SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams has challenged political organisations associated with so-called dissident republican groups to meet him for discussions about the way ahead for republicanism.
Mr Adams made his call after this week’s car bomb attack on Strand Road police station in Derry; the failed booby trap attack on an army major in Bangor, Co Down; and a night of disruption in west Belfast after a hoax alert near another police base.
“The fact is that there is now no place on this island for political violence. There is a peaceful and democratic way for serious people who want to see a united Ireland.
“There is a peaceful strategy and people can disagree until the cows come home about elements of it but there is no space for these incidents or for any armed actions of any kind.” He said none of the armed groups who had launched attacks this week was prepared to put forward representatives to explain their position.
“Only the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has written back to say they would be prepared to meet and Gerry Kelly is going to head up a delegation after the summer to do that meeting.”
The West Belfast MP also told BBC Radio Ulster that some of the active republican groups were “definitely infiltrated by British security agents” anxious to disrupt the political process.
He said he was not suggesting there was a conspiracy at the top of the British military, but said that for some within the security system “the war isn’t over”.
“It is clear that the people involved in [violence] are more anti-Sinn Féin than anti anything else. They don’t have a strategy, they don’t have anyone prepared to articulate it. Who is out there defending these actions?”
Pointing to Republican Sinn Féin he said: “Let’s hear them defending their position. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement is there, let’s hear them defending the position. Éirigí is there, let’s hear them defending the position. If they are genuine about what they are at, then they should be articulating and scrutinised.”
Mr Adams said protesters had been bussed in to Ardoyne in north Belfast on the Twelfth of July to protest against an Orange parade.
“This is playing at activism,” he said. He said Sinn Féin support in strongly republican areas such as Ardoyne and west Belfast was not being eroded, claiming instead that attempts were being made by other groups to undermine the Sinn Féin position.
He said the PSNI had “to up their game” to combat anti-social activity, including punishment shootings and beatings, which affects certain areas in republican parts of Belfast. He added that he had pressed this case in a recent meeting with Justice Minister David Ford.
About 60 to 100 young people were being goaded into anti-social behaviour by what he called “exploitative elements”. He said ordinary people needed to reclaim the streets and public areas while the underlying causes of such behaviour were addressed. But he added: “We need to be telling those who purport to be republicans to butt out.”