Sinn Fein is attempting to play down suggestions by a prison leader that the IRA is prepared to consider voluntarily decommissioning weapons. The IRA's "officer commanding" in the Maze prison, Padraic Wilson, told yesterday's Financial Times that, while a hand-over of weapons to the British army and RUC was unlikely, the IRA would consider destroying arms in the presence of independent observers.
At the launch of their party manifesto yesterday, Sinn Fein leaders insisted decommissioning was a matter for the IRA and there were other more important issues to address. Mr Gerry Adams said he couldn't comment on Mr Wilson's remarks as he hadn't studied them.
However, the Financial Times interview with Mr Wilson was arranged through Sinn Fein and it is highly unlikely that his comments were made without the approval of some senior party figures.
Mr Wilson said: "I think a `voluntary' decommissioning would be a natural development of the peace process, once we get a sense that the arrangements envisaged in the agreement are beginning to function." The Belfast Agreement had "sown the seeds for a permanent end to the conflict", he said. "The government of Tony Blair has been qualitatively different to any of its predecessors."
Mr Wilson said the key elements of the republican agenda were the early release of prisoners, RUC reform and effective cross-Border institutions.
He said dissident republican groups opposed to the peace process did not represent a potent military threat. Underlining the major political shift that has taken place in the republican movement, he said: "We haven't arrived at this point without some serious soul-searching. I have my fears and concerns but my gut tells me we should be moving forward." The Financial Times also reported that Sinn Fein officials had indicated to Gen John de Chastelain, head of the international decommissioning body, that the IRA might be willing to destroy its own arms dumps in the presence of independent observers.
The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, gave a guarded welcome to Mr Wilson's remarks. He hoped they meant that republicans were now prepared to "seriously address the issue of decommissioning and co-operate with the international commission to actually carry it out as the agreement requires".
Sinn Fein leaders refused to comment directly on Mr Wilson's remarks.
Mr Adams said his party was interested in taking all the guns out of Irish politics but did not have the authority to say what the IRA would do with its weapons. "The reality is that this is an issue that needs to be dealt with and we are prepared to use our influence but it cannot be allowed to become a blockage." Sinn Fein's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, described decommissioning as "a dead-end issue" and said far too much media attention had been paid to it. He accused the UUP of hyping up the entire matter.
Sinn Fein is fielding 37 candidates in the assembly elections. Mr Adams said he would be pleased if it won 17 seats. While refusing to recommend that Sinn Fein voters transfer to any one particular party, he said supporters should give other later preferences to "pro-dialogue" candidates.
Mr Adams pledged to push the Belfast Agreement to its limits after the election. He said: "Sinn Fein are ready for government. We are ready to plan, with others, the future for the people of Ireland through the Assembly, the executive and the all-Ireland Ministerial Council.
"We want to turn the new institutions into power-houses that will shape a new political future for all the people of this island. We intend to maximise the all-Ireland dimension of the Good Friday Agreement.
"We intend to pursue the establishment of a new policing service, the release of all political prisoners, equity and funding for the Irish language, a new judiciary and a civil service which respects all citizens." The Sinn Fein manifesto asserts that the agreement is part of a "transitional process to Irish unity and independence".
A section on Orange Order parades says organisers must talk to residents and marches should not be forced through areas where they are not wanted.
Sinn Fein also urges the Government to recognise the rights of Irish citizens in the North.