13/08/2001

Sinn Féin declare they will not bow to pressure

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has said there is little optimism of a breakthrough on the decommissioning issue despite Northern Ireland Assembly members and ministers returning to work on Monday after a 48 hour suspension.

Speaking at a rally to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the hunger strikes in the H-blocks on Sunday August 12, Mr Adams rejected Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid’s assertion that a deal to resolve decommissioning, policing and demilitarisation was tantalisingly close.

He said: “If the British are saying that a deal is within reach, does that mean they are going to pull troops out of south Armagh, Tyrone, west Belfast and north Belfast?”

He added: “I hear also the patronising tone that the institutions have been stood down for only one day and now it’s OK again. Well it’s not OK again. It isn’t OK to have all Ireland structures stood down, it isn’t OK that Sinn Fein ministers haven’t been accorded their rights and entitlement to do the job they were elected for.

“It isn’t OK that the British government are trying to hold on to plastic bullets and trying to foist a police force instead of a democratically accountable police service.”

In front of thousands of rain soaked supporters Mr Adams said that was essential that republicans would not yield to British government or unionist pressure.

"Behind the soft words really what is being opened up is a six- or seven-week period in which the British government and unionists are going to try to put pressure on republicans to move to resolve issues on British government or unionist terms".

Dr Reid said his decision to suspend the institutions for one day was no reason to abandon the considerable progress that has been made: “I certainly hope that no-one walks away because it has bought time for movement.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, called on the political parties to re-dedicate themselves to making the agreement work. He described IRA disarmament as a “political necessity and a moral obligation”, but said: “You cannot expect to resolve this matter in isolation. You will resolve it in the context of full implementation of the agreement.” (AMcE)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 August 2001
Sinn Fein aim to kick start a process to resolve issues
Sinn Fein are to meet with the British Government in a bid to kick start a process to resolve the remaining issues surrounding the Irish and British Governments peace blueprint.
21 November 2002
'Most important' talks of Agreement begin
Roundtable talks between the pro-agreement parties and the British and Irish government have gone ahead today at Parliament Buildings in Belfast.
13 December 2022
Heaton-Harris Must Lay Out Clear Plan For Power Restoration
The British Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, must clearly set out his plan to restore the Executive and Assembly, Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O'Neill MLA has said Making the call, Michelle O'Neill said: "The British Secretary of State has legislated to now create multiple deadlines yet appears to have no actual plan to restore the Ass
07 September 2022
Sinn Féin 'Will Continue To Stand With The Bloody Sunday Families'
Sinn Féin will continue to stand with the Bloody Sunday families in their campaign for truth and justice, MLA Padráig Delargy has said. The Foyle MLA was speaking after relatives of Bloody Sunday victims seeking the prosecution of three more former British soldiers have been denied permission to take their legal battle to the Supreme Court.
17 September 2021
Amnesty International Condemns Govt Amnesty Proposals
British armed forces cannot be placed above the rule of law and accountability, Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has said. Mr Kelly has welcomed a submission by Amnesty International to the United Nations, which stated that the British government's amnesty proposals are "an utter betrayal of victims and must not become law".