Posted by Jim on August 25, 2013
Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness has warned that “the extremes of political
unionism” have been boosted after DUP leader Peter Robinson rejected
plans for a peace centre on the site of the former Long Kesh prison.
In a 12-page diatribe issued from his Florida holiday home last week,
Robinson blamed Sinn Fein for making it impossible to co-operate on the
project.
Martin McGuinness accused the First Minister of “continually feeding the
insatiable appetite of those who see life through a red, white and blue
prism”.
“History is littered with unionist leaders who made this mistake,” he
said.
Unionist hardliners have reiterated demands it be razed to the ground to
prevent it becoming a “shrine” to the Irish republican armed struggle,
and the ten hunger strikers who gave their lives there. There are fears
the historic site could now be bulldozed.
However, the blueprints for the £300 million development of the site
near Lisburn in County Antrim also include a number of large-scale
projects aimed at bringing employment to the predominately unionist
area.
Last Saturday, Mr McGuinness told a commemoration for IRA Volunteer and
former Sinn Fein vice-president John Joe McGirl in Balinamore, County
Leitrim, that Robinson’s apparent u-turn was a mistake.
“It is a mistake not just because it jeopardises much-needed investment
and jobs, but also for the message it sends to the vast majority of
people — nationalist and unionist — who are rock solid behind the
peace process,” he said.
“Some in the extremes of political unionism believe that they can unpick
the Good Friday Agreement — moves like this give them succour.”
Mr McGuinness said the DUP decision ignored the fact that the vast
majority of unionists wanted to see the peace process succeed.
“They are not interested in re-fighting battles that are long over or
harking back to a time that has long gone,” he said.
“They want to see their political leaders get on with the job of
reconciliation and delivering in the government.”
He also argued many unionists were “embarrassed by the antics” of
loyalists who attacked police in Belfast city centre riots earlier this
month.
TALKS
Commenting on the forthcoming round table talks to be chaired by former
US envoy Richard Haass, Mr McGuinness said Sinn Fein would use the
discussions to further underpin the north’s political institutions.
“We want to see agreement on parades, on flags and emblems and on
dealing with the legacy of the past,” he said.
“The Haass talks are not about replacing the Parades Commission to
satisfy the demands of the Orange Order.”
The deputy first minister said he was “entirely comfortable” with
unionists seeking to express a British identity in a “sensible and
non-confrontational fashion”.
“Likewise I expect them to acknowledge and recognise my Irishness in the
same spirit – I do not believe that is too much to ask or expect,” he
said.
But the DUP’s Edwin Poots hit back at Mr McGuinness’s criticisms and
accused the deputy first minister of “absolute hypocrisy and cheek”.
“He needs to stop blaming everyone else for the action taken on the Maze
and wake up to the reality that his party and their actions are
responsible for the lack of confidence that any peace centre can be a
shared space,” he said.
Meanwhile, SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell claimed the public spat
between the two biggest parties at Stormont had soured the political
process.
“Last week we saw how Peter Robinson, viewing the mob violence in
Belfast from his American holiday, played to the gallery of unionist
extremism and made a funda-mental U-turn on the Maze in a bid to appease
this minority,” the South Belfast MP said.
“Now days later we see his deputy, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness,
similarly move to appease his party who are obviously demanding an angry
response over the airwaves.”
Posted by admin on August 24, 2013
The following is the full prepared text of the speech delivered by
Martin McGuinness to the John Joe McGirl Commemoration, Ballinamore,
County Leitrim, on Saturday 17th August.
When people mention the town of Balinamore, the inevitably mention John
Joe McGirl.
John Joe epitomised everything that is good about our struggle.
Be it his involvement in the IRA in the 1930s, to his leadership role in
the Border Campaign, or his election to Leinster House, or his key part
in reorganising Republicanism in the early 1970s, or his decisive
contribution in 1986, John Joe always led from the front.
He was, and he remains for Republicans, not just here in Leitrim, or the
border, but across our country, an inspirational leader.
25 years on from the time we laid John Joe to rest he continues to
inspire.
Why is this?
It is because John Joe knew about struggle.
He knew about strategy.
He knew what it meant to carry the burden and the responsibility
leadership and he knew that at all time the struggle needed to move
forward.
He also knew about our past – but he was never a hostage to it.
He was a County Councillor from 1960 up until the time of his death,
during years when for some Republicans electoralism was a bad word.
Not for John Joe. He knew that popularising our struggle and making it
relevant to people was the way we would bring about Irish reunification
and freedom.
He didn’t fear carrying the Republican message of freedom and justice
and peace into political institutions – indeed it was John Joe and
people like him who led the way for the people like me coming behind
him.
Partition was an injustice and it was an injustice that John Joe
committed his entire adult life to ending.
And it is an injustice that we remain committed to ending today.
The past few weeks have not been good weeks for the political process in
the north.
The peace process needs political leaders with the skills and craft of
John Joe McGirl at this time.
Political unionism needs to realise that nothing can be gained by
continually feeding the insatiable appetite of those who see life
through a red, white and blue prism. They are violently opposed to this
process because at the heart of it they are opposed to Equality.
History is littered with unionist leaders who made this mistake.
I have never been selective in condemning and challenging violent
attacks on the peace process from whatever quarter. I do not look over
my shoulder, my face and the face of this party is firmly focused on the
future.
And I believe that the future will be better than the past.
The history of our Peace Process tells any observer one thing.
When Republicans make agreements – we implement them.
This week’s decision by the DUP to abandon the agreement reached on the
future development of the Maze/Long Kesh site is a mistake.
It is a mistake not just because it jeopardises much needed investment
and jobs, but also for the message it sends to the vast majority of
people –nationalist and unionist – who are rock solid behind the peace
process.
Some in the extremes of political unionism believe that they can unpick
Good Friday Agreement. Moves like this give them succour.
However it ignores the political reality and ignores the fact that the
vast majority of unionists want to see this process succeed. They are
not interested in re-fighting battles that are long over, or harking
back to a time that has long gone.
They want to see their political leaders get on with the job of
reconciliation and delivering in the government.
They are embarrassed by the antics of the thugs who attacked the police
in recent weeks in Belfast while wrapped in the Union flag.
The Orange State that I grew up in is gone – and most sensible unionists
realise that is a good thing – it is time that political unionism woke
up to this reality.
So the choice for unionism is very clear – come a share power on the
basis of equality and real partnership – and when you do that you will
find genuine nationalist and republican partners – or pander to
rejectionists who abhor equality, fairness and parity of esteem.
Richard Haas will come to Ireland next month to chair all-party
discussions. We will approach these talks with the objective of
advancing the peace process and further underpinning the political
institutions.
We want to see agreement on parades, on flags and emblems and on dealing
with the legacy of the past. The Haas talks are not about replacing the
Parades Commission to satisfy the demands of the Orange Order.
I am entirely comfortable with unionists seeking to express a British
identity in a sensible and non-confrontational fashion.
Likewise I expect them to acknowledge and recognise my Irishness in the
same spirit. I do not believe that is too much to ask or expect.
The Haas talks can succeed if everyone approaches them in this spirit.
Confidence in the political process can be built. Progress on difficult
issues can be made. But we cannot do this on our own. There needs to be
unionists who are willing to be partners in peace.
John Joe McGirl would have understood well the events of the past month.
He would not have been surprised.
He would also have understood well the plight of many young people
across this island, especially in this region, once again facing the
prospect of emigration.
Partition has distorted the economy of this and other areas.
The best way for the people of Leitrim to honour the memory of John Joe
McGirl is to work harder to deliver on what he worked for – a real
Republic, a united Ireland based on the principles of equality and
social justice for all. For counties like Leitrim and towns like
Ballinmore, all-Ireland cooperation is key to economic development and
job creation.
For the republicans of Leitrim, I would say that if you wish to ensure
John Joe McGirl’s legacy is maintained and built upon you need to build
and organise Sinn Féin throughout this county and increase the party’s
representation at all levels.
That is the path John Joe set us on 60 years ago. It is a path which
offers a peaceful and democratic way to a United Ireland.
There are Local and European elections next year. This provides a real
opportunity to increase the Sinn Fein representation on Leitrim County
council and to elect a Sinn Féin MEP in the north west constituency.
I would call on the people of Ballinamore and of Leitrim to get behind
the Sinn Féin EU candidate Matt Carthy. It’s time to put a voice into
Europe that will stand up for the ordinary people of this region.
In 1957 at the gravesides of those killed at Edentubber, John Joe McGirl
said “The tragedy which brought to a sudden end the lives of five great
Irishmen is a tragedy of the Irish nation, the tragedy of an Ireland
that is unfree and divided. These men came from the North and the South
to join together to end the tragedy of our nation and her people.’
This generation of Irish Republicans have ended the conflict, we have
put in place a political process and strategy which can end partition,
division and inequality.
We need to always move ahead along that road. I believe that we are up
to the task. We have an opportunity to realise the objective for which
John Joe dedicated his life.
A united, independent Irish Republic is not rhetoric for us, it is a
real and live political project which, if we are prepared to work hard
and win even more people to our objective, will be achieved. That is a
responsibility we all share.
Go raibh maith against go léir.
