Last week Newton Emerson, Belfast Republican Army president, suggested it was time "to burn the BRA". We asked him if he would clarify that statement.
'Will I clarify that statement? No. Clarification is a unionist demand and in any case, republicans can not clarify because butter won't melt in our mouths.
"Disbanding the BRA is another demand used as an excuse by unionists to make the disbandment of the BRA that everyone on this island voted for conditional on the disbandment of the BRA! So, far from satisfying unionists, removing this excuse by disbanding the BRA would just annoy unionists and that is something republicans may be generously prepared to consider.
"But for that to happen, others, including the media, must recognise that the British government has an obligation to remove the unionist veto over our veto. Whatever problems there may be with the Irish Government are irrelevant because we are the Irish Government.
"The DUP and the British government have made the disbandment of the BRA a precondition for the re-establishment of the political institutions. This is completely unacceptable. Consequently, we must make changes to policing a pre-condition for the disbandment of the BRA. This is completely typical. If the outstanding issues around policing, which mainly involve us being able to arrest them if they decide to arrest us, are resolved to my satisfaction, then I would be prepared to go to our ard comhairle to ask for a special ardfheis, preferably in Ardglass, to discuss this matter ardently over a pint.
"Others, including the media, must not underestimate the scale of the size of the shift in BRA-support thinking that this vague promise represents, not only because of the emotions involved, not only because of the nationalist experience of policing in the North, where we have permitted it, not only because I've been saying much the same thing for the past six years, but because our country is still partitioned and this is the last dog-eared card we've got.
"A move on policing would be a bigger strategic compromise for us than the Good Friday Strategic Compromise. It is also my view that this issue is too big for ourselves alone, or at least that will be my view if it all goes wrong. But, if as the result of an outcome of further progress on changes to reform of policing, we get to a point at a stage in a place where the party can discuss a decision to review its view on the stance of our position, there would need to be a period in the timeframe for a process of consultation on opinion about attitudes within republican communities.
"This is why it is crucial that policing powers are transferred from London to Belfast immediately. The quicker our demands are met, the sooner we can begin discussing whether or not they have been met. Will our demands be met after they have been met? No. There are still a wide range of issues that will remain outstanding while Martin and I get measured for our uniforms. These include demilitarisation of others, including the media, an inquiry into why Pat Finucane was the only person to actually die during the troubles, and the right to live free from sectarian Protestants.
"These matters need to be resolved if there is to be parity of esteem for all our citizens, including those stupid enough to consider themselves 'subjects'. So there is a mountain to climb, a ford to stream, an Everest to be strategically conquered, before we find our dream. It may be, at this time, that unionism is not up to pulling its weight. Fair enough. Time will tell. Such is life. There you go. But the Good Friday Strategic Compromise is about more than that. Most of it is about rights.
"Human rights and equality are not concessions. They are fundamental entitlements. So we have the right to demand anything we see as our right without having to right any of our own wrongs.
"Some of my recent public remarks have been aimed at republicans as well as unionists but I also hope the two governments are listening, the republicans didn't hear me and the unionists have no idea what I'm talking about. Getting the political process back on track involves much more than the disbandment of the BRA. It requires us to sign up to policing as well. So move along now. There's nothing to see here. Evening all."