Everything Ulster - Election 2005

Well what a day. First Gerry says he's got something important to tell us, then Big Ian tries to grab the limelight with another "Never, never, never" type speech (or to paraphrase: "We won't share power with terrorists and we really mean it this time").

Gerry had told us this morning there would be a "keynote speech" and people had been waiting all day to find out what it would be.

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Mr Adams really has got the media eating out of his hand. And then it came... the big announcement Gerry had us all waiting for, and despite all the media hype, it really was nothing new. What it was, was a blatant election stunt. A lot of praise for their supporters and what wonderful people they were standing up to years of British oppression. The usual guff. He spent a good few paragraphs praising the "brave volunteers" who blew up a rememberance day service at Enniskillen, killing Catholic and Protestant alike, among the other acts of random violence perpatrated agsinst the British state and it's people over the years.

Eventually he did get to the point though. He said that he has in the past "defended the right of the IRA to engage in armed struggle" because there was no alternative, but that now there is. He said the way forward is "building political support for republican and democratic objectives across Ireland" by which I presume he meant the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

The reception from the other political parties has been cautious at best. The media are jumping on it like it's a hugely brave statement for Gerry Adams to be making. Of course Paisley did his usual routine to prove what a good prod he is: "It is all over. There is no place in any democracy for terrorists and no place for IRA/Sinn Fein."

It's all over? A touch defeatist is it not? Considering 6 months ago Big Ian was perfectly happy to let these self-same people into government, and give them more power than they ever had under the GFA that the DUP deride so much (Sinn Fein justice minister anyone?).

Back to the story, there doesn't seem to be anything really new here - the current difficulties are everyone else's fault: unionists, the British government, the Irish government (inconsiderate of the people of Ireland which Gerry holds so dear, to elect a government that wouldn't let Gerry's mates run the country).

As for espousing the values of democracy and peace - wasn't the IRA supposed to have given up violence to embrace democracy 10 years ago? To quote David Trimble: "Republicans made a promise to Ulster Unionists in May 2000 that they would disarm completely and in a manner to maximise public confidence. They also promised in that statement to pursue their objectives peacefully and democratically. These promises were not kept."

Gerry and his mates in Sinn Fein and the IRA have a lot of work to do if they're going to persuade unionists that they're really serious this time. It'll take more than just words and empty pre-election gestures. I'm not even sure what it would take at the minute (although handing back the £26.5 million would be a start), I just wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them.

I fear nothing will change the minds of the voters though. I'm still not sure how nationalists can reconcile their desire for peace with voting for people intent on engaging in gang-style criminal activity, acting as a private army and police force and intimidating "their own" community. Personally, the thought of voting for a raving mad, bigoted, sectarian terrorist fills me with disgust. How can my countrymen do it so easily?

One thing's for sure. It's time Sinn Fein backed the police. Not just in a token gesture "send a letter to your solicitor to help" or any other empty words. It's time for action. It's time Gerry Adams and his friends took their seats on the policing board. Stop telling us the Police are broken - if you really believe that's the case, then help fix them! If, on the other hand, as I suspect, you just want something to MOPE about, keep crying. Hopefully the nationalist people will realise what you're all about sooner rather than later.