Sir, - I find recent statements by some nationalist politicians and journalists on the issue of decommissioning paramilitary weapons very disturbing. It would seem that they don't draw any moral distinction between the demand by unionists for a start to decommissioning and the refusal of the IRA to decommission. During the referendum campaign on the Good Friday Agreement, Bob McCartney and some other unionist politicians warned correctly that the agreement could allow the representatives of paramilitary organisations into an Northern Ireland executive without any decommissioning. At that time those unionist politicians were accused of using scare tactics in order to bring about the rejection of the agreement.
However, when it became apparent that many unionists had come to except McCartney's analysis, the British Prime Minister intervened in the last days of the referendum campaign. Tony Blair reassured Mr Trimble and unionists in general that actual decommissioning would have to start once the agreement had been ratified. However, at that time I don't remember the SDLP or any nationalist politicians disavowing Mr Blair's statement. Having stayed silent during that crucial time of debate within unionism, I think it a little disingenuous of nationalist politicians to now imply that unionists are as uncompromising on the issue of decommissioning as republicans.
While there may be some dispute as to when decommissioning must begin, the agreement states clearly that it must be completed within two years. Yet, on three occasions the Republican movement has stated that it will never decommission its weapons. It surely follows from that declaration that republicans are in direct violation of a fundamental requirement of the agreement. - Yours, etc., Tony Moriarty,
Shanid Park, Kenilworth Park, Dublin 6W.