I know nothing, I see nothing...
Posted on 01/31/2007 12:19:10 PM PST by Irish_Thatcherite
The IRA has abandoned terrorism and violence, including shootings, assaults or intelligence gathering and a number of its members have taken the political path within Sinn Féin, the latest report of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) has said.
The Irish Government said following the latest assessment that there should now be no further delay in the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
The Government further welcomes the report's conclusion that PIRA as an organisation continues not to be involved in criminality Government statement
In the IMC's 13 th report, covering the period from September 1 st 2006 to November 30 th 2006, it notes that a number of dissident republican groups, including the Continuity IRA, are still involved in criminal activity. It also says it has not changed its assessment of the Loyalist Volunteer Force, which it states is "primarily a criminal concern which... does not have any coherent political purpose".
The IMC says the decision of the Sinn Féin ardfheis last Sunday to support policing and the criminal justice system was "a very major development".
"That decision and the efforts invested by the leadership of the republican movement in presenting the arguments in favour of the change were further substantial evidence of their commitment to the democratic process," the report says.
The IMC report also notes the findings of Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan's recent report on loyalist collusion with the RUC in the period 1991-2003.
It says it is considering any implications the report may have for its remit to monitor the continuing activities of paramilitary groups".
The Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said the final obstacle to the restoration of stable power sharing in Northern Ireland has been cleared.
In a statement, the Government acknowledged the "ongoing and valuable work" of the IMC.
"The Government welcomes the very positive assessment of [the Provisional IRA's] continuing commitment to following the political path, with no involvement in any type of terrorist activity. Indeed, the report states unequivocally that 'terrorism and violence have been abandoned'," the statement says.
"The Government further welcomes the report's conclusion that PIRA as an organisation continues not to be involved in criminality."
The statement added that individuals who commit criminal acts in this jurisdiction will "of course continue to be pursued by the gardaí, and the Criminal Assets Bureau will continue to play a full role in dealing with ill-gotten assets".
As with previous IMC reports, the Government said it "notes with concern" the IMC's findings in relation to loyalist and dissident republican paramilitary organisations.
"As far as dissident republican groups are concerned, the report's conclusion that these organisations remain active and dangerous only stiffens the Government's resolve to ensure the Gardaí are given all the resources and backing necessary to counter the threat these groups pose.
And Islam is a Religion of Peace.....
< /sarc >
Is this really just a Protestant/Roman Catholic thing, or is there more to it?
If that's it, it has to be the silliest war I've ever heard about.
"Oh, that terrorist is a member of the Continuity IRA, not the Provisional IRA - he has nothing to do with us. Well, yes, he is my cousin and I did have him over for dinner last week. And his tax form does indeed state that he works for a business owned by another Provo colleague of mine. But that's where it ends. I have no idea where he got that rifle and he never tells me anything about what he does in his spare time. I'd say more, but I don't want to be a tout now."
I know nothing, I see nothing...
We will see how Sinn Féin does at the ballot box.
I guess the IRA is like any terrorist group, exploiting whatever misgivings a group have to further their own ends - in this case, a 32-county socialist dictatorship.
Not sure what their Loyalist counterparts really want, though...
That's what it's about - SFIRA with a mask of respectibility, I do wonder if Sinn Fein have signed up to supporting the PSNI with the Irish General Election (June at the latest) in mind.
LOL! No coincidence that Ted Kennedy's there...
In think you've summed up the relationship between the Provos and the splinter groups!
;)
This is not the time to take Northern Ireland off the no-vacation list.
It's about nationalism and history more than religion. Britain imported protestants, mostly Scots, into Ireland effectively to colonize it; when Ireland gained independence, the Protestants in the north voted to remain part of the UK. The majority-Catholic Republicans want the whole island to belong to Ireland.
Catholic/Protestant is a convenient shorthand for nationalist/loyalist.
Sinn Fein already participate in elections, in fact they have 5 TDs (Irish MPs) in the Irish parliment. I believe the two governments will fast track devolution asap.
The trouble is, I don't think a terrorist should be allowed power. At all.
I think it's the eye of the hurricane, the peace will fail eventually - it can't last as it involves appeasment!
Devolution will without question occur however, I do not think the Republic will want to absorb the North any time soon.
As I said on another thread, there is a 'perverse republicanism' down here - we don't want the Brit's mess! ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Rebellion_of_1798#Society_of_United_Irishmen
Nationalism vs. religion is NOT new in Ireland.
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