INLA prisoners in Portlaoise jail have called for a new talks process which would include their political spokesmen, the Irish Republican Socialist Party. The prisoners said that the current process was "bogus" and gave no indication of support for an early ceasefire.
Speaking after a meeting with the prisoners in Portlaoise, the IRSP spokesman, Mr Kevin McQuillan, said that the current process had "patently failed" and the Irish and British governments and the other parties should have the honesty to admit this.
"We want to see a new process being brought about, a process that all the parties involved in this conflict could give their commitment to and one that will see dialogue as the route, and the only route, to bringing about a resolution of the British problem in Ireland", he said.
Asked if the INLA was observing an unofficial ceasefire, Mr McQuillan added: "We have encouraged them not to recommence what would be termed all-out aggression or an all-out campaign, because we think it's important that we should be given the opportunity to try and broaden the dialogue with a viewpoint to eventually bringing about a process that all people could get involved in."
But the prisoners - while saying that, in the event of all-inclusive talks, they would urge the INLA to support the IRSP's entry into talks - called on the leadership to maintain its current position, which reserves the right to "defence and retaliation".
The INLA has been engaging in a propaganda "show of strength" in recent days. The organisation released pictures, one of which was published in yesterday's Irish News, showing masked members displaying their weapons in west Belfast.
The pictures of the INLA members were taken in an entry off the Falls Road. According to the INLA, its members were photographed while they were "patrolling" the area. In tandem with the "show of strength", pro-INLA graffiti have appeared in west Belfast.
Mr McQuillan said that the INLA, by engaging in this action, had made it very clear that it was "still in business". He told the Irish News that his party had been able to gauge a tangible rise in support for its critical analysis of the peace process as "bogus" and had simultaneously noted a rise in support for the INLA across Belfast.
The fact that Mr McQuillan is calling for a new political talks structure may derive from the fact that, under the rules for the present talks, the IRSP could not participate in the process.
The top 10 parties elected to the Forum are entitled to participate in talks. The IRSP, however, did not contest the Forum election. It has not competed in any recent elections and has no elected representatives.
Last year the INLA was riven by internal feuding, which claimed the lives of six people, including a nine-year-old girl, Barbara McAlorum.