Sir, - Now that we are beginning a new year, having, with great hope, voted "yes" in last year's referendum on the Good Friday Agreement, I would be grateful for the opportunity to comment on Sinn Fein/IRA's foot-dragging approach to decommissioning. In 1969 the civil rights campaigners had a large measure of sympathy and support from most fair-minded citizens on this island. Indeed, the mean-minded and boorish response by the unionist establishment at the time to reasonable nationalist demands for fair treatment rekindled the aspiration of many for North-South unification. Many people believe that, had the civil-rights campaign not been high-jacked by Sinn Fein/IRA, it would have succeeded in forcing legitimate change many years ago.
Sinn Fein/IRA wasted almost 30 years trying to effect change through violence. I pray they now realise that violence adds no value to society. Their misguided campaign did achieve two aims: it killed off many people's aspiration for unification and it desensitised a whole generation of Irish people. In the early 1970s, to read of a murder caused shock and discussion for days. By the end of the campaign, people had almost learned to scan the gruesome headlines and pass on to the sports pages. What success, what progress.
Regarding the pace of implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, of course I can find fault with much of the unionist prevarication, but being from the "green" constituency I reserve my exhortation for Sinn Fein/IRA. Whether or not decommissioning is of real value in itself is not important. If it can be used as an excuse to hinder progress then it is important and must be got out of the way. If Sinn Fein/IRA genuinely espouse the implementation of the agreement, they should do the right thing and start disposing of weapons. Their concern at possibly being seen to have surrendered just confirms the peabrained quality of so much Northern political thinking over the past three decades.
We want peace, we want the agreement implemented. For all our sakes, please get on with it. - Is mise, Aidan Devon,
Hillcourt Road,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.