Second report by the IMC.
national |
rights, freedoms and repression |
opinion/analysis 
Tuesday July 20, 2004 16:45
by Shinner
British are failing to demilitarise.
The second report of the IMC published today shows the high levels of troops that still exist in the 6 counties.
In the North the troop levels currently stand at 15,000. This compared with the 8,500 troops committed to Iraq, which is a war zone. If the situation is to be truly normalised in the North then these numbers must be drastically reduced immediately.
The report also notes that the British are still flying helicopters for some 16,500 hours. They (army) are still being stationed in police stations.
In areas such as South Armagh soldiers are still involved in the systematic harassment of the local residents. They still man 10 watchtowers along the border. They still maintain 24 military installations across the 6 counties.
One of the most important elements of the GFA for republicans was the commitment of the British to demilitarise. Despite the fact that those republican guns have been silent for 7 years the British have singularly failed to live up to their commitments. Republicans cannot continue to live up to their side of the agreement only for the British to ignore their responsibilities.
Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4This is all very well but the main problem confronting the Irish people is the war in Iraq.
I agree, People must go out on the streets and campaign both for withdrawal from Iraq and the 6 Counties, anything else would be hypocritical.
Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. The Party intellectual knows in which direction his memories must be altered; he therefore knows that he is playing tricks with reality; but by the exercise of doublethink he also satisfies himself that reality is not violated. The process has to be conscious, or it would not be carried out with sufficient precision, but it also has to be unconscious, or it would bring with it a feeling of falsity and hence of guilt.
EAMON THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE NORTH AND IT HAS TO BE SORTED OUT
Unfortunately there is a problem with negotiating with the various Unionist factions. That is when you go anywhere beneath the surface you get sectarian bigots.
The Britsih are in effect cantonalising the North. Where there are Nationalist/Republican majorities it is "powersharing". Everywhere else e.g. Lisburn it is the same old samo. Anyway I fail to see how sharing "power" with right wingers of all hues does much good. E,g electing mayors who want to close down playgrounds etc. to save money.Look at the attempt of the DUP mayor of Derry to close a bridge. Oh sorry that is what Bairbre De Brun was neatly trapped into doing.
On the orange marchs. I simply say oppose them everywhere. It they are culture so is wifebeating and female circumcision. Allowing them is on a par with Reagans visit to a waffen SS graveyard.
Jim Monaghan
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