Sinn Fein's green light to policing
Sinn Fein's special conference on policing is meeting at the RDS in Dublin. Our correspondents there are estimating that the party will vote overwhelmingly in support of the -- with something in the region of 80 per cent in favour. The motion will give Gerry Adams and his leadership team the right to publicly signal support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
We will know the final voting by early evening, then all eyes will be on the DUP to see how they respond. Will Ian Paisley choose words that recognise an historic step-forward and acknowledge how difficult this motion will be for many Republicans? Or will he goad SinnFein for taking so long to get with the democratic programme, call them "slow learners" and demand even more from the Republican movement before there can be progress? A response that lies somewhere between those two positions is probably more likely: an acknowledgment that the Republican movement has taken an important step forward, a cautious reception of the movement as a promisory note of sorts, and a challenge to "deliver" action in addition to words. The action required to prove that Sinn Fein is serious would involve, for example, general and specific statements from Sinn Fein leaders encouraging nationalists to report crime to the police and assist the police with criminal investigations.
Meanwhile, the current transitional Assembly is to be dissolved on Tuesday, with a view to an election on March 7th and a new executive in place by March 26th. The clock is ticking.
Comments
The clock may be ticking for the very basis of our democracy if we are so morally bankrupt as to accept the provisional embrace of Sinn Fein/IRA for policing.
Words mean little when it comes to assessing Republican intent. As I point out on ATW, Republican words of commitment to the Mitchell Principles didn't stop the planning and execution of the Canary Wharf murders.
Perhaps the thoughtful point upon which to muse, and a point which I fear the MSM will entirely overlook is this; Why is support for policing conditional upon anything? If republicans believe in the rule of law - which I suggest they do not - then they would already be supporting policing. The reality is they believe in a hybrid and conditional form of law and order, in which their terror structure is retained. If ordinary people swallow such perversion of the basic tenets of democracy, then perhaps having Mr Gerry Kelly or his ilk as Justice Minister will be their due reward?