Take your partner...
Andersontown News, www.irelandclick.com, Editorial
January 10, 2003
The confab yesterday between Tony Blair and a Sinn Féin delegation marked a
stepping up of the pace of the talks which have been convened to reinstate
devolution here.
With the British PM now in full war-mode, it’s unlikely that the prize of
reconvened institutions will be achieved. However, in the bobbing and
weaving of the next few weeks, many smaller issues will undoubtedly be
resolved.
The Ulster Unionists are perhaps more aware of that than anyone else and
thus started their negotiations with a walkout. Anyone who laughs off such
tactics should think again.
While Sinn Féin and the SDLP may think it more chivalrous and respectful to
take their places when the bell goes, the unionists believe that your
attendance at the table has to be ‘bought’.
The price: CS gas weapons for the police farce; no implementation of the
British promises in regard to republicans on the run; the use of legislation
at Westminster to introduce bills which were to go before the Assembly,
including the Strategic Investment Board which will give a hand-picked
quango enormous say over the development of former military sites; and much
more.
Thus, while nationalists look on aghast at ten million quid here for QUB and
UU to carry out research and countless squillion in overtime for the boys in
bottle green, their own shopping list goes ignored.
There’s no limit to the generosity of the British Government when it comes
to their unionist chums who are playing hard-to-get.
“Not happy, David? There’s the Diplock Courts still up and running. And what
about that nasty Irish language... just cut their budget, is that all right?
Not enough? Okay let’s scrub the damn elections.”
The irony is, of course, that when the British have finally pulled enough
rabbits out of the hat to get the unionists to the table — and snubbed every
reasonable demand by nationalists such as proper funding for the West
Belfast Task Force and a peaceline campus on the way — there’s nothing to
discuss.
The UUP has no intention of going back to the arrangements agreed on Good
Friday 1998. Even if their self-styled leader wanted to, which he plainly
does not, his party is now firmly anti-Agreement.
But spinning out the talks, slowing down the peace process to a glacial
pace, and keeping nationalist ambitions on hold suits the unionists as much
as it suits Mr Blair — at least until he’s carried Mr Bush’s coat while he
batters a Third World country into submission. But as sure as eggs, the day
will come when the unionists will have to sit down and act like adults to
discuss the future with the rest of us .
And when that day comes, they will learn that there is a price that they
have to pay as well. And you can bet your boots they won’t like it.