waider

Much ado was made yesterday about the fact that Stormont House had to be evacuated after Michael Stone arrived with a bunch of explosives in a bag. However, much ado was also made about the fact that the Late Late Show was disrupted by a disgruntled man. Strangely, RTÉ are not offering any clips of the latter incident.

So, no surprise, the IICD announced today that all of the IRA's arms have been put beyond use (by which they mean, I believe, they're encased in rather a lot of concrete).

Further lack of surprise in the various parties praising this move; the UK Primer Minister, the Irish Taoiseach, the Irish President, and various other talking heads.

And of course least surprise of all at Ian "Ulster says No" Paisley:

Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley said there had been no transparent verification of IRA decommissioning in the announcement.

He said the church witnesses had been agreed by the IRA and as such could not be considered "independent".

Without a photographic proof, an inventory and details on how the weapons were destroyed questions remained, said Mr Paisley.

"This afternoon the people of Northern Ireland watched a programme which illustrates more than ever the duplicity and dishonesty of the two governments and the IRA."

His fellow party members, being a somewhat less intransigent lot, made noises that amounted to "yes, but what about the criminal activities?" (which also isn't particularly surprising)

Dear Ian, WTF? You do not approve of the witnesses chosen. This suggests you'd rather some other witnesses. In which case, they'd have been agreed by you, and "as such could not be considered independent". Furthermore, the IICD said that the inventory they made of the weapons is consistent with the security forces' estimates of IRA stockpiles. Since it's implicit in your attitude that you don't trust the IICD, their witnesses, or the IRA, in what way would a photograph, a list of weapons, or details of their destruction have changed your eventual statement, and given that, why did you even bother making concilliatory noises in the past few months? In fact, what the hell are you still doing in Northern Ireland politics, when even your own party members are moving forward without you?

You jerk.

Some time ago, bitpuddle asked what the heck was going on in Derry, it being the Marching Season and all that. I responded with a potted history of Northern Ireland, which I'm actually rather happy with. Although I'm sure some people would find it upsetting, what with its heavy reliance on facts. For bonus points it includes a joke.

From RTÉ News: "PSNI stoned ahead of Antrim parade" Not much point in me linking it as someone's bound to edit it.

Gerry Adams kept his seat. David Trimble lost his, amid other losses for the UUP and gains for the DUP. While the SDLP are generally characterised as the moderate Republicans to Sinn Féin's hardliners, the reality of the situation has been that Adams has been a far closer opponent to Trimble than he has to Paisley & co. Thus, it appears that while the Republican supporters are happy to continue gradually moving towards compromise in order to "solve" Northern Ireland, the Unionist supporters would prefer not to compromise and indeed have given more power to a party who have expressed no interest in such things.

I don't understand this: Belfast firefighters lured into trap. I mean, I can understand misguided idiots luring, say, the RUC (now the PSNI, and more inclusive, and quite possibly no longer such a target) or the local British Army squad into a pelting with projectiles, but the Fire Service? or the Ambulance Service? Are these people really so stupid that they figure "Blue Lights = Enemy"?