Sinn Fein News, September 6, 2006
IMC Report - IRA have delivered on commitments
The so-called IMC (Independent Monitoring Commission) today released its
eleventh report. The report can be downloaded as a PDF at
www.nio.gov.uk/eleventh_report_of_the_independent_monitoring_commission.pdf.
Most of the report related to British demilitarisation and withdraw. The
report also commented on the IRA saying:
"It is not engaged in terrorist activity, by which we mean undertaking
attacks, planning or reconnoitring them, or developing a terrorist
capability by, for example, procuring weapons or training members.
"The leadership is opposed to the use of violence in community control, has
taken a stance against criminality and disorder amongst the membership, and
has been engaged in successful dialogue to prevent violence during the 2006
parades season," it said.
Senior members of the IRA were taking on roles in Sinn Féin and encouraging
other members to do the same or to engage in community work, it added.
The report added: "The fact that PIRA retains a command and control
structure does not in our view detract from this.
"Indeed, this structure is an important element in maintaining the
organisation on its chosen path."
Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Michelle Gildernew today said
that it was patently clear that the IRA had delivered to the word on every
commitment it entered into last year and that the time for DUP to engage has
long since past.
Ms Gildernew said:
"Well before any pronouncement from the IMC this afternoon it has been
patently clear to everyone objectively looking at this situation that the
IRA had delivered to the word on every commitment it entered into this time
last year.
"The IRA have dealt decisively with genuine issues of concern put forward by
unionists and it is very clear that the time for the DUP using this issue as
an excuse not to engage and move forward has long since past.
"The DUP stand alone as the only party still unwilling to commit to sharing
power on the basis laid out in the Good Friday Agreement."
In relation to the reports comments on British demilitarisation and
withdraw, Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy MP said:
The people who will judge the pace and extent of the dismantling of the
British war machine in Ireland are those people in areas like South Armagh
who have had to live for years with the effects of the British occupation in
their community. People who have lived with the effects of British military
occupation do not need reports from John Alderdice to tell them when
sufficient progress has been made.
"Progress is being made on the issue of demilitarisation because Sinn Féin
put it onto the political agenda and because local communities mounted
effective campaigns to demand an end to the British military presence in
their lives. This has nothing whatever to do with the IMC.
"Sinn Féin will continue to raise this issue with the British government to
ensure that all of their commitments are met and equally importantly that
all occupied land is returned to its rightful owners and we do not see a
repeat of the underhand attempt to reoccupy land recently mounted by the
PSNI and Policing Board in Crossmaglen."
