Gaddafi to compensate protestant victims

The DUP released a statement on their website today stating that they have had a series of meetings at a very high level in Tripoli at the invitation of the Libyan authorities- The meetings were held to negotiate with the Libyan government over compensation for protestant victims of IRA violence, The DUP believe that Libya should compensate the victims because Colonel Gaddafi supplied the IRA with weapons and explosives during the troubles, the DUP said their MPs met with the Mayor of Tripoli, the Libyan minister for Europe and the Speaker of the General Peoples Congress. On his return from Libya Nigel Dodds said “This has been a constructive and positive first direct engagement with the Libyan authorities. It constitutes a major milestone in our campaign on behalf of Libyan involvement in helping IRA terrorism.”

The IRA’s connection with Libya began in 1972 when Libya’s eccentric leader Colonel Mummar Gaddafi praised the IRA as allies in a struggle against Western imperialism. The relationship was exposed in March 1973 when the Irish navy found a five-ton arsenal of weaponry provided by the Libyan government onboard a ship called the Claudia, off the coast of County Waterford. Joe Cahill (one of the founders of the Provisional IRA) was arrested onboard together with five others. The French authorities apprehended another ship called Eskund with 150 tonnes of weaponry that was on its way to Ireland and it is believed that at least three substantial shipments of arms from Libya reached the IRA.

So there is little doubt that Gaddafi assisted the IRA in their campaign of violence which resulted in a lot of innocent people dying, but as with everything in Northern Ireland there are two sides to the story and two sides to the community. What about catholic victims or IRA violence? Who is going to negotiate with Libya on their behalf? And what about catholic victims who were shot bombed and killed by other groups during the troubles?

When the DUP proposed the motion (compensation from Libyan Government) to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 14th of September 2009, Sinn Fein opposed the motion, in the Assembly Gerry Adams said, “It is unfair and partisan. Let me say for the record that Sinn Fein is not opposed to any victims lobbying any Government anywhere in the world for compensation.” The Sinn Fein President went on to say “ It would have been better had the members who proposed this motion consulted with other parties to bring forward a motion that would have united, rather than divided, us and would have reflected the suffering of all victims. The motion suggests that there is a hierarchy of victims, and that is wrong. The only way that political parties, in particular, and society in general can deal properly with all these issues is on the basis of equality of treatment for all. The motion, therefore, fails on that most important hurdle.”

The UUP supported the motion as did the Alliance party and SDLP, but SDLP MLA Alex Attwood said in the Assembly “From the outset, I wish to make it clear that, with caution, the SDLP backs the motion. An amendment to the motion was not accepted by the speaker, and we believe that the amendment would have more generously reflected the situation with respect to victims and survivors.”

I think the SDLP have the most pragmatic approach to this motion, their East Derry MLA John Dallat said “Nigel Dodds should be commended for his efforts to hold the Libyan regime to account for the Semtex and AK47s it supplied to the provisional murder machine. However for the sake of balance and the Shared Future to which his party is at least theoretically committed, he might want to look at the source of other weapons which killed people in large numbers. Collusion with rogue members of the security forces was of course a main source of weapons for the loyalist murder gangs. But there was also substantial shipment of arms from apartheid South Africa organised via Ulster Resistance at a time when First Minister Peter Robinson was sporting a Para-style red beret, holding rallies on hill-tops and invading County Monaghan. So if Nigel Dodds does get his delegation to Tripoli, he might like to continue southwards to Pretoria and check out who signed off on the weapons to Ulster Resistance.”

Devolution of Policing & Justice to Northern Ireland

The devolution of policing and justice has always been a contentious issue between political parties in Northern Ireland, back in 1999 when power over matters such as Education, Health and Agriculture were devolved to the N.I Assembly, policing and justice was shelved until a later day. Well that day has arrived and last week Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled a proposed budget to Northern Ireland’s first and deputy first minister’s, Gordon Brown said his Billion-pound offer to complete devolution in Northern Ireland would secure peace and prosperity in the region but the two main political parties are feeling far from peaceful and prosperous.

Deputy first minister Martin McGuiness said the devolution of policing and justice was achievable by Christmas, his counterpart in the OFMDFM Peter Robinson said “I think any fool can produce a wants list but the proposals that are presented by the Prime Minister have to be viewed by all of us.” The First minister also said his party would only agree to transferring law and order responsibilities from Westminster if changes were made to the current process of managing contentious events in the summer marching season.

Sinn Fein says that the DUP are placing obstacles in the way of a deal being done after outstanding financial issues were resolved, but the DUP have always maintained that transferring of policing and justice powers to Stormont will only happen on their terms and will only happen when the unionist community have confidence

• In the structural arrangements for the transfer of such sensitive functions
• In the person who will hold responsibility as Justice Minister and
• That there is adequate funding available to carry out the functions which are devolved.

The community that the DUP speaks of include the hard-line Traditional Unionist Voice party (TUV), in their 2009 election manifesto TUV make it clear that they believe Sinn Fein is not fit for government, they say – TUV continues to be unalterably opposed to the devolution of policing and justice to an Assembly and Executive in which IRA/Sinn Fein, which gleefully murdered policemen and judges, holds sway.

Sinn Fein believe that the powers should have been devolved long ago, they think devolution would make the Justice system more accountable and they no longer want the powers being exercised by a British minister in Westminster. Responding to Peter Robinson’s remarks in parliament on Tuesday when he said the parades commission should be abolished “to increase confidence in devolved policing and justice powers”, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams thinks citing the parades issue as a pre-condition is unacceptable, he said “This is not sincere, genuine or a serious effort to resolve the issue of Orange parades.”
 

So what happens now? And what do other politicians and representatives think of the current situation?

• Sinn Fein are happy to accept the deal on offer from Gordon Brown

• Conservative party leader David Cameron said he will respect the prime minister’s agreement with Northern Ireland leaders

• Northern Ireland’s new Chief Constable Matt Baggott has been briefed on the financial package by government officials and has discussed the offer with Policing Board chairman Barry Gilligan, he said “We welcome the clarification we have received and are encouraged by the progress.”

• PUP leader Dawn Purvis, welcomed Gordon Brown’s offer and called on party leaders to complete devolution

• Alliance party leader David Ford, who is widely expected to be appointed justice minister, not surprisingly said he believed Gordon Brown’s financial plan represented a reasonable offer

• UUP leader Sir Reg Empey, said his party were reserving judgment on its position regarding the financial deal

• SDLP policing spokesman Alex Attwood said a financial deal may have been reached but “political certainty” was less secure, he believes the DUP will continue to place obstacle’s in the way of devolution

• TUV leader Jim Allister, said he opposed giving republicans any role in overseeing policing and justice

• The DUP is in favour of the devolution of policing and justice powers but take a more cautious line than Sinn Fein


So as usual our political party leaders can’t agree on the best way forward and it looks like they will continue to debate over devolution, don’t be surprised if the DUP try and align other issues with the devolution of policing and justice e.g. north- south bodies and a potential review of the Good Friday Agreement.