US adds its voice to calls for Stormont agreement
THE US Government has urged the Northern Ireland parties to use the pause in the talks to get power-sharing back up and running as soon as possible.
It comes after Secretary of State James Brokenshire announced a pause in talks to allow for the June 8 general election.
In a statement, the US State Department said: “The pause in talks to form a government in Northern Ireland allows time for planning a constructive, co-operative way forward. The United States urges all political parties in the region to establish a pow- er-sharing government soon after talks resume in June.
“The people of Northern Ireland deserve a representative, effective and responsive devolved government. It is vital to build on the political and economic progress made since the Good Friday Agreement, as well as to build a better, shared future for the region’s citizens.
“We appreciate the UK and Irish Governments’ ongoing engagement and continue to offer our strong support for peace, reconciliation and prosperity in Northern Ireland.”
Seven weeks of talks led by the London and Dublin have made progress on issues like dealing with the legacy of thousands of conflict murders and on developing a Programme for Government.
The DUP and Sinn Fein are in dispute over an Irish Language Act, although the former has begun meeting non-political language campaigners over a law.
June 29 is the latest deadline set by the British Government for formation of a ministerial Executive at Stormont.
Public services are being run by civil servants on a proportion of their true budget because there are no ministers to make decisions. Teachers have warned of major job losses, and the health service is also threatened. THE PSNI in Londonderry have interviewed a number of people in connection with alleged offences at a controversial bonfire in the city’s Bogside eight months ago.
Tension mounted in the district over several days last August after police moved in to remove material for the pyre that had been stockpiled close to disused commercial premises and nearby homes. In the end, another fire was erected on the main road through the area and set ablaze as part of the annual anti-internment commemorations.
The bonfire, attended by hundreds of onlookers, consisted mainly of tyres and wooden pallets, and was decorated with several Sinn Fein and unionist election posters.
News that some people have been interviewed in relation to offences related to the Road Traffic Order and criminality have drawn accusations of political policing from a man who works with young people in the district.
Liam O’Donnell, a voluntary community worker, said: “A number of young people and older men received letters from police giving them seven days to report to the police. Those that didn’t were subsequently arrested. I’ve never seen this before, and in my opinion it is politically motivated. If any of these young people are charged over this it may affect their future prospects.”
Mr O’Donnell also said in a Facebook post on the matter that the incident was “an affront to any right thinking person hoping to create a pathway to securing good community relations”.
The PSNI told the Belfast Telegraph: “Police in Strand Road have identified a number of people and interviewed four people in relation to offences concerned with the Road Traffic Order and criminality at a bonfire on August 15, 2016.
“The investigation is ongoing. No one has been charged at this time.”