| A truly historic decision which
now awaits reply
AT THE start of 2007 we asked whether this year would be the one when
the peace process moved decisively forward or just another period of more
hot air and very little action.
Less than a month on we now have our answer.
The words historic day have perhaps been overused by many of us in the
past as we’ve watched all sides in the North inch — sometimes
agonisingly slowly — towards some sort of agreement.
But make no mistake, the Sinn Féin decision to co-operate with
and support the Police Service of Northern Ireland was not only historic
— it was one of the most monumental steps in the ongoing peace process.
It graphically marks an end to the old methods and a final acceptance
that the new approach of peaceful negotiation is now entrenched in the
Sinn Féin membership.
The 90 per cent approval given to Sunday’s decision can leave no
room for any doubt about the will of the party.
Gerry Adams and his colleague Martin McGuinness have clearly rallied the
overwhelming support of their party behind them.
It is now for the Unionist community to respond.
Mr Adams has diplomatically called for Ian Paisley to be given some space
as he ponders his next move.
But there can be no doubt Sinn Féin’s decision means the
Unionists now have to look to making concessions of their own to allow
the power sharing apparatus to be revived.
For Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin have demonstrated their commitment
to the peaceful way forward and done it in the grandest manner possible.
For to many in the party the issue of policing was one of the biggest
barriers of all — perhaps the greatest compromise of Republicanism
which could be made.
Evidence of that came in the taunts of sell-out emanating from a small
group of Republican Sinn Féin supporters demonstrating against
the vote.
But at the end of the day Mr Adams won through.
For his vision, bravery and determination he must be congratulated.
In the years to come it may be his achievement this weekend will grow
ever greater in the eyes of historians as they write the history of the
island of Ireland.
That’s how historic this was.
Last weekend we did see a piece of history being made, with SF’s
acceptance of policing and the PSNI.
What will happen over the next few weeks, months and years no-one can
yet say with any certainty.
But a crucial, maybe definitive, step has been taken.
We have heard many times in the past that the war and bloodshed have come
to an end in the North of Ireland.
Many times it has merely been a false dawn.
But with Sinn Féin’s acceptance of policing, the Police Service
of Northern Ireland and the rule of law we can now say with some certainty
that as far as the IRA is concerned that day has arrived.
Mr Paisley can try anything he likes to belittle what happened over the
weekend and throw doubts on its sincerity — but this time it won’t
work. It is too important a decision for that.
| 