Sir - While the resolution of the Northern Ireland conflict will have to be unique to Ireland, aspects of other peace processes worldwide may be useful in urging the peace process forward. The El Salvadoran peace process between the insurgent body and the government had a strict timescale for its gradual implementation. There were also two overseeing bodies to verify the various accords, one a United Nations body and the other an internal grouping consisting of all elected political tendencies within the country.
The main thrust of the demilitarisation or decommissioning process was the gradual civilianisation of the insurgent body. Within five months 20 per cent of them were reincorporated into civilian life and within 10 months no fewer than 80 per cent.
The handing over of insurgent weaponry to the UN body took place in parallel to the UN body took place in parallel to the demilitarisation process but the emphasis was always not so much on the handing over of armaments - which can be renewed at any stage - but on the reinsertion of former combatants into civilian and democratic life.
This approach may be relevant to the Irish peace process. - Yours, etc.,
Brendan Butler,
Swords, Co Dublin.