chief constable Ronald Flanagan attacked Sinn Fein's campaign and ruled out the ending of the force. In a desperate effort to recruit Catholics, and defend its existence, the RUC has ended the requirement for new recruits to swear allegiance to the British monarch. The Union Flag - the symbol of the United Kingdom - is no longer flown at the RUC training center or on public holidays in Northern Ireland.
At the same time, RUC thugs have stepped up assaults on nationalists. The latest attack came January 10 on a Gaelic sports team and its supporters. One nationalist had his arm broken.