IRA must accept humiliation says Paisley

[mrgorth]

IRA MUST ACCEPT HUMILIATION SAYS PAISLEY
12/06/04 12:12 EST

The IRA must accept publication of photographs of the
decommissioning of its weapons if it wants power-sharing
restored in Northern Ireland, Democratic Unionist leader Ian
Paisley said tonight.


Following talks in Downing Street with Tony Blair, Dr
Paisley said there had to be clear proof that the IRA had
given up its weapons if it wanted a deal on the restoration
of devolved government.


"If you sin publicly you have to repent publicly," he told
reporters afterwards.


Sinn Fein has been resisting strongly demands by the DUP to
allow the decommissioning process to be photographed.


However, Dr Paisley insisted there could be no compromise on
the demand if there was to be a deal.


"If the IRA-Sinn Fein are honest and face up to their
responsibilities they have to take the humility and the
humiliation."


Mr Paisley told reporters at Downing Street on Monday:
"We've never been nearer to a settlement." But he added:
"There's nothing wrong with asking a terrorist to surrender
his weapon. And there's nothing wrong with asking a person
who has been guilty of organising mass murder through the
country, and trying to commit genocide of the whole
Protestant population of the border, to say: 'Give it up.'"


Meanwhile, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has urged Mr
Paisley to accept the deal proposed by the two governments.


Speaking before the Downing Street talks,Mr. Adams said:
"The question which must be asked and answered by Ian
Paisley is: is he prepared to sign up to a comprehensive
agreement which will have his party share power with Sinn
Féin," the West Belfast MP asked. "Is it yes or no? "Is all
of this going to be thrown away because Ian Paisley does not
get the process of humiliation he wants?"


The main issues which have been highlighted in the latest
round of intense talks include decommissioning,
demilitarisation, policing and future devolved institutions.
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