NORTHERN IRELAND: Peace Process Takes Another Step Forward

DUBLIN, Dic 29 (IPS) - The peace process in Northern Ireland has taken another step forward after a party formed by former political prisoners issued a request for a meeting with the SDLP -- the main party representing the Catholic nationalist minority in the region.

The former prisoners -- grouped as the Ulster Democratic Party -- helped to broker the loyalist paramilitary ceasefire in October.

However, the letter inviting the SDLP to talks this week came as the British Government once again showed a less than enthusiastic approach to the peace process developing in Northern Ireland.

Since the ceasefire announced in August by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) -- which is fighting for a United Ireland -- and in October by the loyalist paramilitaries fighting for Northern Ireland to remain in the United Kingdom, the British Government have made few concessions.

They have opened a few border roads and reduced the level of patrolling by the British army in Northern Ireland.

Sir Patrick Mayhew, the Government Minister responsible for Northern Ireland, repeated on Thursday the British demand that paramilitaries dispose of their arms as a pre-condition for all- party talks.

There has to be a disposal of arms, he said, so that "you are not reserving for yourself, as it were, the violence that you use for your own political purposes in the event that you don't get what you're looking for at the conference table".

In Christmas week, on the day that a tiny number of paramilitary prisoners were let out on a week's leave, the British minister also issued a statement ruling out any amnesty for prisoners.

"There are no political prisoners in Northern Ireland," he said.

The Ulster Democratic Party wants to establish formal and regular contact with the SDLP -- which is led by John Hume and is the main party representing the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland. The party would like to see the region re-united with the Republic of Ireland.

Hume, who has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize by socialist MEPs, and his wife, Pat, are to be presented with the European of the Year award at the next session of the European Parliament in January.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service