"FARC-gate for Sinn Fein"

by David Ervine

Whatever the evidence against the Colombian Three, and that seems a little over estimated given the heralded forensic traces and the 'non existent' video, there are questions which must be answered by the hierarchy of the Republican Movement. As usual, they'll hardly answer my questions, but it is becoming increasingly clear that questioning internally increases in volume with each day.

The interaction among the Provo foot soldiers must be enlightening. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that arena! Some of them probably prefer to watch the Teletubbies rather than have to come to terms with perceived shifts in IRA policy. The leadership knows best, might be the refuge of some. Sinn Fein ensuring that the Prods are always upset, will be a comfort for others. One volunteer 'in the know' might tell another, "don't worry what are boys say on the TV, it's all a wee game."

With that sort of advice available, is it any wonder that the leadership of the IRA whisked the offer to build public confidence off the table at the very, very, very earliest opportunity. How can the gung-ho Provo square the circle that to put weapons beyond use is to somehow speed the withdrawl of the Brits? How does he equate the thirty-two county socialist republic so dreamed of with right-wing financial policies practiced by Martin McGuinness and Barbara DeBrun. Totally capitalist policies carried out by socialist Sinn Fein? Well, I wonder what the IRA bedfellows, FARC make of all that. FARC sell drugs, and unashamedly admits doing so to destabilise capitalist society. The 'republicans' practice capitalism and shoot drug dealers.

The hated enemy of FARC is the US. The close friend of the 'republicans' is the US! Think of all those rich corporate Americans paying $500-a-plate to the Sinn Fein political cause as the Americans pour billions of dollars to bolster the war against FARC! The Colombian 'Provo's' kidnap rich people and murder them if their families don't pay the ransom. Measured that against the Sinn Fein electoral appeal across the classes in Catholic Ireland. Many readers will not be aware of the hypocrisy of Republican News. When they write critically of American policy towards Cuba, the Internet copy is devoid of such criticism.

The next time one hears a Sinn Fein spokesperson speak of conflict resolution, we should keep all of this hypocrisy in mind. Please give some thought to how dishonest Unionists and British Governments really are when Sinn Fein accuse. Give some consideration to the statesmanship the Sinners tell us all that they offer. Spare a moment for those who fall foul of the Provo thought police. After all only they have the right, only they could be honourable and they are entitled to have vision. Only they must exact prices - not even the SDLP or the Irish Government is allowed to claim that they gained anything for the people!

Can it be that a conflict resolution process prospers amid such shame and deceit? I think not!

When the questioning Provo hits upon a few of these ambiguous issues, I wonder what satisfies his lust for knowledge? Could it be that they do actually tell each other the truth? I doubt it! However, if they impart the truth in the cabal, then the theory of conspiracy in my mind would be ever greater.

The inquisitive IRA volunteer is beginning to get agitated. Standing shacking with red face and bulging blood vessels he screams, "Will somebody answer my f***ing questions? From the shadows, with authority and calm reassurance comes a voice. "The war isn't over, ok?" Says inquisitive, "Well, that's all right, then. That explains everything?"

For my part, the lack of answers from 'republicans' gives me the right to do the human thing. Working out ones own answers is easy enough. The difficulty is that one can only calculate with the knowledge one has. Perhaps I'm missing something! My best guess is probably as good as that of the foot soldier Provo. You see senior Provos have told me the war is over. The problem is that, so far, they won't say it to each other or publicly! Who would you see about that? I know - the teletubbies!

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