general election has focused minds in the Unionist Party. A column from Socialist McCrea, the vicar of loyalist Democracy, Irish section mass murderer Billy 'King - of the Fourth international Rat' Wright, was pitted against Burnside, also 'opposed' to the agreement class protestant communities and one time PR chief of Dul SO tar hasn't stooped British Airways. Trimble some on the left from supconfirmed his own moderate porting the UVF as the credentials by embodiment of local socialnominaling Gary McMichael, front man ism. Apparently the protesfor the UDA, to the new civic tant working class means so forum, a talking shop add-on much to these people that to the Assembly for those vicious sectarianism dressed unable to get on the gravy up in plebian clothes is good train directly. enough for them.
The UDA is currently Once again, the media is involved in a turf war with pushing the agenda that the UVF on the Shankill David Trimble and the Good nationalist Ireland must save Road in a battle that combines drugs and politics. Friday Agreement from the This nasty little conflict has "no" men of unionism. The put terror into some working story goes that unless the SDLP and Sinn Fein accept unionist demands to further water down the Patten report on the RUC and the IRA take further steps in decommissioning, Trimble will be finished and with him the Good Friday agreement.
But things are not this simple. Trimble is leading the demands for dilution of the Patten report and decommissioning and the "no" men are as keen to keep the local assembly as all the rest of those with their bums on the fancy seats.
If there is a difference in policy, as opposed to tactics, it is that Trimble might be prepared to see republicans remain in government if they are al c absolutely humiliated through unconditional surrender.
For many in the unionist opposition, republican should be allowed in the place while for others any Say aaaargh! The singing bigots are setting the pace in the "peace» process catholic in government is unacceptable. Booting out the Provos would simply be the first step in weakening the SDLP with a view to their eventual expulsion as well. T he problem for the Provos is that saving David Trimble in order to save the agree. ment they love hardly makes sense when Trimble leads the fight for demands that are outside the agreement. The "по" Then aren't actually against the agreement. They are for it, minus the Provos .
This explains their lack of street campaign against the agreement, their participation in the assembly and its committees beside Sinn Fein and their taking of ministerial seats.
It also explains why there are those criticising Paisley for conceding to the Provos as well. Yes, I know, it's hard to believe but that's what this sectarian little hole is like!
As we go to press, the Unionist Party opposition is preparing to oust Trimble by passing policies that Unionist Party participation in the Government Executive to further retreat on Patten and decommissionThere is even speculation that Trimble will propose something like this himself. The differences between them are clear! M eanwhile the British are pressing the SDLP and Sinn Fein, partly through the Dublin government, to accept continuation of the RUC without even a new lick of paint by way of a name and badge change.
The IRA is being called on This will partly depend on whether the unionist opposition miscalculates and brings down the Stormont they love with the Provos they hate. It will depend on what the next chapter in republican collapse is.
There remains room for Trimble and the British to manoeuvre bv concessions to bigotry and/or suspension of parts or all of the Agreement institutions. Ine pressure through Dublin can be maintained, if necessary, to keep republicans as a loyal opposition.
But what matters is that the dynamic behind the peace process will continue and above all that real power will rest with the British. The push towards the right might lead to continuing movement rightwards or temporary collapse of the present framework. The task of building a democratic and socialist opposition remains.