All apologies redux… July 13, 2012
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin.trackback
I was a little sceptical about the talk of SF pushing towards some sort of apology from the IRA. And perhaps I still am. But that said, what to make of the following in the SBP?
One of the most senior figures in the Sinn Féin leadership has made a strong appeal to republicans to reach out to their unionist neighbours by acknowledging the suffering caused by the Northern conflict.
Speaking in Darkley, South Armagh on Friday night, Sinn Féin chairman Declan Kearney said that he and other members of the Sinn Féin leadership hoped for an authentic reconciliation process across the island of Ireland.
Again, much depends on the nature of such an acknowledgement. And I don’t say this as an SF partisan. But I’m always a little wary of the sort of rhetoric below:
Kearney referred to meeting of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Martin McGuinness last week as a ‘Mandela Moment’, and that there was a need for new risks and compromises for more of those moments to be achieved, and the “trajectory towards national reconciliation” maintained.
“The achievements of our process demand that we now complete that journey,” said Kearney. “We will have to keep stretching ourselves, taking bolder steps.”
It’s not that such events have no significance, and subsequent to that meeting I’m more convinced now that that was – far from the Southerncentric media’s spin on it being about attracting a Southern floating vote, more about the dynamics extant within the six counties. That’s fair enough. Northern Ireland is a primary focus both of activity and reconciliation on the path to broader engagement on unity. However long that may take, and as Joe – long-time commentor here notes, it’s going to take a long time indeed.
But even to frame it as a ‘Mandala moment’ is to frame it in an unnecessary way.
None of which is to deny that Sinn Féin appears to be doing something fairly unique in terms of Republicanism which is to simultaneously maintain its Republicanism while also seeking to engage seriously with Unionism in the North. That’s quite something, almost a step change.
It also raises many questions. What is the end point? Or even the transitional points? What sort of new relationships are envisaged? Taking an almost banal point, I’ve heard on good authority that the Executive functions in spite of rather than because of with much less communication between the parties, and in particular the DUP and SF than might be expected. Is this in part a way to rework that? If so no harm. But then what happens next?
Apology is a loaded term. If people ever expect the IRA or SF to condemn the IRA struggle, that is never going to happen, never. On the other hand IRA men and women sitting down with all sides and expressing regret about what happened, all sides doing it, that is to be welcomed. Genuine reconciliation.
Some want an apology for fighting back, for not lying down and taking it. Not going to happen. It is the mindset of the last laugh, aiming to get a victory over others.
This is all about the focus on the North, the south is secondary.
“If people ever expect the IRA or SF to condemn the IRA struggle”, seems to me that by criminalizing it they have done that, only one army etc etc.
Remind me why internment was wrong in 1971 and is OK now, Oh I know it was the Brits & Unionists then now its PSF.
Ghandi: SF have repeatedly called for releases of Price and Corey – what else would you have them do?
‘that is never going to happen, never. ‘
Glad your so certain. Bit of a hostage to fortune, mind, given that I remember similar assurances about entering six-county assemblies, decommissioning, recognizing the police etc etc. In fact at one time even suggesting such things might happen was tantamount to insulting the memory of dead volunteers. Not that I think an apology would mean that much, as the Loyalists expressed ‘true and abject remorse’ way back in 1994 and nobody noticed.
It is the way that it will be phrased. It will not be done as as an apology for armed struggle. Remorse is fine, all in favour of the republicans apologizing for individual acts that they did, or that it came to that.
Some will look for this as a way to criminalize the struggle, that isn’t going to be let happen. Healing can happen without that.
+1
I kind of agree with you Branno about the effect of apologies. But I’d also agree with MiseMe that any apology can’t really delegitimise the struggle even if it did express regret about what happened. I think that’s a crucial point about the future.
“None of which is to deny that Sinn Féin appears to be doing something fairly unique in terms of Republicanism which is to simultaneously maintain its Republicanism while also seeking to engage seriously with Unionism in the North”
Are they really? Depends what you mean by engagement I suppose. Shaking hands with the Queen isn’t what I would think of. What about an attempt to engage with working class unionist communities? How would SF do that anyway, maybe start talking class politics? How would that impact on their “republicanism” (nationalism?)?
also depends on what you mean by retaining its Republicanism.
I don’t count shaking hands with the Queen that really, though I guess some might see it as that. I’m thinking more of broader efforts but I take the point about how would it be done in concrete terms.
Remembering back. To the election of Michelle in the nicest image was independent socialist candidate from a Presbyterian background warmly shaking her hand. Sf are making connections with working class of all communities – likely more so than any other party up in 6 counties
I find the whole thing cringe making.SF are in the process of joining a new elite consensus. Read The Irish Counter Revolution 1921-1936
Treatyite Politics and Settlement in Independent Ireland
By John Regan
This process has happened before.And given the Boston college debacle I wonder where it will all lead.
It was a war. Crap happens.Apologise for civilian casualties and leave i at that.
If they make an apology; Unionists will say it’s a cynical exercise and an insult to the memory of the dead, dissident republicans will say it’s an insult to the memory of the republican dead, Sinn Fein supporters will say it’s a historic moment and their decision to apologise reflects tremendous credit on the party and is thoroughly justified. No-one else will care very much.
If they don’t make an apology: Unionists will say it shows they’ve never really changed, dissident republicans will say the pass was sold a long time ago, Sinn Fein supporters will say the moment is not right yet and their decision not to apologise reflects tremendous credit on the party and is thoroughly justified. No-one else will care in the least.
Can’t see the point of this at all really.
The problem is that the people an apology would be aimed at are unlikely to believe that it’s genuinely meant. The fact that SF will be bigging the apology up as a political master stroke won’t help in this regard.
not aware of to many SF members who felt their views where represented by the hand shake. also not sure kearney has the right to apologise for the actions of volunteers. a british soldier is an instrument of that states monopoly of violence in this country. fair game for anyone who disgrees that england should have a monopoly of violence in this country. kearney lives in a bubble. he’s intitled to his views but he’s taking the base for granted if he thinks this outlook is universal.