BLAIR DISMISSES WEAPONS LINK TO OMAGH
Blair dismisses weapons link to Omagh
By Tony Bailie
DECOMMISSIONING by pro-agreement republicans would not have prevented last Saturday's bomb attack in Omagh, according to Tony Blair.
Writing in yesterday's Observer newspaper, Mr Blair said decommissioning was necessary as a "symbol of change," but it was a deception to claim there is a finite amount of weapons that once decommissioned can never be replaced.
The British prime minister also insisted he would not use undercover soldiers to assassinate those suspected of the bombing, insisting his government would be "democratic in the means we deploy."
He described the group behind the Omagh bombing as"small in number" adding, "the names of many are known to us."
He continued: "In a world dominated by terror, yes, we could, to use the parlance 'take them out.' But our country is built on values of democracy."
Mr Blair said his government was winning the argument for peace and that they must win the battle on the security front "through democratic means."
He said there had been unprecedented cooperation between London and Dublin which would see tough anti-terrorist laws being introduced
across the island of Ireland.
The prime minister hit back at those who said the Omagh bomb was the result of appeasement of terrorism.
Mr Blair wrote: "That view has been put forward by a number of democratic voices, in the main opposed to the peace process.
"The splinter group behind this outrage is nothing to do with the agreement. Indeed the bomb was specifically targeted at the agreement...They (the splinter group) regard Gerry Adams not as an ally but as a traitor.
"The same democratic voices also seek to link what happened in Omagh to the decommissioning of weapons. The fact is that no matter how
many weapons have been handed in, this group would have had access to weapons, and the know-how to use them."
Mr Blair reiterated his commitment to the peace process saying: "there is no other issue about which I feel personally more deeply committed, or more responsible."
By Tony Bailie
DECOMMISSIONING by pro-agreement republicans would not have prevented last Saturday's bomb attack in Omagh, according to Tony Blair.
Writing in yesterday's Observer newspaper, Mr Blair said decommissioning was necessary as a "symbol of change," but it was a deception to claim there is a finite amount of weapons that once decommissioned can never be replaced.
The British prime minister also insisted he would not use undercover soldiers to assassinate those suspected of the bombing, insisting his government would be "democratic in the means we deploy."
He described the group behind the Omagh bombing as"small in number" adding, "the names of many are known to us."
He continued: "In a world dominated by terror, yes, we could, to use the parlance 'take them out.' But our country is built on values of democracy."
Mr Blair said his government was winning the argument for peace and that they must win the battle on the security front "through democratic means."
He said there had been unprecedented cooperation between London and Dublin which would see tough anti-terrorist laws being introduced
across the island of Ireland.
The prime minister hit back at those who said the Omagh bomb was the result of appeasement of terrorism.
Mr Blair wrote: "That view has been put forward by a number of democratic voices, in the main opposed to the peace process.
"The splinter group behind this outrage is nothing to do with the agreement. Indeed the bomb was specifically targeted at the agreement...They (the splinter group) regard Gerry Adams not as an ally but as a traitor.
"The same democratic voices also seek to link what happened in Omagh to the decommissioning of weapons. The fact is that no matter how
many weapons have been handed in, this group would have had access to weapons, and the know-how to use them."
Mr Blair reiterated his commitment to the peace process saying: "there is no other issue about which I feel personally more deeply committed, or more responsible."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0166
Published Date: 24-Aug-98
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