Sinn Fein's absence

The Irish Republican Army, Sinn Fein's partner in militant Irish nationalism, has been on cease-fire for six years and has made statements suggesting that the war is over. With the exception of three acts of decommissioning, however, its arsenal is intact, beatings maintain IRA control in Catholic neighborhoods, and espionage allegations against security officers reinforce unionist fears that the IRA retains an option for violence.

In an advertisment in The New York Times Monday, Sinn Fein said it could not join the police board because the British government has reneged on commitments to fulfill the recommendations of a commission headed by Chris Patten in 1999. Patten has pronounced himself satisfied with the progress made so far, a view confirmed by Tom Constantine, the American police expert brought in to oversee implementation of the Patten report. "They're evolving from a semimilitary force dedicated to the protection of the state to a democratically controlled police department," he said. "They've made a lot of changes in a short period of time."

Sinn Fein contends that the force is unrepresentative of the population. Constantine, in a report issued in December, found that "the selection process . . . is producing a merit pool of male and female applicants, from which an equal number of Catholics and non-Catholics are appointed to training."

The report noted that 72 percent of Catholics surveyed cited fear of intimidation or attack as a reason not to join the police. Sinn Fein's involvement in policing review would signify nationalist acceptance of the new force. It would also send a signal to dissident nationalists that they should stop harassing members of the 29 district partnerships that monitor police performance locally.

Sinn Fein also contends that the policing service is not subject to democratic accountability. It is true that ultimate authority resides in the British-appointed secretary of state, but police power cannot be devolved to the provincial assembly while it remains suspended because of the unionist refusal to serve in government with Sinn Fein.

Martin McGuinness, the chief Sinn Fein negotiator, predicted in an interview last week that the party would join the police board eventually. He wants the decision to be part of an umbrella agreement to get the assembly running again. Bush is expected to raise the issue of policing today. A Sinn Fein decision to join the board would show it is ready for progress on more wide-ranging issues.