Sinn Fein ‘bitter nasty and intolerant’ over NI centenary stone - calls for conversation with unionists about formation of state but without possibility of allowing monument backed by SDLP and Allliance

In January the DUP, UUP and TUV wrote to the Assembly Commission – a committee of MLAs which manages the immediate surroundings of Parliament Buildings  – proposing a stone monument with a map of Northern Ireland, acknowledging the centenary of its creation and offering to cover the cost in full.

However, instead of offering constructive feedback, Sinn Fein has instead rejected it outright. The party said it would have been more appropriate if unionists who proposed the stone “had first discussed this proposal with the other parties”. It also said that the design signified a failed state which did not offer a template for the future.

However Sinn Fein offered no feedback or constructive criticism to the proposal when put forward by the unionist parties.

In Thursday’s News Letter the SDLP and Alliance party went on record to say they had supported the proposed monument. The News Letter asked Sinn Fein on Thursday and Friday if it was open to giving constructive feedback on the proposal and whether it was satisfied with how unionists had facilitated the party’s celebrations of the Easter Rising centenary. However it did not respond.

UUP leader Steve Aiken said last night that the approach of Sinn Fein was at odds with its oft-used mantra.

“Sinn Fein’s mantra of ‘parity of esteem’ has disintegrated as they have adopted a hardline stance against the proposal which does not bode well for reconciliation,” he said. “What it does is send out the message that Sinn Fein will not tolerate any visible unionist or British presence about the place, which is clearly extremely disappointing.”

DUP leader Arlene Foster said she had sought to participate in the decade of centenaries, which included the Easter Rising centenary in 2016.

“I reach out to nationalists in a spirit of building a shared future,” she said. “I am interested in making Northern Ireland a place where everyone feels at home and that’s why I have sought to participate in every part of the decade of centenaries but the belligerent attitude of Sinn Fein has been astounding. “This bitter, nasty and intolerant approach by Sinn Fein is the latest in a long line of instances where the Party has sent a clear message to unionists.

“Only last week, Sinn Fein vetoed Parliament Buildings being lit up to recognise European Day of Remembrance for innocent victims of terrorism. The very fact it took over twenty years after Patten for Sinn Fein to attend a police recruitment event speaks volumes about their direction of travel.”

The News Letter asked the Assembly if Sinn Fein’s decision was in keeping with the Assembly’s Assembly’s 2016-2021 Good Relations Action Plan, which requires “promotion of good relations between persons of differing religious belief, political opinion or racial group and is committed to challenging sectarianism and racism”.

A spokeswoman responded that the Commission’s approach to centenaries is included within the plan, under which all executive five parties agreed by consensus a programme of events.

UPDATE: In response to Mr Aiken and Mrs Foster, Sinn Fein reiterated a statement last night which it previously issued at the start of his week. In it the party called on unionists to “an open conversation” about events 100 years ago.

However the party did not suggest there was any possibility it might approve the monument in the event of such a conversation.

A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “It would have been more appropriate if the leaders of the Unionist parties who proposed this centenary stone had first discussed this proposal with the other parties and the other people they share this building with.

“Such an approach to the centenary of partition could embrace the very different perspectives of that event and how best to reflect these perspectives in an inclusive and respectful manner.

“Unfortunately, the proposed stone has been designed and commissioned by representatives of one tradition and reflects only one political perspective.

“In that sense the centenary stone proposal is symbolic of the past failures of political unionism and of this state.

“Those past failures are certainly not a template for the future and for this reason Sinn Féin does not agree to the proposed centenary stone.

“If the leaders of Unionist parties are open to a conversation on an open and inclusive approach to the events of 100 years ago, I would very much encourage and welcome such a positive discussion.” ENDS/CRÍOCH

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