The Dancer and the Dance
I’ve always found the choreographing aspect of the Northern Ireland peace process a little bit dubious, i.e. the “we’ll read this agreed statement after you read that agreed statement, then the two governments will read this agreed joint statement” etc. but I felt it was probably necessary to drag the grassroots of each side along. I always wondered how the grassroots felt about being patronised in this way. Now I think I know.
With the statement from the chief constable of the PSNI, Hugh Orde and the follow up media interviews from the Taoiseach and the British prime minister relating to the recent bank robbery at Northern Bank in Belfast, I think it is us, the general population, who are the victims of a bit of choreography. The governments are concerned about the rise of Sinn Fein’s popularity and seem to be trying to put a spanner in the works. They also know they’re at a dead end with the peace process, trying to get Sinn Fein and the DUP to agree. They need a distraction.
I don’t know who is responsible for the bank robbery (and I’m guessing the PSNI are coming up a bit short too) but I think it’s an audacious bit of opportunism to drag it into the political domain as it has been.
My main concern relates to the perception of the PSNI as an objective, politically detached organisation. I think that their handling of this affair puts it in doubt and will have long term implications at least as far reaching as if the IRA is proved to be responsible for the robbery.
The PSNI is (supposed to be) accountable to the people. However much we wish it otherwise the IRA are accountable to no-one but themselves.
The things we can control we should do right instead of just fantasising about trying to control the actions of people who are outside our control.
Mark Waters marked time at 3:44 pm on January 10th, 2005 .
