As Stormont prepares to vote on suspending the power-sharing government,we examine the reasons behind the coalition disputeWhy, more than two decades after the paramilitary ceasefires and 18 years since the marvelous Friday agreement, or is power sharing between unionists and nationalists in peril?The key word is “paramilitaries” and in specific allegations that the IRA continues to exist and kill. A central reason why unionists agreed to share power with Sinn Féin was the IRA statement of 2005,which appeared to propose the latter was dissolving as a military force. Following this communique, the IRA decommissioned most (not all, or it now seems) of its arms. Related: DUP will quit Stormont if assembly is not suspended,first minister warns Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com