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DUP calls for new monitoring group to save Northern Ireland peace process DUP calls for new monitoring group to save Northern Ireland peace process
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The largest unionist party in Northern Ireland wants a stronger ceasefire monitoring body that will keep a more constant focus on alleged IRA and other paramilitary organisations’ activities as part of any deal to save power sharing and devolution.The largest unionist party in Northern Ireland wants a stronger ceasefire monitoring body that will keep a more constant focus on alleged IRA and other paramilitary organisations’ activities as part of any deal to save power sharing and devolution.
Ahead of emergency talks next week to rescue devolution at Stormont from collapse, Democratic Unionist party (DUP) sources say any new version of the International Monitoring Commission (IMC) would have to report more regularly on incidents allegedly involving terror groups, which were meant to have disbanded in 2005.Ahead of emergency talks next week to rescue devolution at Stormont from collapse, Democratic Unionist party (DUP) sources say any new version of the International Monitoring Commission (IMC) would have to report more regularly on incidents allegedly involving terror groups, which were meant to have disbanded in 2005.
Claims that the IRA is still an organised force and that it killed its former member Kevin McGuigan in August lie at the heart of the crisis threatening to bring down Northern Ireland’s unique cross-community power-sharing government.Claims that the IRA is still an organised force and that it killed its former member Kevin McGuigan in August lie at the heart of the crisis threatening to bring down Northern Ireland’s unique cross-community power-sharing government.
Unionists have stated that an assessment from George Hamilton, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, that individual IRA members murdered McGuigan in a revenge shooting was a clear breach of a promise a decade ago from Irish republicans that the IRA had gone out of existence. Unionists have stated that an assessment from George Hamilton, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, that individual IRA members murdered McGuigan in a revenge shooting, was a clear breach of a promise a decade ago from Irish republicans that the IRA had gone out of existence.
Related: Ex-IRA gunman shot dead in apparent revenge killingRelated: Ex-IRA gunman shot dead in apparent revenge killing
Sinn Féin continues to insist the IRA has “left the stage” and accused the DUP of exploiting the McGuigan murder due to electoral rivalry with the Ulster Unionist party.Sinn Féin continues to insist the IRA has “left the stage” and accused the DUP of exploiting the McGuigan murder due to electoral rivalry with the Ulster Unionist party.
The prime minister admitted on Friday that he was “extremely worried” over the deepening crisis in Northern Ireland. Speaking in Leeds, David Cameron again rebuffed DUP demands that the Northern Ireland assembly should be suspended for the duration of the emergency talks, which could take up to six weeks to complete.The prime minister admitted on Friday that he was “extremely worried” over the deepening crisis in Northern Ireland. Speaking in Leeds, David Cameron again rebuffed DUP demands that the Northern Ireland assembly should be suspended for the duration of the emergency talks, which could take up to six weeks to complete.
“I don’t think it’s right for the British government to step in and suspend these institutions. I want to see the politicians of Northern Ireland ... working out how to make these institutions work,” the prime minister said.“I don’t think it’s right for the British government to step in and suspend these institutions. I want to see the politicians of Northern Ireland ... working out how to make these institutions work,” the prime minister said.
A range of veterans from the Irish peace process, including the Nobel peace prize winner Lord Trimble and current members of the Dublin government, have suggested establishing a new IMC. They believe this might restore confidence among unionists that a body supposedly not coloured by Northern Ireland politics can independently examine the status of ceasefires.A range of veterans from the Irish peace process, including the Nobel peace prize winner Lord Trimble and current members of the Dublin government, have suggested establishing a new IMC. They believe this might restore confidence among unionists that a body supposedly not coloured by Northern Ireland politics can independently examine the status of ceasefires.
The IMC was first set up in 2004, comprised of security experts including a former deputy director of the CIA, and its main task included examining the status of the IRA and loyalist terror groups’ ceasefires. It was wound up in 2011 after the IRA decommissioned most of its illegal arsenal amid promises that the organisation had ceased to function as a military force.The IMC was first set up in 2004, comprised of security experts including a former deputy director of the CIA, and its main task included examining the status of the IRA and loyalist terror groups’ ceasefires. It was wound up in 2011 after the IRA decommissioned most of its illegal arsenal amid promises that the organisation had ceased to function as a military force.
DUP sources said any new IMC would have to be “even more robust” than the original one, which was used as a means not only of scrutinising but also deterring further violence from armed groups.DUP sources said any new IMC would have to be “even more robust” than the original one, which was used as a means not only of scrutinising but also deterring further violence from armed groups.
“It is very early days in the negotiations but a new body like the IMC would be a useful step. But any new IMC would have to be more robust and report more regularly on armed groups,” one DUP source said.“It is very early days in the negotiations but a new body like the IMC would be a useful step. But any new IMC would have to be more robust and report more regularly on armed groups,” one DUP source said.
All the five main parties represented in the Northern Ireland assembly have been invited to attend the discussions aimed at saving power sharing on Monday. Among those attending will be Northern Ireland’s new acting first minister, Arlene Foster, who took over on Thursday after Peter Robinson stepped down from the post.All the five main parties represented in the Northern Ireland assembly have been invited to attend the discussions aimed at saving power sharing on Monday. Among those attending will be Northern Ireland’s new acting first minister, Arlene Foster, who took over on Thursday after Peter Robinson stepped down from the post.
Despite standing down as first minister, however, Robinsonhas not yet pulled his party out of the Stormont parliament and with it the entire power-sharing edifice. If any of the two main parties representing either the unionist or nationalist community withdraws from the coalition government then under the assembly rules the whole administration collapses. Despite standing down as first minister, however, Robinson has not yet pulled his party out of the Stormont parliament and with it the entire power-sharing edifice. If any of the two main parties representing either the unionist or nationalist community withdraws from the coalition government then under the assembly rules the whole administration collapses.
At the core of the all-party negotiations will be the PSNI’s analysis that the IRA still exists in some shape or form, although the chief constable stressed that the organisation’s leadership did not sanction the murder of McGuigan. Nor is this IRA structure any threat to the state or likely to restart an armed campaign , the PSNI has concluded. At the core of the all-party negotiations will be the PSNI’s analysis that the IRA still exists in some shape or form, although the chief constable stressed that the organisation’s leadership did not sanction the murder of McGuigan. Nor is this IRA structure any threat to the state or likely to restart an armed campaign, the PSNI has concluded.
The IRA does continue to operate a command structure now known as the army executive, which among other things gathers intelligence on elements within the nationalist community it regards as potential enemies with longstanding grudges against the republican movement, according to independent republican sources.The IRA does continue to operate a command structure now known as the army executive, which among other things gathers intelligence on elements within the nationalist community it regards as potential enemies with longstanding grudges against the republican movement, according to independent republican sources.
Security experts on either side of the Irish border agree with the PSNI analysis that while the IRA does still exist it would not return to a full-blown armed struggle as during the Troubles, either in Ireland or Britain.Security experts on either side of the Irish border agree with the PSNI analysis that while the IRA does still exist it would not return to a full-blown armed struggle as during the Troubles, either in Ireland or Britain.
The focus therefore of Monday’s talks will not just be about McGuigan, who was killed because his former republican comrades believe he had shot dead their former Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison in May this year over a personal dispute. The DUP will also raise the issue of why the IRA continues to exist 10 years after it announced that all its units were to devote themselves purely to political activity.The focus therefore of Monday’s talks will not just be about McGuigan, who was killed because his former republican comrades believe he had shot dead their former Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison in May this year over a personal dispute. The DUP will also raise the issue of why the IRA continues to exist 10 years after it announced that all its units were to devote themselves purely to political activity.
Unless this issue is addressed and the DUP, alongside other unionists, is convinced that there will be no more armed activity by the IRA in future, the talks are likely to end in failure. This would provoke a full unionist walkout from the assembly and elections being called before Christmas.Unless this issue is addressed and the DUP, alongside other unionists, is convinced that there will be no more armed activity by the IRA in future, the talks are likely to end in failure. This would provoke a full unionist walkout from the assembly and elections being called before Christmas.