IT'S ALL A QUESTION OF WORD GAMES
It's all a question of word games
OVER THE past few years, particularly, the Provisional republican movement has become adept at utilising the dual voice strategy.
Despite the volumes of evidence clearly indicating a cross-over among some leadership figures in Sinn Fein and the IRA, the Provisionals have steadfastly maintained that the two organisations are separate entities.
This is not a view that is shared by the Garda or the RUC but the Provisionals have managed to consistently use the strategy to their advantage whenever the occasion demanded.
This week has obviously given rise to one of those occasions. In advance of the visit of US President Bill Clinton to both parts of the island it was vital for the Sinn Fein leadership to issue a conciliatory statement that outlined their opposition to violence. The Clinton administration played a key role in the negotiations leading up to the IRA ceasefire and the talks culminating in the Good Friday peace deal. This week they wanted a significant gesture from Sinn Fein that would smooth the path leading towards a historic handshake between Gerry Adams and First Minister David Trimble.
Similar demands were also being sought by the Irish and British governments to ensure that substantial progress was achieved as a result of the Clinton visit. The Provisional leadership knew what was required for external consumption but they were also acutely aware of their internal problems. Thus, the dual voice strategy was put forward again as a solution to their problem.
The backlash against the republican splinter groups opposed to the peace process in the wake of the Omagh bombing has probably ensured that the recruitment drive being waged by the terror gang responsible, the self styled Oglaigh na hEireann or Real IRA, will not make much headway in the future.
Prior to Omagh, the group operated a countrywide campaign to attract disaffected Provisionals who were not in favour of the Adams and McGuinness peace policy and their strength grew from an initial 20 immediately after the rift at the IRA army convention in Falcarragh, Co Donegal, in October last to about 100 during the summer.
However, there were many others left within the Provisionals who, while they were not contemplating resignation to join a breakaway group, were still not too happy about the direction being taken by the leadership.
The interview given by an IRA spokesman in An Phoblacht this week must be seen in that light. It was intended for an internal readership and was specifically aimed at the hardliners who were threatening to create further problems for the leadership.
A tough no-nonsense approach was required and that was delivered to the military men by the IRA spokesperson. Dealing with the calls for a declaration that the war is over, the spokesperson claimed that in maintaining their cessation of violence with great discipline the IRA had effectively created the existing opportunity for the achievement of lasting peace.
"Far better that people would expend their energy on that than wasting time on word games around whether or not someone is prepared to say the war is over."
Mr Adams said yesterday that Sinn Fein believed the violence they had seen must be for everybody a "thing of the past, over, done with and gone".
He also committed Sinn Fein to working politically to make the Omagh bombing the last violent incident in the country. Whether that includes punishment shootings, he did not say. It's all a question of word games. The Provisionals condemn others for indulging in that sport. But, when it's necessary, they're fairly nifty players themselves.
OVER THE past few years, particularly, the Provisional republican movement has become adept at utilising the dual voice strategy.
Despite the volumes of evidence clearly indicating a cross-over among some leadership figures in Sinn Fein and the IRA, the Provisionals have steadfastly maintained that the two organisations are separate entities.
This is not a view that is shared by the Garda or the RUC but the Provisionals have managed to consistently use the strategy to their advantage whenever the occasion demanded.
This week has obviously given rise to one of those occasions. In advance of the visit of US President Bill Clinton to both parts of the island it was vital for the Sinn Fein leadership to issue a conciliatory statement that outlined their opposition to violence. The Clinton administration played a key role in the negotiations leading up to the IRA ceasefire and the talks culminating in the Good Friday peace deal. This week they wanted a significant gesture from Sinn Fein that would smooth the path leading towards a historic handshake between Gerry Adams and First Minister David Trimble.
Similar demands were also being sought by the Irish and British governments to ensure that substantial progress was achieved as a result of the Clinton visit. The Provisional leadership knew what was required for external consumption but they were also acutely aware of their internal problems. Thus, the dual voice strategy was put forward again as a solution to their problem.
The backlash against the republican splinter groups opposed to the peace process in the wake of the Omagh bombing has probably ensured that the recruitment drive being waged by the terror gang responsible, the self styled Oglaigh na hEireann or Real IRA, will not make much headway in the future.
Prior to Omagh, the group operated a countrywide campaign to attract disaffected Provisionals who were not in favour of the Adams and McGuinness peace policy and their strength grew from an initial 20 immediately after the rift at the IRA army convention in Falcarragh, Co Donegal, in October last to about 100 during the summer.
However, there were many others left within the Provisionals who, while they were not contemplating resignation to join a breakaway group, were still not too happy about the direction being taken by the leadership.
The interview given by an IRA spokesman in An Phoblacht this week must be seen in that light. It was intended for an internal readership and was specifically aimed at the hardliners who were threatening to create further problems for the leadership.
A tough no-nonsense approach was required and that was delivered to the military men by the IRA spokesperson. Dealing with the calls for a declaration that the war is over, the spokesperson claimed that in maintaining their cessation of violence with great discipline the IRA had effectively created the existing opportunity for the achievement of lasting peace.
"Far better that people would expend their energy on that than wasting time on word games around whether or not someone is prepared to say the war is over."
Mr Adams said yesterday that Sinn Fein believed the violence they had seen must be for everybody a "thing of the past, over, done with and gone".
He also committed Sinn Fein to working politically to make the Omagh bombing the last violent incident in the country. Whether that includes punishment shootings, he did not say. It's all a question of word games. The Provisionals condemn others for indulging in that sport. But, when it's necessary, they're fairly nifty players themselves.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/210
Published Date: 02-Sep-98
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