IRA disbandment possible despite loyalist violence - SF

The IRA will cease to exist if there is an "irreversible"
political process in the North, a Sinn Féin source has said.

It was reported that the source, who refused to allow his name be
published, said that in that case, the IRA would come to an end
"whatever is happening within unionist paramilitaries".

The source said that if the political process envisaged under the
Good Friday Agreement had worked to its full potential since Good
Friday 1998, then the IRA would not now be an issue. He added:
"The logic six years on as we approach Easter is that if this
process had worked, these issues of the IRA, in my view, would
not be an issue at this time."

Sinn Féin has called on the two governments to implement the
outstanding aspects of the Agreement and restore the
power-sharing institutions at Stormont.

At yesterday's briefing at Sinn Féin headquarters on the Falls
Road, the man briefing journalists said: "The logic of conflict
resolution is that the combatants cease to be."

Yesterday's remarks by the Sinn Féin source came as efforts were
made to restore momentum and hope into the talks process. The
formal Review of the Agreement has floundered since a deal on IRA
arms decommissioning did not succeed in ending Direct Rule from
London.

The Irish and British Prime Ministers, who held talks earlier
this week, could return to Belfast next month for further talks
if there are indications of an end to IRA activity.


SINN FEIN MEETS SANCTIONS BODY


Sinn Fein held discussions with the Independent Monitoring
Commission (IMC) at its Belfast offices yesterday.

The IMC was proposed in the Joint Declaration by the British and
Irish governments earlier this year.

Its establishment was the only element of the Declaration put
into effect. It is seen by nationalists as being outside the
terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Sinn Fein said that the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC)
is little more than a smokescreen to be used by the British
government to provide cover for any attempt to exclude the party.

It was the second time Sinn Fein had met the IMC.

Mr Kelly said that at their initial meeting in January party
representatives informed the IMC that it was Sinn Fein’s belief
that it was not independent and operated outside the terms of the
Good Friday Agreement.

“The actions of the IMC in the weeks since vindicate completely
this position and we told them this,” he said.

“Nationalists and republicans hear little from the IMC or the
British government about the ongoing campaign being conducted by
unionist paramilitaries. We have heard little from them about the
murder of a young Catholic man in Lisburn late last year.”