NYT: I.R.A. to Renounce Violence in Favor of Political Struggle

[Pirate Smile]

By JIM DWYER and BRIAN LAVERY
Published: July 27, 2005
The Irish Republican Army has renounced its armed struggle for a united Ireland, agreeing to turn solely to political methods, an American businessman said yesterday after being briefed on a statement expected from the guerrilla group later this week.

The agreement, if borne out, would be a historic turning point in the violent history of Ireland and Northern Ireland. But there is still widespread official skepticism about I.R.A. promises, particularly when it comes to the issue of disarmament.

Indeed, it was not immediately clear whether the I.R.A. would address how several tons of arms, hidden in bunkers across Ireland, would be disposed of, according to the businessman, Niall O'Dowd, who brokered talks between the I.R.A. and American officials that helped lead to a cease-fire in 1994. The continued existence of those weapons, which were to have been destroyed under an agreement reached after the cease-fire, contributed to the collapse of the Northern Ireland government in 2003.

Last night, an Irish government spokesman said an I.R.A. commitment to nonviolence had to be backed by an unambiguous process for disposing of all its weapons. "The ultimate test is the delivery on that," said the spokesman, who as a matter of routine practice spoke only on the condition that he not be identified. A spokesman for the British government declined comment.

A number of recent signs have pointed to major developments occurring within the I.R.A.

more at

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/27/international/europe/27irish.html?

[DaveinMD]

1. any agreement

must be accompanied by a withdrawal of all british troops and protestant para's disarming as well. And what about full implementation of the Patten Commission reforms on policing.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Widespread official skepticism?

Can't have that, can we?

[DaveinMD]

3. complete double standard

while violence against nationalist communities are tolerated.

[CONN]

4. Politics will be tough road...

Sinn Fein has had PR problems in recent elections... IRA accused of break-in at the Castlereagh secuity complex. Huge bank heist. Murder of a man in a bar. They seem to have hard time in the press.
I'll bet they (Brit and Irish Govt, PUP, UDP, DUP,...) will claim the IRA and SF are bot doing enough. Even if they destror arms dumps, I'm sure there will be suspician that they have more. Any in the mean time the "loyalist" paramilitaries will keep up their hooliganism.

[two gun sid]

5. I expect that to happen this week...

one step forward to peace. Now the ball is in Paisley's court.


Up Sinn Fein!

[Another Bill C.]

6. IRA to make historic statement

27 Jul 2005, 8:54 a.m.
"Preparations are underway for a landmark statement by the Provisional IRA, announcing an end its armed struggle for a united Ireland and agreeing to turn to political methods.

"New-York businessman Niall O'Dowd, who said he had been briefed on the contents of the statement, described it as 'a truly historic moment in Irish history'.

"The statement is a response to an appeal to the IRA by Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, who called for the IRA to move into a new mode so that the struggle could be "taken forward by other means".

"Mr Adams asked the IRA: "Can you take courageous initiatives which will achieve your aims by purely political and democratic activity?"

"It is hoped the move will end a lengthy deadlock in the Irish peace process. Ian Paisley's DUP, now the largest unionist party in the North, has refused to share power with Sinn Fein or even hold talks with the party."

By subscription:
Irish Republican News
http://republican-news.org/subs
Address: PO Box 160, Galway, Ireland
Fax: [phone]

[Adrian Luca]

7. What is it with Americans and the IRA?

The IRA is still romanticised by Americans years after most Irish people have seen them for the knee-capping, thieving , murderous terrorists they really always were

[Another Bill C.]

8. When it came to fighting British terrorism,

they were the only game in town.

[Adrian Luca]

10. you support the murder of innocent people

nice to know...i guess you also cheered when the twin towers fell

[K-W]

11. Distance from the issue.

I think you need to realize that nobody here supports terrorism.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Flash: Bush Administration renounces

political struggle in favor of violence.

[brentspeak]

12. The IRA was always its worst enemy

The IRA never shied from responding to nationalist violence with its own violence. And, of course, the IRA never shied from instigating violence just for the sake of causing mayhem.

So what's the result? The Republic of Ireland doesn't want anything to do with Northern Ireland. And who could blame it? Would you want several million embittered and impovershed people, both Catholic and Protestant, with a long history of terroristic violence to be part of your nation?

Come to think of it, it's not like the nationalist militias really came out on top, either; most Britons would prefer to be rid of the neverending headache of Northern Ireland.