Madam, - I wish to register my deep disapproval of the DUP's approach to the St Andrews Agreement, and of their intention to go into government with terrorists, despite their long and clear opposition to terrorists in government.
They cannot play language games with the electorate and draw a distinction between terrorists and democrats, when referring to PIRA/SF. It simply does not wash.
To proceed along this road is to betray all those victims whom the DUP said it supported. It will further disenchant voters with politics in Northern Ireland.
I have been trying to encourage our people to vote in the elections, and this is becoming very difficult to sustain. To hold joint office with a PIRA/SF "politician" is to hand our country over to a party that is an all-Ireland party, thus giving Dublin a further role in the government of our country. This is unacceptable.
My brother, and many like him, stood on the line to keep our country from going down that road. Kenneth did not die for this!
This is NOT a basis for moving forward, not least because of the prospect of terrorists in government once again. Once bitten. . .
I say to the DUP, "Please do not betray those who trusted you in the last election, especially the innocent victims - they will not trust you again if you betray them this time.
"You cannot go into government with those who murdered and maimed our loved ones.
"We do not want to be governed, even jointly, by those you are now prepared to accept, when the conditions are right. You will have completely undermined all those whom you claimed to be supporting by your robust and sensible policies."
The DUP can only get the support of victims if they prove their seriousness in opposing terrorists at every turn.
But going into government with them does not sound like opposing them.
If they do this, they will be admitting that the methods that PIRA/SF used to get to where they are today were legitimate.
My response to the St Andrews Agreement is a clear and unequivocal NO. - Yours, etc,
JE HAZLETT LYNCH (Dr),
Director, West Tyrone Voice,
Newtownstewart,
Co Tyrone.