Irish peace scales its first hurdle

But the party’s 110-member executive committee voted 55-23 to back the peace deal. It will now be considered by the party’s full council at a meeting in Belfast next Saturday, but Trimble said he does not expect a reversal.

“When people sit down and analyze this document I believe the result will be even stronger in our favor,” he said.

Earlier today, hard-liners within the party had threatened to oppose the compromise peace deal accepted by their leader. Trimble, whose pro-BritishProtestant Party opposes Irish unity and is central to making the agreement work, faced rebellion within his ranks the day after agreeing to the accord.

Trimble went to the Ulster Unionists’ downtown Belfast headquarters early today to sell the settlement to the party’s 110-member executive committee.

While Northern Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom with a new assembly, the Protestants and Catholics in this new administration would be required to forge formal links with the rest of Ireland too.

The Belfast talks chairman, former US Senate majority leader George Mitchell, won acceptance yesterday from all eight participating parties after 22 months of negotiations.

William Thompson, an Ulster unionist lawmaker who vowed to vote “no” when the accord is subjected to a referendum on May 22 in northern Ireland, said the campaign to scrap the agreement would not end with today’s vote.

“We will continue to fight it all the way. Trimble may claim this to be a victory but it’s anything butthat,” he said.

CRUX OF THE PROBLEM: When Ireland won independence from Britain in 1921, the British retained the northern province of Ulster which had a Protestant majority and a strong “Unionist” or “Loyalist” culture. After almost 70 years of independence during which they faced systematic discrimination, the Catholics of Ulster, who came from the island’s anti-British “Nationalist” or “Republican” tradition spoke out. The British government crushed their unarmed civil rights demonstrations. This was followed by rioting and the beginning of the “Troubles” or the armed conflict.

The Conflict: The Unionists want to retain the status quo, a strong union with Britain and Westminster rule. The Nationalists want independence from Britain and a united Ireland.

The Deal: An elected Northern Ireland Assembly to move it towards greater self-governance. North-South bodies, possibly a Council of Ministers from the two governments to enshrine the participation of the Republic in the governance ofUlster. The early release of convicted IRA prisoners. The Republic of Ireland to drop its constitutional claim to Ulster. The UK’s Government of Ireland Act 1921 to be superseded with new legislation that makes the above arrangements feasible.

The Pitfalls: followers and especially the IRA that this is a “transitional” deal which does not preclude the possibility of independence. The Unionists have to persuade their following that the deal marks the strengthening of the union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Each side will have to contend with opponents from within their fold. Sinn Fein will put the deal to its first test at their annual convention in two weeks. Acceptance here, could mean, acceptance in the ranks of the IRA.

However fringe and breakaway Nationalist paramilitary groups like the Continuity Army and Irish National Liberation Army may intensify their terrorist activities.