SDLP throws weight behind reform plan

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, AUG. 21. One of the most divisive episodes in Northern Ireland's sectarian conflict may be about to end as plans to replace the controversial Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) with a more impartial police force have won the support of the moderate nationalist party, the SDLP, and the Catholic church. Mr. David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is also expected to back the creation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland which, unlike the predominantly Protestant RUC, would comprise 50 per cent Catholics and 50 per cent Protestants and is expected to be more accountable. While Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), representing the hardline republican and Unionist opinion respectively, remained opposed to the move saying it fell short of their demand for more radical police reforms, the Government was confident of going ahead with it on the strength of SDLP and the expected UUP support.

Though the UUP was still weighing its options, analysts believed that for the first time in months, moderation looked a winner in Northern Ireland's tortuous peace process which, despite the breakthrough on policing, is likely to remain deadlocked so long as the IRA continues to hold on to its weapons. Appeals by the SDLP to members of all communities to join the new force raised hopes of cross-community support for wide-ranging police reforms, a key element of the Good Friday Agreement. The Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr. John Reid welcomed the SDLP's move as ``unprecedented'' and said: ``We look forward to working with as wide range of community leaders as possible to enable the police to become more representative and effective.'' The Irish Prime Minister, Mr. Bertie Ahern, who has been working closely with the British Government to keep the peace process alive, said the proposed police reforms would bring about a ``truly representative, accountable and acceptable police service for all people in Northern Ireland.'' The SDLP's announcement came hours ahead of the British Government's deadline for parties to respond to its proposals announced last week, and summarily rejected by Sinn Fein and the DUP.

A senior UUP leader said the announcement was ``truly historic'' and showed that Sinn Fein was ``isolated...and out of touch.'' The Sinn Fein chairman, Mr. Mitchel McLaughlin, however, retorted saying this was not the first time that a ``coalition of interests has emerged against Sinn Fein.'' ``Well, we didn't go away, we're still here and we're stronger than we were in the past,'' he declared. The DUP was even more dismissive calling the SDLP a ``poodle of the Roman Catholic church''.

The SDLP leader, Mr. John Hume described his party's decision as ``common sense'' and said it would be encouraging people from all communities to join the proposed force which he hailed as ``the new beginning for policing''. Mr. Seamus Mallon, acting head of the provincial coalition, urged people to grab the reforms. ``We have one opportunity to get this right. Take that chance,'' he declared.

Meanwhile, in an interesting development, an opinion poll in The Guardian today indicated a major shift in public opinion in favour of Irish unity with 41 per cent Britons saying that Northern Ireland should be part of a United Ireland. Only 26 per cent said it should remain part of the U.K. The newspaper called it a blow to Unionists who regard themselves as Britons and want the province to stay with U.K. ``For Unionists, many of whom consider themselves British and refer to Britain as the ``mainland'' today's findings amount to a cold shoulder from their fellow citizens. Only one in four wants the province to stay part of the country,'' it said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Arafat, Sharon agree to hold talks
Next     : Taliban flouting norms: U.S.