Earlier today former Provisional IRA commander and current Deputy First Minister of the Stormont Assembly, Martin McGuiness, shook hands with the UK Queen.
Sinn Féin portrayed this as a “powerful signal that peace-building requires leadership”. While others proposed that it was the final capitulation of the Provisional to the establishment.
For further reading:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0627/....html
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/historic-handsh....html
Sinn Féin portrayed this as a “powerful signal that peace-building requires leadership”. While others proposed that it was the final capitulation of the Provisional to the establishment.
Anthony McIntyre's take on the handshake
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/26/shaking-queen-hand-martin-mcguinness
For further reading:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0627/....html
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/historic-handsh....html
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis....html
Republican Sinn Féin's view:
"Provisionals are part and parcel of British administration in Ireland
In a statement on June 22 the President of Republican Sinn Féin, Des Dalton, said:
“The upcoming meeting of British Crown Minister Martin McGuinness with the Queen of England is merely a symbolic confirmation of the fact that the Provisionals are part and parcel of the British administration in Ireland. The reality of British Rule on the ground for nationalists has not changed with arbitrary arrest and internment without trial still used to secure British occupation."
http://www.rsf.ie/