[Shannon]

IRA orders end of armed campaign

28 July 2005 12:59
The IRA has ended its armed campaign and has ordered all its units to dump arms at 4pm this afternoon.

It has also ordered its members not to engage in any other activities of any kind.

The IRA statement came this afternoon in response to a call from the Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, earlier this year for the IRA to embrace peace and democracy.


The statement says all volunteers have been instructed to engage in the democratic process through exclusively peaceful means.

The statement also says that the IRA leadership has also authorised a representative to engage with the IICD to complete decommissioning with clergy as witnesses.

In the statement, the IRA repeats that its goal is a united Ireland.

The statement also expresses concern at the failure of the two governments and Unionists to fully engage in the peace process.

The statement given to RTÉ was accompanied by a DVD in which former IRA prisoner, Senna Walsh, read out the statement on behalf of the IRA.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0728/northpolitics2.html

[Shannon]

This is excellent news, but the only thing i have a problem with in this whole situation is, why have the UVF and LVF (Loyalist and Unionist Paramilitaries) not been asked to decommission. Perhaps they will! They better, otherwise whats the point of it all!
This is a historic day in History, not only in Ireland, but in UK and America too! So much of the funding the IRA got was from the Irish in America!

Perhaps other terrorist organisations can learn from this move and follow suit!

As of 4pm this afternoon, the IRA will no longer exist!

[Podge]

Originally Posted by Shannon

This is excellent news, but the only thing i have a problem with in this whole situation is, why have the UVF and LVF (Loyalist and Unionist Paramilitaries) not been asked to decommission. Perhaps they will! They better, otherwise whats the point of it all!

the UVF and LVF and not very big or as well organised as the IRA, and they fight amoung themselfs! they should be asked to decommission but it will be a few years before they are! UVF and LVF are not going to believe that the IRA will Decommission fully, so it will be some years before the Decommission is recognised! it is a good day and i hope this can be the end to troubles! (however i am pesimistic)

[Asla]

Its great news for Ireland! Fingers crossed eh?

[Mella]

'Excellent...Good luck to the people of Ireland in the push for peace. But what this statement should show all terrorists is that even after 30 years of bombs and murders, the terrorists still didnt get what they wanted. Killing people is never the way forward. But it's good news, and a good day for the human race...but I very much doubt many of the violent splinter groups will adhere to this statement.'

[Shannon]

Full Text of IRA Statement



An end to the struggle: The IRA's armed campaign has finished

"The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign.

"This will take effect from 4pm this [Friday] afternoon.

"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 Fein 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.''

Troubled Path of IRA Disarmament




Historic: The Irish Republican Army has ordered all its volunteers to dump their arms



Summary of the key events in the debate over paramilitary weapons.

AUGUST 31, 1994: The IRA announces a "complete cessation of military operations''.

JANUARY 26, 1996: Former US Senator George Mitchell publishes a report that calls for a phasing-out of paramilitary weapons in Northern Ireland and a commitment from all sides entering talks to principles of non-violence and democracy.

FEBRUARY 9, 1996 : The IRA ceasefire ends with a bomb in London's Docklands that kills two people and causes millions of pounds of damage.


Will this improve the peace process?
Chat about the latest developments

Have your say on the message board


JULY 20, 1997: The IRA reinstates its ceasefire.

APRIL 10, 1998: The Good Friday Agreement is signed. Among the contentious issues covered in the historic breakthrough is the decommissioning of weapons.

NOVEMBER 27, 1999: The Ulster Unionist Council backs proposals to go into a power-sharing government with Sinn Fein on the basis that IRA decommissioning will follow.

DECEMBER 2, 1999: The power-sharing executive, featuring Martin McGuinness as Education Minister, meets for the first time after 20 months of wrangle and delay.

FEBRUARY 11, 2000: Just two months later, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson signs an order suspending the Assembly after a failure to secure IRA disarmament.

MAY 30, 2000: Devolution is restored after Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble secures his party's backing to go back into government with Sinn Fein on a pledge from republicans that they will begin a process to completely and verifiably put their weapons beyond use.

JULY 1, 2001: Mr Trimble resigns as First Minister over the continuing arms impasse.

AUGUST 6, 2001: General John de Chastelain, head of the international arms decommissioning body, says the IRA has put forward a disarmament plan.

AUGUST 10, 2001: With no sign of the IRA about to decommission and no hint that Unionists will accept anything less, Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid suspends devolution for 24 hours, resetting the clock for a deal by six weeks.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2001: Mr Reid announces a second technical suspension, saying it will be the last.

OCTOBER 23, 2001: In the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in America and the arrest in August of three suspected IRA men in Colombia, the Provisionals begin a process of disarmament.

APRIL 8, 2002: The IRA announces it has put a second tranche of its arsenal beyond use.

OCTOBER 14, 2002: Mr Reid announces the suspension of devolution and reintroduction of direct rule following allegations that the IRA operated a spy ring at Stormont.

MAY 1, 2003: Prime Minister Tony Blair announces the postponement of the Assembly elections until the autumn because of a lack of clarity over the IRA's arms position and willingness to abandon its armed struggle.

OCTOBER 29, 2003: General de Chastelain confirms the IRA has disposed of the largest consignment of weapons so far. Despite this, the rolling out of a peace process deal crashes spectacularly when Mr Trimble refuses to take part because of a lack of detail about the IRA's latest act of disarmament.

DECEMBER 8, 2004: Talks aimed at achieving a previously unthinkable deal between the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein collapse when the IRA refuses to give in to demands that the decommissioning of its entire arsenal should be photographed.

[Shannon]

IRA Orders End to Armed Campaign



Call to disarm: The IRA has responded to Gerry Adams' request to abandon its armed campaign


The IRA has ordered an end to its armed campaign.

In a statement, the Provisionals confirmed the armed struggle would end from 4pm today and that all IRA units have been ordered to dump arms.

The organisation also confirmed that it had instructed its representative to complete its disarmament process in a way that would enhance public confidence and to do this as quickly as possible.

Two independent witnesses from the Protestant and Catholic churches had been invited to testify to the weapons decommissioning move.

The IRA was responding to a call from Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in April to consider abandoning armed struggle and pursue its goals exclusively through peaceful and democratic means.

The statement said it believed that the republican objectives could now be achieved through means other than armed struggle.


Will there be peace in N Ireland?
Chat about the latest developments

Have your say on the message board


"The outcome of our consultations shows very strong support among IRA volunteers for the Sinn Fein 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."

Denis Bradley, vice-chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said he was looking for a positive response from the Unionist community.

He said:

"This is a statement which would never have been made five, 10 years ago, even last October, and people need to acknowledge that.

"Now that it has been made, the implications are very clear. It is an enormous day in the history of these islands."

Courtesy of AOL News

http://channels.aolsvc.co.uk/news/ar...28051709990001

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by Carmella

'Excellent...Good luck to the people of Ireland in the push for peace. But what this statement should show all terrorists is that even after 30 years of bombs and murders, the terrorists still didnt get what they wanted. Killing people is never the way forward. But it's good news, and a good day for the human race...but I very much doubt many of the violent splinter groups will adhere to this statement.'

Their aims and hopes were always valid Mel, and that was a United Ireland free of British control, but their methods of achieving their goals i.e. terrorism was all wrong! I think they have finally learned this! I think this is a truly historic day in Ireland! They will work to achieve a United Ireland through peaceful means only through democracy

I think a United Ireland is a hell of a long way off though! If at all, id say its a couple of generations!

[Marlyn]

I don’t want to open up a can of worms but the uniting of Ireland is up to the people of Ireland, i have long held the belief that it should be democratic but it should not just be people from the north voting because may be the people from the south don’t want the northern Irish as part of their country!

I cant understand why UK and Ireland governments don’t just aks the people and what they decide should be the right answer for all, and those that don’t like it could move to some place they do like, oh if only life was that simple

[Podge]

most people in the south of ireland want a united ireland, but there are economic reasons behind it as well! northern ireland is just one of those things i dont think can be sorted until people stop hating each other over beliefs and religion! and hatred has been passed from one generation to the next, on both sides! as Shan said this situation will not be solved for a few generations to come!