Friday, March 16, 2007
It’s the never ending story (of buying and selling)…
Intriguingly, negotiations continue between Sinn Fein and Peter Hain over the vexed question of OTRs, or on the runs. No doubt one of the prominent features of those talks will be Hain’s oft stated, non negotiable, position that closure cannot be one sided. In other words, if Sinn Fein get a bye for their people, the British (and everyone else inside the Process™) must necessarily have one for theirs. Where would that leave other outstanding business, like the Cory Report for instance? Or are the British just waiting for the next buyer?
Mick Fealty @ 12:11 PM
The government are not going to abandon their people as a whole to suit SF, its just isn’t goind to happen. SF know this.
As for the OTR’s I suspect its going to be a let them come home quietly, no fanfare, no change of laws the police and courts have other priorities. Just don’t be seen on teh podium at big rallies lads thats all.
Posted by on Mar 16, 2007 @ 01:14 PMI would imagine, and call me naive, that any democratic government worth its salt would want to weed out the ‘bad apples’ in its ranks, regardless of what arrangements are made for former terrorists.
There is something strange in the attitute of a lot of people here in NI to the issue of crimes committed by state forces. Its almost as though many unionists are conceding the principle that both sides were morally equal, instead of being horrified that state forces behaved in the same way as terrorists. Even if you accept the premise that the ends would have justified the means, I am sure that the behaviour of these agents caused more problems than it solved.
As a unionist, I am appalled by the allegations of collusion. At least with the OTRs, there is an admission that they were criminals. No one is arguing that they didn’t commit offences. At the very least we need to expose the ‘bad apples’, in case they are still in positions of power.
I can accept that these people were under immense pressure, but nothing justifies some of the activities which they are accused of.
Posted by on Mar 16, 2007 @ 03:19 PMAs for the OTR’s I suspect its going to be a let them come home quietly, no fanfare, no change of laws the police and courts have other priorities. Just don’t be seen on teh podium at big rallies lads thats all.
It’s already happened. The current negotiations are about a dozen individuals whom the NIO have so far refused to confirm will not be arrested when they return.
Posted by on Mar 16, 2007 @ 03:22 PMYokel
I believe you’ve hit the nail on the head.Posted by on Mar 16, 2007 @ 03:57 PMWould Gerry McGeogh have been arrested for standing on a Sinn Fein ticket instead of a dissident ticket.
Posted by on Mar 17, 2007 @ 02:22 AM
