IRA rejects photograph ‘humiliation’
The IRA has said today that photographs of it decommissioning its weapons would be a “humiliation” and are “unachievable”.
In its New Year message it also accused the unionists of a “rejectionist approach”.
Negotiations for a restoration of devolved government broke down at the beginning of December, after the DUP and Sinn Fein were unable to reach an agreement.
Tony Blair and the Irish premier Bertie Ahern took the unusual step of going public on the details of the negotiations. They revealed that though the IRA had agreed to verifiably put their weapons beyond use, they refused to allow photographic evidence to be taken and published.
This was a key demand of the DUP who said that without the publication of such photographs the public would be unable to have confidence in the process.
Though both government leaders expressed confidence that progress could still be made, neither side appears to be moving on the issue.
In a message carried in Thursday morning’s edition of the republican newspaper An Phoblacht, the IRA said that progress was prevented by “an unachievable demand for humiliation.”
“We set out the contribution we are prepared to make to a comprehensive agreement to resolve all outstanding issues. This included moving into a new mode which reflects our determination to see the transition to a totally peaceful society and also concluding the process to completely and verifiably put all our arms beyond use.”
It added: “The rejection of our substantial contributions has created a deep anger within the republican and nationalist communities and indeed, it has generated significant frustration.”
Criticising the approach of the Irish and British governments, the IRA said: “Pandering by the two governments, once again, to a rejectionist approach by a unionist leader, will not work. The IRA will not accept it.”
