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IRA Stands Down

Edgy DC Jul 28 2005 09:39 AM

Story.

duan Jul 28 2005 10:39 AM it's taken a long time...

but it'll be great if it comes off!

Willets Point Jul 28 2005 10:46 AM

Well, now the people of Britain can breathe a sigh of relief that there won't be any more bombings ... oh wait. Seriously though, I echo duan's response.

metirish Jul 28 2005 11:41 AM

I hope this helps to bring a real peace for both sides, a lot of work ahead for all sides and both Goverments, it remains to be seen what the "Real IRA" will do.

Edgy DC Jul 28 2005 11:55 AM

My guess is that Splinter groups like the "Real IRA" don't have the arsenals and funds that the IRA did/does/do.

metirish Jul 28 2005 12:54 PM

Probably not even close, but they were responsible for Omagh which killed 29 and was the largest single loss of life during the Troubles. And we know thw IRA is loaded with cash, basically they've turned into a version of the Mafia,running rackets, protection, robbing banks(which they always did),no word on weather they will give up these activities. IRA Statement in full. ]The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon. All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms. All volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever. The IRA leadership has also authorised our representative to engage with the IICD [Independent International Commission on Decommissioning] to complete the process to verifiably put its arms beyond use in a way which will further enhance public confidence and to conclude this as quickly as possible. We have invited two independent witnesses, from the Protestant and Catholic churches, to testify to this. The Army Council took these decisions following an unprecedented internal discussion and consultation process with IRA units and volunteers. We appreciate the honest and forthright way in which the consultation process was carried out and the depth and content of the submissions. We are proud of the comradely way in which this truly historic discussion was conducted. The outcome of our consultations show very strong support among IRA volunteers for the Sinn Féin peace strategy. There is also widespread concern about the failure of the two governments and the unionists to fully engage in the peace process. This has created real difficulties. The overwhelming majority of people in Ireland fully support this process. They and friends of Irish unity throughout the world want to see the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement. Notwithstanding these difficulties our decisions have been taken to advance our republican and democratic objectives, including our goal of a united Ireland. We believe there is now an alternative way to achieve this and to end British rule in our country. It is the responsibility of all volunteers to show leadership, determination and courage. We are very mindful of the sacrifices of our patriot dead, those who went to jail, volunteers, their families and the wider republican base. We reiterate our view that the armed struggle was entirely legitimate. We are conscious that many people suffered in the conflict. There is a compelling imperative on all sides to build a just and lasting peace. The issue of the defence of nationalist and republican communities has been raised with us. There is a responsibility on society to ensure that there is no re-occurrence of the pogroms of 1969 and the early 1970s. There is also a universal responsibility to tackle sectarianism in all its forms. The IRA is fully committed to the goals of Irish unity and independence and to building the Republic outlined in the 1916 Proclamation. We call for maximum unity and effort by Irish republicans everywhere. We are confident that by working together Irish republicans can achieve our objectives. Every volunteer is aware of the import of the decisions we have taken and all Óglaigh are compelled to fully comply with these orders. "There is now an unprecedented opportunity to utilise the considerable energy and goodwill which there is for the peace process. This comprehensive series of unparalleled initiatives is our contribution to this and to the continued endeavours to bring about independence and unity for the people of Ireland.

metirish Jul 28 2005 11:32 PM

I wrote .. And we know thw IRA is loaded with cash, basically they've turned into a version of the Mafia,running rackets, protection, robbing banks(which they always did),no word on weather they will give up these activities I should have read this more carefully...from the IRA statement.. ]Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever. Well lets see that happen, this can be a great day for Ireland and all it's people.

duan Jul 29 2005 09:01 AM

i'm not cynical about this, but I think basically what'll happen is something along these lines. Some of the IRA guys will continue in protection, drug dealing, armed robbery etc However (and this is crucial) they'll no longer be seen as anything but malevolent by the vast majority of the community - hence meaning that they're actions will be less & less tolerated, and they'll be found out for the gangsters that they are - ones who the PSNI will pursue vigarously and won't have the broad protection of the nationalist community anymore.

metirish Jul 29 2005 09:19 AM

Yeah I'm with you on that.

Edgy DC Jul 29 2005 09:25 AM

In South America, the revolutionaries provide protection for the druglords, the druglords provide money to the revolutionaries. In Ireland, the division hasn't been so clear. There are IRA guys who are there for the alleged revolution that live with the machivellian deal that there are racketeers among them and they are necessary for funds and consolidation of power. There are pure racketeers who need the cover of the revolutionaries to provide them legitimacy in their communities and in their own sordid consciences. Hopefully without the cover of patriotism, these thugs will wither in the sunlight. Of course, the same cross-pollination exists in the loyalist paramilitaries. And the crimelords among them now have an opportuntity to be the only game in town. It's hard for me to believe that former IRA members will just let them fill the void. So I imagine the deal negotiated by Sinn Fein included warm assurances from people they trusted that the loyalist crimelords would be cracked down on. I also wondered about that humongous bank heist. Do you think Sinn Fein said something along the lines of, "We might know something about where the money might be. If we find anything out, we'll draw you a map, and you don't ask any more quesitons."

duan Jul 29 2005 09:46 AM

that money's gone. there might be a million or two floating about, but they've destroyed most of it. It was TOO big for it to work for them. **** On a side issue, it isn't just revoutionaries who help druglords; under the Taliban opium production had been enormously curtailed in Afghanistan, since their overthrow (an event that I would necessarily complain about) the production has exploded again as the "war lords" that the US has aligned itself with search for easy profits.

Willets Point Jul 29 2005 09:49 AM

And what is the response from said Loyalist paramilitaries and the extremist cleric Ian Paisley? They need to stand too for this to work.

metirish Jul 29 2005 09:55 AM

From the Belfast Telegraph. ]Not a loud 'No' from Mr Paisley 29 July 2005 Political correspondent Chris Thornton looks at how politicians greeted the IRA's historic statement and sees in Rev Paisley's reaction just a hint of the long finger DURING the long build-up to yesterday's IRA statement, officials working on the political process conceded that when it came to Ian Paisley's response, the best that they could hope for was that the DUP leader wouldn't bellow it into touch. Nobody expected Mr Paisley to warmly welcome the words of P O'Neill. He didn't disappoint in that regard. But - in spite of all the anger around Shankill bomber Sean Kelly's release - he didn't exactly issue a stark rejection either. "The unionist community feels no obligation to cheer the words of P O'Neill," he rumbled. "We will judge the IRA's bona fides over the next months and years based on its behaviour and activity." Ian didn't say No - at least not a flat no - which gives London and Dublin something to go on when they try to convene talks in September. But his reference to "months and years" being taken to judge the IRA might give the governments pause for thought. That doesn't sound like an old man in a hurry to conclude a deal. Not that the governments gave any impression of a pause in their enthusiastic welcomes for the statement. Tony Blair, in particular, had been expected to stick to past form and do his utmost to sell the importance of the IRA's gesture. He didn't disappoint: the statement, he said, was a "step of unparalleled magnitude". Bertie Ahern was a little less flamboyant in his language but just as forceful with his point. "The war is over, the IRA's armed campaign is over, paramilitarism is over and I believe that we can look to the future of peace and prosperity based on mutual trust and reconciliation and a final end to violence," he said. Of course, not everyone is a cheerleader in the two governments, a point Gerry Adams had in mind when he warned that "history will not be kind" to politicians who upset the apple cart. Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell - who springs to the top of the list of people Mr Adams might have had in mind - said he "wholeheartedly" welcomed the end of paramilitary violence. But he wasn't about to join in any hype. "The IRA is still an illegal organisation and it must go out of existence or change so that it is no longer illegal," he said. "Its continued existence cannot be tolerated as long as it is an illegal organisation." UUP leader Sir Reg Empey established what could be a theme among unionist politicians over the coming weeks - the IRA's lack of remorse. "Since the IRA has killed thousands and injured thousands more, it is inexcusable that the statement claims that its 'armed struggle was entirely legitimate' but fails to express a single word of remorse," Sir Reg said. SDLP leader Mark Durkan didn't weigh in with the heavy rhetoric. He said simply that the statement was "clear, clean and complete - but long overdue". Back | Return to top | Printable Story http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=654461

Edgy DC Jul 29 2005 11:17 AM

BBC reporting that the army is already pulling out and dismantling their bases. Wow. "Guys, we have new orders. You're leaving Armagh." "YAY!!!!!" "And being assigned to Tikrit." "..."