Following on from the recent opinion piece by ÓSF activist Eugene Garvey in relation to St Andrews document and policing, here is an article from Ógra activist Sean McCann taking a different angle to the debate.
Both articles are personal opinions in order to spark debate for the internal consultation.
Policing has long been a right which nationalists and republicans have been denied. A powerful tool of oppression, which rather than cherishing citizens it wished to rule, brutalised the republican community using harassment, torture and murder in a vain attempt to keep us down.
Policing was something which the Unionist elite had a monopoly on and used it to deadly effect, William Craig once infamously saying,
"We must build up the dossiers on the men and women who are a menace to this country, because one day, ladies and gentlemen, if the politicians fail, it will be our duty to liquidate the 'enemy'."
Collusion, Shoot to Kill, and Internment where all a by product of this state militia, and republicans suffered enormously at the hands of the state.
The old rejectionism Unionism of the past is also something which has prevented a proper rights based society being established in the North. It has constantly been the stumbling block which has denied republicans rights and entitlements.
The two things, both Policing and embracing rejectionary Unionism both present themselves in the form of the St Andrews proposals, and while the devil may be in the detail, and while changes may still be required - we need to seriously consider accepting these proposals.
If we can finally sort out policing on a northern context, then do we deliver civic policing to our community? A right which they have always been denied. And I fail to see where the DUP raise the bar next (will we finally silence the DUP?).
And if we tie the DUP into the internal workings of the GFA, then Ian Paisley must attend North-South Meetings, and abide by the equality commission, something which has the potential to rip this state from its seams. Equality exposes the inequality that the state was built on.
In finishing I know that these two decisions are very difficult and everyone will have their own particular experience of state harassment, but lets think of a day when we can deliver civic community based policing to our people, and a day when the DUP will be forced from a party of rejecting to that of acceptance.
We have all to gain, the state has all to lose!
8 comments:
The important thing is getting policing right. My concerns aren't over Paragraph 6 but more over what appears to be significant DUP vetoes over the transfer of powers and so on. It's important that activists study this document and read over the GFA agreement again (AND AGAIN!)thoroughly. Analyse it and work out what this document commits SF (and the DUP) to actually DOING, rather than focussing in on COMMENTS which are open to different interpretations and may actually commit a particular party to do very little in substance.
The debate is only getting started and no-one should be getting entrenched into fixed mind-sets, and everyone should listen to each other's analysis and debate before considering reaching a final decision on this.
the issue i have with policing as an Irish Republican is not whether there is 'good' policing or 'bad' policing in the six counites, rather it is the fact that the PSNI remains the British colonial police in this part of Ireland.
i have no problem with being opposed ideologically to crown forces in Ireland.
if we accept policing i believe it could break the revolutionary spirit of our struggle, a spirit i am afraid to say which is currently wearing thin. let me say, there is nothing revolutionary about joining the forces of the crown - it will still be a partionist british force!
what has sinn fein supporting the ruc/psni and mi5 got to do with taking down the statelet? if anything it strengthens it.
What next? Will we be supporting a bigger crown to be put on the psni/ruc uniform?
One question. What path facilitates the quickest road to a united ireland? It is my belief that gaining some control of the psni and having our people involved in policing directly is the answer. The game is all but up. The strength of sinn fein on both sides of the border will continue to grow if not quite at the rate of recent years. Having a say over policing is vital to moving this issue forward and being on the policing board will become essential. Develoution of justice is critical also however, and both the legislation and a definitive timescale will be required. The significance of bringing rejectionist unionism into this process cannot be understated, and effectively represents an acceptance of the evitable change to come. The policing issue is a hard issue to swallow, and quite possibly the hardest act of compromise so far from a republican perspective, but I feel it will be the last great compromise neccessary, and will yield much opportunity for republicans, both with regard to policing specifically and the peace process on the whole. Once this issue is resolved, the demographic makeup of the 6 counties will become the deciding factor in terms of growing the Sinn Fein vote. Once this issue is resolved more people from the south will move North for work opportunities at a smaller cost of living to Dublin. This trend has already been growing and needs to be nurtured. Immigration from outside is also a key to growing our vote. Those from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia being targeted in racist attacks by Loyalists in South Belfast and other areas should be welcomed into the republican family. After all we can identify with such treatment. I don't want to be seen to be leaving the original arguement but I feel this is all linked in so far as this opportunity will open doors to complete the process alot quicker than people think. Irish unification is a reasonable objective for 2020. But it will require republicans to remain united behind the leadership and all our energies to be focused on growing our mandate in new and innovative ways.
The brits will not cede enough powers to Irish Republicans to significantly change the PSNI from a colonial police force whose job is to uphold the state, to a police service, accountable to the community it polices, no matter how much political strength republicans have.
I'm sorry, but I don't buy this argument that by sitting on the policing boards as presently constructed, that we are changing the system from within. Have the SDLP been doing that? What is needed is a real debate on what type of policing arrangements need to be put in place in a society where a large section of the population have no faith in the State's policing service. We need to think outside the box on this one.
I think republicans need to look at this issue in terms of how it progresses their overall objectives and whether we want to be in a position in 20 years time with the police still being a main obstacle to a united ireland with a clear political agenda, or a neuteured group with no power to interfere in the political process. A Unionist force for Unionists is one of the reasons why Unionists support the Union. Its time that was tackled and taken out of the equation.
People shouldn't get it into their heads that SF are going to get sucked into the policing structures and be tame, head-nodding ducks like the SDLP. The peelers don't want us anywhere near policing, and at the end of the day we will be going into it with an undiluted republican agenda.
At the same time I have not yet decided whether this document is the best way forward in terms of policing as there is not a lot of guarantees and a lot of vagueness. I do have to say that the debate is very healthy and to be welcomed
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