RNU Reacts to Talks Setback

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Thursday January 28, 2010 01:05 by Ardoyne Republican - Republican Network for Unity (RNU)

The REPUBLICAN NETWORK for UNITY (RNU) spokesperson, DANNY MCBREARTY, commenting on today’s events at Stormont said:

“RNU finds itself in unlikely agreement with the description of Gerry Adams last Saturday, who noted that if, the Stormont ‘institutions are not working and not delivering-then they become pointless…no self respecting public representative or political party would want to be part of what would be nothing less than a charade.’

“Today’s’ flight of the prime ministers, distancing themselves from the talks, signals that not even a compromised Stormont ministry with a unionist veto over its minister and mechanisms to ease the way for Orange feet to march down nationalist roads would be granted .

“Republicans were urged to endorse the British constabulary and told that the administration of the Crown constabulary and courts through a compromised Stormont ministry would somehow be a major transition away from British rule. A much delayed deal loomed, by virtue or perhaps more accurately by lack of virtue in the Robinson household, by the desire of the DUP to avoid being led into Stormont elections against the TUV, and the willingness of some nationalists to see others trampled upon by sectarian Orange marchers. It now appears that the DUP has opted to ally itself with the UUP and Conservatives and assure favored treatment from the next British government.

“We challenge Republicans to look at how much has been given up to achieve so little. A watered down Stormont ministry, like the structures of constabulary boards and partnerships erected has not made the British constabulary accountable but merely made Sinn Fein accomplices in imposing British rule and law. The European Court has recently condemned the use of Section 44 searches as a repressive violation of rights. Republicans, their families and children continue to be victimized by these searches while the timid scripted questions at board meetings are dismissed by the British constabulary chief and touted by the British as a visible show of Irish endorsement for such repression.

“Behind the cosmetic façade and charade the British have imposed 28 day mini-internment, used release on license as a license to lock-up at will in the case of Terry McCafferty, continued Diplock courts, and constructed a supergrass wing at Maghaberry, and fired CS gas and plastic bullets. No doubt many Republicans will witness such measures first hand if Orange marches are facilitated in their streets.

“Will Sinn Fein continue to be part of this charade?