Irish Political Leaders: Report Undermines Irish Peace Process

Irish political leaders called for disbandment of the so-called Independent Monitoring Committee after its release of a report the leaders called inaccurate and anti-republican.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 9, 2006 -- Irish political leaders called for disbandment of the so-called Independent Monitoring Committee after its release of a report the leaders called inaccurate and anti-republican. The report alleges the IRA has held on to weapons, a finding also disputed by the man chosen to oversee last years destruction of IRA weapons, General De Chastelain, head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.

“For years the British government has attempted to criminalize republican communities. It is a throwback to their arrogant colonial past,” said O’Dowd.

Irish leaders, calling the IMC an obstacle to the peace process, have moved to have the entity disbanded. Sinn Fein representatives have introduced a Bill into the Dáil calling for the Irish Government to end its political backing and funding for the discredited IMC and to have the legislation, which saw the implementation of the IMC, repealed.

“The IMC has no place in the political process,” said Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein Chief Negotiator. “It is not part of the Good Friday Agreement. It subverts the democratic mandate of all the political parties but specifically targeted at Sinn Féin. The individuals who make up the IMC and the group collectively are hostile to Irish Republicanism and are a proxy for Irish policing.”

Irish leaders in the U.S. have sent out a call to action.

“Defending the peace process is critical if there is to be real and lasting peace for the Irish people,” said Paul Doris, Chairperson of Irish Northern Aid (INA). “The IMC is an obstacle to the process, and now is the time for its disbandment.”

INA urged supporters in the U.S. to take action. Tell the Irish, British and U.S. governments you oppose the obstruction of the peace process by clicking on: www.inac.org

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