Moves on to kickstart Ulster peace process

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JAN. 31. The now-off-now-on Northern Ireland peace process could be up and running again if fresh proposals being discussed get a nod from everyone.

After many months during which moderates were seen to be losing the initiative there is optimism that a breakthrough is possible, though a more cautious view is that ``real'' progress may not be apparent until after the general elections in May.

Broadly, the proposal envisages a symbolic beginning on arms decommissioning by the IRA in exchange for reduced British security presence in Northern Ireland. The Unionists are reported to be willing to take a more flexible view of the mode of arms decommissioning, and not insist on laying down of arms by the IRA or their physical destruction.

The Ulster Unionist Party chief, Mr. David Trimble, has said that he would be satisfied so long as arms were rendered ``unusable in a permanent and verifiable way.'' This could take the form of burying them deeply or spoiling them with chemicals. ``I think the Government may have put proposals to them and I know the Irish Government has put pressure on them. We hope they're going to tell us how they're going to put their weapons beyond use in a permanent and verifiable way,'' Mr. Trimble said on BBC's Breakfast with Frost.

The new Secretary for Northern Ireland, Mr. John Reid, is holding talks with leading political figures from the province to familarise himself with the law of the land, and the Irish Prime Minister, Mr. Bertie Ahern, is flying down to London to discuss the compromise proposals with Mr. Tony Blair, and Mr. Reid. Mr. Ahern has played down reports of a ``deal'' but raised hopes of a compromise on decommissioning and reducing British security presence in Northern Ireland. The demilitarisation - scaling down security - might involve the demolition of two watchtowers to which the Sinn Fein and IRA have been objecting. A compromise on a new policing arrangement is also likely to be a part of the ``deal.''

Mr. Trimble, who is under pressure from party extremists to pull out of the coalition if there is no progress on decommissioning, is particularly keen on an early breakthrough. The Sinn Fein, though veering towards an agreement, is publicly taking a tough posture, with hardliners saying that Mr. Trimble is playing to the gallery. But The Sunday Times quoted a Republican source as saying that the IRA is ``prepared'' to make a move and does not want to ``lose this peace process.'' The newspaper said the compromise proposals were reported to have been ``sanctioned... in principle'' at a meeting of senior IRA members.

The Government is playing it by the ear saying that while things are moving, it is best to keep fingers crossed until an agreement is reached. If indeed a breakthrough is achieved, the former Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr. Peter Mandelson, could legitimately claim some credit for doing the spade work.

Meanwhile, a court has held as illegal the Ulster Unionists' ban on the Sinn Fein Ministers attending cross-border ministerial meetings. Mr. Trimble has said he would challenge the verdict, but observers said he might not rush into it immediately in view of the attempts going on to break the deadlock. But if the attempts fail he would come under increased pressure from hardliners to appeal against the judgment.

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Section  : International
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