Criticism of the Irish/British proposals aimed at saving the Belfast Agreement published yesterday is beginning to mount, with scepticism being expressed by Sinn Fein and a threat to the possibility of Mr David Trimble’s re-election as First Minister from within his own party.
The Secretary of State Dr John Reid is to meet the main parties tomorrow to clarify the proposals but local reaction from both nationalists and unionists shows that the "non-negotiable" proposal’s may be in need of some adjustment if they are to provide a basis for the resumption on the Assembly.
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Mr Peter Weir: Proposals
"a republican wish list" |
Mr Trimble received a double blow tonight when it emerged that two of his Assembly members have rejected the package meaning he no longer has sufficient numbers of pro-Agreement unionists at Stormont to re-elect him as First Minister.
The package was rejected by Mr Peter Weir and Ms Pauline Armitage.
Mr Weir, who recently regained the party whip, predicted that the UUP would vote to reject the blueprint. "I don't think the package is acceptable to any unionists and I have a strong degree of confidence that the party will unite to reject this document," he said.
Mr Weir added that other members of the Assembly party had strong reservations about elements of the package.
"I think it's a republican wish list, which would lead to an amnesty for all terrorists who had committed crimes before April 1998 and would probably lead to the final nail in the coffin of policing."
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said tonight that there were few real commitments in the proposals on policing and demilitarisation.
Mr Kelly said the party did not trust the British government to deliver a new police service saying that support for the proposals would hinge on the implementation plans for policing and criminal justice.
With the implementation package detailing police reforms due to be released to the parties tomorrow, Mr Kelly told a meeting of Belfast party members: "I have spent days going through this issue with the British Government. Yet tonight I am still not in a position to tell you if the British are going to deliver the new beginning to policing promised in the Agreement.
"Do I trust them to do it? No, of course I don't. That is why we want to see their plans in black and white on policing and on justice."
He also criticised the section on demilitarisation, accusing the Government of "minor tinkering" of military installations.
Earlier today, Mr Kelly claimed loyalist violence in north Belfast is hampering efforts to achieveIRA decommissioning, and said Mr Trimble's insistance on IRA decommissiong before a resumption of the institutions was boosting the UDA campaign.
"I don't know if he's doing it deliberately or he feels he has to hold his own people on board," Mr Kelly said.
A full meeting of the party's executive takes place tomorrow while the Ulster Unionist ruling council will meet on Monday.
Additional reporting PA