Decommissioning weapons

[mike]

Why don't the various parties in Northern Ireland just surrender a few weapons each week ? That way they fulfill the agreement to start the process and the British army could reduce it's strength in a similar fashion - one soldier a month let's say. The amounts and quantities can be discussed and increased as time and results are seen. It would be a positive step as obviously no one wants to let go of all their weapons in one go. Just a thought!

[andy hughes]

It's an interesting idea, but as I see it, the problem lies with the British and Irish governments' wish to obtain a 'commitment', and that's the key word, from the IRA in respect of decomissioning its weapons. Without that commitment, and it would need rather more than just a few weapons at a time, the Governments remain unconvinced of the IRA's intention to relinquish its arms. No doubt your idea has been discussed by the parties involved, and it would appear that in common with all other ideas, it has been rejected by one or both sides.