IRA statement

DUP have already dismissed it.

TBH anything other then a complete disbandment is not going to cut it.

Will be intresting to see how Bush spins it as something he helped bring about.

irish1 wrote:

It looks like today could deliver a truly historical event with the IRA releasing a statement which will see the organisation end all activities.

I wonder if I shoudl start a book on how long it takes before there is an article in the media / here about something which contradicts "all activities" and we'll have to listen to yet another round of explanations as to why the particular activity in question wasn't actually covered.

F'r example...will recruitment, weapons-acquisition and information-acquisition count as activities? Will members meeting and/or discussing the future of the IRA qualify as an activity?

Or will it just be a "we'll stop beating up people and robbing banks" sort of "all activity"?

OK - I'm jumping the gun. I know I am. But I'm putting my marker down now and saynig I am pessimistic and believe that whatever statement is issued will not be a clear, unequivocable statement saying that the IRA will cease to exist in any active form.

I know no matter what the statement says there will be many here who will dismiss it,

I think statements on their own have long-established to be worthless. If what the IRA promise sounds worthwhile, then it will still be discounted until they show they're living up to their words. Whether you like it or not, the IRA does not have what you might consider to be the trust of the people.

The crunch is finding out if they have the cojones to live up to their words (whatever those words may be) in the face of such skepticism.

but I truly believe that this will be a momentous historical event which will see an end to the armed struggle and a final move to democratic politics.

I hope you're right, but I believe that if you consider teh statement to be historical before waiting to find out how its played out in practice, then you really haven't been looking at whats been happening over the last 20 years and more, except perhaps through rose-tinted glasses.

Hobbes wrote:

TBH anything other then a complete disbandment is not going to cut it.[./quote]
Indeed. One has to ask what the purpose of a complete cessation of all activities would be if not to sort-of-disband only without actually disbanding.

Which then begs teh question...why not disband...

...but hey...jumping the gun again. Maybe they'll announce disbandment, hand over all weapons and proceeds to mediators, and just disappear.

jc

hill16 wrote:

My worry is that Nationalist areas will be left unprotected from Loyalist attacks which have increased in the last month or two,and what happens if other Republican groups increase their attacks on security forces, will the IRA get the blame.

the loyalists are too busy fighting over drug turf to be bothering nationalists at the moment.

It will be interesting to see, no doubt they wont want to give Big Ian and Co the idea they have surrendered....

tomMK1 wrote:

it'll probably have give and take in it. the IRA will do X if the governments/unionists do Y which in my mind would be a good thing as its not only the IRA who need to sort themselves out for peace to work.

I dont think that is a good thing at all. Any tit-for-tat generally gets ignored.

I think the time is right for the IRA to step down. It will put the pressure on the Unionists then. I think the IRA know that they must go or their members (moreso newer members) may get more and more involved in criminality and end up like the UVF and LVF.
I hope this happens.

"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 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.
Irish Republican Army orders an end to armed campaign
The IRA is fully committed to the goals
of Irish unity and
independence and to
building the Republic
outlined in the 1916
Proclamation
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
HISTORIC
STATEMENT
READ BY
SÉANNA WALSH
THE historic IRA statement was visually
recorded and read by Séanna Walsh at the
request of the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann.
Séanna served over 21 years as a
Republican Prisoner of War in both the Cages
and the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. He was among
the first republicans ‘on the blanket’ after his
arrest in 1976, the year the British Labour
Government began its policy of attempting to
criminalise IRA prisoners. Séanna was a friend
and cellmate of Bobby Sands, the Officer
Commanding in the H-Blocks and the first of
the Hunger Strikers who died in 1981.
Since his release Séanna Breatnach has
played a key role working with Sinn Féin’s
negotiating team and advancing the republican
peace strategy."

Incidentally, where did you get it from (no mention yet on any news source I have scoured, the word is that it will not be released until mid-afternoon ahead of scheduled press conferences in Dublin and the USA at 4pm).

Genghis wrote:

No direct mention of policing.

As I take it all actions which would be classed as criminal are to be stopped. This would include policing (which would be handled by the countries police force).

Its a good move, and I like the fact they are getting witnesses as well this time.

Clearly puts the pressure on Unionists to do something. Can't wait for Ians reply.

It will be interesting to see what kind of breakaway groups emerge from this. It's an historic day, but I very much doubt it's an end to the violence in the North.