Peace in pieces?

Firstly, the British Army never had, does not have and never will have any legitimate reason to be in Ireland. The fact that there are still approximately 5,000 British Army personnel in the 6 counties is a major problem and concern. Though critical at times of, I am a supporter of the Peace Process. However with the major announcement of Óglaigh na hEireann (PIRA more commonly to most) in 2005 which stated unequivocally that their military campaign was over and decomissioning since independently and objectively verified, all British troops and military personnel should have been subsequently removed. Four years on and the British Army, although some barracks have been dismantled, still operate in the 6 Counties, using it as a base to send troops into the illegal and bloody occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. This is unacceptable.

I see the shooting dead of the two British soldiers as an attempt by the RIRA to provoke a violent reaction from the British establishment but also as an attempt to highly embarrass Sinn Féin and the Provisional movement. I feel that the killings were unproductive, but when put into the larger context these British soldiers were trained killers stationed on foreign territory. They were hours away from being deployed to Afghanistan, where countless innocent people have already been slaughtered by 'Her Majesty's Armed Forces'. The shooting dead of the PSNI officer was also damaging to the peace process, especially at a time when the vast majority of the republican community are working towards achieving a truly transparent and accountable police service.

Furthermore the recent deployment of the British Special Reconnaissance Regiment, without any consultation or broad agreement, as just recently announced by Hugh Orde, in the 6 Counties was a foolish and ill-advised decision. Their last most notable action was in the killing of innocent Brazilian national Jean Charles de Menezes in July 2005, of which there have never been any repercussions. More than enough innocent Irish people have already been victims of the British establishment's bullets. While there are peaceful and democratic avenues to be explored and utilised in bringing about the re-unification of our country, there is no need for further bloodshed. Unfortunately the British establishment have not fully reciprocated in response to the Provisional Republican movement's concessions.

A British Army return to patrolling the streets of the 6 Counties is in nobody's interest. An escalation of violence by small Republican armed groups without popular support is in nobody's interest. Peace is in everybody's interests, but not just a stagnant peace. All citizens on the island of Ireland deserve a progressive peace, one which will ultimately unite the country and transform the socio-economic conditions of today to ensure an egalitarian republic for all.