Thousands of words and countless editorials have been written and spoken over the last month on the pros and cons of the Belfast Agreement and at the end of the month voters in the North of Ireland will again go to the polls to select candidates and parties to represent their political viewpoints in the new Assembly. An overwhelming majority of voters north and south voted in favor of the Agreement despite the fact that many, had, and continue to have, serious reservations about many aspects of its terms.
The document on which people cast their hopes is far from perfect. The general consensus would appear to be that it should become a starting point from which to move forward towards a more stable political climate upon which to build a peaceful and prosperous Ireland, though not necessarily united at this stage.
It might do well to reflect on the issues that ignited the maelstrom of political turmoil, war, sectarian conflict and atrocities, that the people of Ireland and Britain have had to endure for the last thirty years.
In 1968, the issues that brought protesters unto the streets of Ireland were the denial of basic civil rights in housing and employment. Massive state repression against civil rights demonstrators by the Stormont government, and internment-without-trial supported by the British government, set the stage for armed confrontations between a resurgent nationalist community and the Stormont and Westminster governments.
With the abrogation of Articles 2 &3 of the Irish constitution the situation is in many ways gone back to the drawing board of 1968. Irish nationalism has in effect said to the loyalist community, OK, let's start again. If you find these Articles objectionable we will remove them, but there is a responsibility on your part to reciprocate on issues that we find offensive.
Discrimination and police and military repression against the nationalist community in the North of Ireland has not abated. Willingness to seriously tackle these issues, not next week, not next month, not next year, but immediately, should be the litmus test by which the sincerity of the political structures that evolve in the new assembly is judged.
The Royal Ulster Constabulary is not accepted as an impartial force by the nationalist community. It has to change. Discrimination by government, in any form, is not acceptable. It has to change. The Stormont regime of old is unacceptable. It has to change.
If there is a will to make these things happen then these changes are possible and there is still a role for concerned Americans and Irish-Americans to play in this process. The President of the United States and many Congressional leaders have played a major role in helping to facilitate the progress of political movement in Ireland to date. Assistance and support for capital investment in the North of Ireland has been promised by the Clinton administration. Financial support from the U.S. should not come without strings. American tax dollars in support of new political arrangement in the North of Ireland should be measured by political progress towards justice and equality for all. This is the only sure guarantee of building structures that will lead towards genuine conflict resolution.
G21 EUROPE
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