Decommissioning

What some had long predicted happened recently when the Provisional IRA made it known publicly that it had begun the process of destroying its arsenal. The long journey from insurrection to participation in the state is now almost completed.

In the statement released by the organisation it was said that decommissioning was carried out in order to save the peace process. This is nonsense. With or without weapons, the Provos had no intention of returning to war. Their disarming wasn’t designed to save the peace but was intended instead to save the Executive in Stormont. In the longer term it also allows Sinn Fein to contemplate the option of entering a government coalition down south.

The fact is that Sinn Fein is now so entrapped by its current strategy that it has no option other than to remain in Stormont at any cost. To do otherwise would be to invalidate its efforts over the past ten or more years. It would moreover, endanger the very future of the party. Sceptical supporters and critical republicans have been told ad nauseum that there is no alternative to the course currently being pursued. Therefore if Sinn Fein were now to accept that this policy has been mistaken, it would mean that it has no reason for remaining in politics. It would be a scenario similar to the Papacy accepting that there is no Christ.

Many republicans view the act of decommissioning with dismay, seeing it as a fundamental betrayal of principle while fearing the consequence of an unarmed people in the north. Of even greater significance however is the fact that Sinn Fein has sent out a very clear message. It has indicated quite plainly that it has no ‘bottom line’. The party that used to describe itself as alone being capable of providing principled leadership has now demonstrated that its only guiding principle is staying in Stormont.

Furthermore, by blithely surrendering what they always insisted would never be conceded, Sinn Fein guarantees are no longer of any value. What worth now a promise to the working class, to the poor, to the elderly, to the young? A Sinn Fein manifesto is no longer its bond; it is merely an election gimmick. Most important of all perhaps is the fact that by being so clearly in awe of Washington, the party is now virtually indistinguishable from Fianna Fail, the SDLP et al.

For us the task of building a new and relevant programme must continue. Fourhtwrite is to the fore in this undertaking, creating a platform for debate and discussion while also playing a part helping to organise public meetings. Others are also involved in this activity but more are needed. We hope to see many more play a part in the building of the New Republic.

In this issue we review the recent decision to decommission and carry important comment from a former IRA Chief-of-Staff, Ruairi O’Bradaigh, from a republican former prisoner and from a person with many, longstanding ties within the republican community. We also cover the important topics of coalition government, physical force and the vexatious question of anti-social crime. We are greatly concerned too by the US/British war against Afghanistan and have devoted a section to an examination of some aspects of the conflict. In this section, Fourthwrite includes the views of a working class American, an Irish republican and the editorial committee is especially pleased to have the privilege of carrying an article by Ajmal Masroor - a leading figure in the Muslim community in Britain and an interview with legendary leftwing activist, Tariq Ali.