Dissidents reject talks offer
Dissident republicans in Derry have ruled out talks with local community representatives who are trying to bring about a ceasefire.
The IRSP in Derry - a group believed to be linked to the INLA - said they see no prospect of the INLA meeting with the organisers of a petition calling for an end to dissident republican activity.
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32CSM) in the city also said they have already been approached by the organisers of a public petition calling for an end to dissident republican activity following the murder of 22 year-old Emmett Shiels in the city last month. The organisation - which security sources regard as the political wing of the Real IRA - said they have been approached to engage in talks but insisted they would only talk about "issues of our national sovereignty."
A spokesperson for the IRSP dismissed the public petition, branding it a 'witch hunt'. "The organisers know full well that if they wanted to meet with the INLA or any of the other groups mentioned then there is clear and well known mechanisims for making this happen. A publicity driven petition is quite obviously not the way. Witch hunt diplomacy will not work.
"We in the republican socialist movement are prepared to talk to and listen to anyone who is sincere and genuine and we have done so in the past and will do so in the future. But these talks have never come following an opportunistic witch hunt driven by a desire to see political opponents go away. Therefore we see no prospect of the INLA meeting with these representatives.
"We view this initiative as nothing more than political opportunism which is being directed by the Provisional movement against those they view as politically opposed to their viewpoint," an IRSP spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for the 32 CSM said: "It has come to the attention of the 32CSM that on the evening of Wednesday 9th July two approaches were made to members of our Derry cumann to engage in talks of some description. The first of these approaches was made by two organisers of a petition against anti-agreement republicans through Community Restorative Justice and the second was by someone claiming to represent the Bogside/Brandywell Initiative.The 32 County Sovereignty Movement's position on talks with any group is clear, we will talk to anyone on the issues of our national sovereignty and national self determination."
The spokesperson also said that permission for any discussions would have to be given at national level and would not be held in secret. "We are a national movement and anyone wishing to discuss issues with us must first go through our National Executive. Any individual cumann or area is not permitted by our constitution to engage in discussions on the national movement's behalf. Those who have approached our members in Derry know full well how to contact our movement and we look forward to an official request, we are not aware of one at present," the spokesperson said.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Derry
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 29 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
