Irish Republican News, 5 February 2006
LIES AND PROPOGANDA
General John de Chastelain (IICD)strongly contradicts the IMC's allegations, which were based solely
on Northern Ireland Security sources:
"Last week, we were informed by security sources in Northern
Ireland that they had intelligence to the effect that some
individuals and groups within the IRA have retained a range of
arms, including handguns,"
...
"Over the past week, we have discussed the intelligence
assessment with senior officers in the Garda Siochana... the Garda
informed us that what they regard as reliable sources in relation
to the IRA and its weaponry have produced no intelligence
suggesting any arms have been retained."
A conflict has appeared in the political establishment over a
report on IRA and unionist paramilitary activity by the
government-mandated 'Independent Monitoring Commission'.
The IMC, set up outside the terms of the 1998 Good Friday
Agreement, contradicted recent conclusions reached by the
Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, a more
respected body created as part of the Agreement.
The IMC claimed the Provisional IRA had not fully disarmed,
allegations which the IRA rejected as "politically motivated".
While the hardline unionist DUP predictably seized on the
accusations to place further obstacles in the way of the peace
process, republicans were apoplectic. They accused the body --
composed of three former security chiefs and a British Lord -- of
blatantly rehashing the propoganda of the anti-republican Special
Branch police and British military intelligence.
Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness angrily rubbished
the allegations. He said the IMC received its briefings from
"people within the process who are hostile to it".
"I think it is, with respect, bullshit of the highest order," he
added.
Following last September's process of putting all IRA weapons
beyond use, General de Chastelain expressed confidence that the
IRA had completely discharged its commitments.
However, the IMC challenged the decommissioning body's
conclusions.
"We have since received reports that not all PIRA's weapons and
ammunition were handed over for decommissioning in September,"
the IMC said.
"These reports are not able to indicate precisely what is the
nature or volume of any remaining weapons but suggest two things
-- first, that there is a range of different kinds of weapons and
ammunition; second, that the material goes beyond what might
possibly have been expected to have missed decommissioning, such
as a limited number of handguns kept for personal protection or
some items the wherebouts of which were no longer known.
"We recognise that, if these reports were confirmed, the key
question would be how much the PIRA leadership knew about these
weapons," the IMC said.
The IMC report, which also contained allegations of continuing
IRA "criminality" and "intelligence gathering", deepened concern
for the prospects of peace talks, due to begin this week.
In a later statement, General John de Chastelain's
decommissioning body strongly contradicted the IMC's allegations
of IRA bad faith.
The decommissioning body attributed the source of recent
questions about the IRA's disarmament process to "security
sources in Northern Ireland".
"Last week, we were informed by security sources in Northern
Ireland that they had intelligence to the effect that some
individuals and groups within the IRA have retained a range of
arms, including handguns," it said.
"If substantiated, this assessment would be at variance with the
statement we made last September that we believed all IRA arms
had been decommissioned commensurate with our remit. Accordingly
we undertook to examine whether, in light of the assessment, we
were misinformed or had made a misjudgment in September.
"Over the past week, we have discussed the intelligence
assessment with senior officers in the Garda Siochana... the Garda
informed us that what they regard as reliable sources in relation
to the IRA and its weaponry have produced no intelligence
suggesting any arms have been retained."
The decommissioning body said two meetings had taken place last
week with the IRA representative who was responsible for
overseeing the process of putting the organisation's weapons
beyond use.
"In our first meeting last week, the IRA representative... assured
us that no IRA arms had been retained or placed in long -term
hides," the decommissioning body said.
"In a meeting later in the week, the representative told us that,
following our earlier discussion, the IRA leadership questioned
each of their commanders about the intelligence assessment. These
have confirmed that all the arms under their control were
decommissioned in September, as we stated.
"We conclude that, in the absence of evidence to the contrary,
our 26 September assessment regarding IRA arms remains correct."
'POSITIVE REPORT'
The London and Dublin governments were at pains to point to other
"positive" findings of the IMC report, and played down the
apparent schism between the independent bodies. However, some
claimed that Dublin was distancing itself from the IMC.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the IMC had drawn
attention to its belief that there had been a strategic decision
taken by the IRA leadership to abandon the armed struggle.
Mr Blair said he wanted to make it clear once again that all
criminal activity had to cease.
In a more upbeat statement, the Dublin government said the
absence of Provisional IRA activity since last July is "of
particular note".
However, the DUP leader Ian Paisley said that, far from being
given a clean bill of health, the IMC's report reaffirmed that
the IRA was "riddled with illegality".
"It is particularly perturbing that the IRA continues its
intelligence gathering operation and is apparently predominantly
directing its spying at furthering its political strategy," Mr
Paisley said.
At a later press conference, Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin
McGuinness was asked to give his view on the IMC allegations of
IRA bad faith.
"Those who supply the information for the IMC reports include DUP
supporters in Special Branch and are the same people who
collapsed the political institutions and who ten years ago were
controlling and directing a murder campaign against Sinn Fein
members and the wider nationalist community," he said.
"It is unacceptable that the entire political process is being
held to ransom by these people. Sinn Fein have challenged the IMC
and the two governments to produce evidence to back up
allegations contained in other IMC reports. They have all failed
to do so," Mr McGuinness said.
"The individuals who make up the IMC and the group collectively
are absolutely hostile to Irish republicanism," he added.
"It's like the white man talking to the natives."
PROCESS MUST CONTINUE - ADAMS
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, speaking at a press conference
in Belfast, said the IMC had "set aside every democratic
principle known".
"The IRA have dealt decisively with the issue of arms. It cannot
be done again," he said. "Those opposed to this process are
attempting to bring all of us down a cul-de-sac."
Mr Adams claimed "the process of change" was going forward, but
he wanted to see it "accelerated and developed".
"We want to see the political institutions put back in place.
"We want to see further progress on the all-Ireland agenda.
"We want to see the other outstanding matters including policing,
human rights and equality issues resolved.
"The two governments have stated that they wish to see rapid
progress made in the time ahead. This is possible, if the two
governments display the necessary political will and the primacy
of the political process is asserted. They need to match their
rhetoric with action.
"The IMC has set aside every democratic principle known. People
have democratic mandates, the IMC has none. The IMC is a child of
the governments and they have to now deal with this reality.
"Sinn Fein remain committed to seeing the promise of the Good
Friday Agreement developed. But we are not prepared to simply
wait on the DUP or anyone else grasping the new political
realities which exist.
"The situation has been transformed in recent years. The
potential for political progress and stability is there.
Challenging and crucial months lie ahead but whatever happens it
is clear that the process of change will continue."
