IRA in arms breakthrough

BBC ^ | 23rd Oct 2001 | BBC

[slhill]

The IRA has said it has put some weapons "beyond use" in what will be widely seen as an historic breakthrough for the Northern Ireland peace process. Confirmation of what the IRA called an "unprecedented" move came in a statement on Tuesday. The IRA leadership confirmed that a scheme agreed with the decommissioning body in August to put weapons "completely and verifiably beyond use" had been implemented.

"This unprecedented move is to save the peace process and to persuade others of our genuine intentions" --IRA statement

This is the first time that a republican group which has violently resisted the British presence in Ireland has ever disposed of weaponry. The move - long demanded by unionists - seems certain to breathe new life into the troubled peace process. As yet there is no detail as to what quantity of arms was involved or where it occurred. If there is to be more detail, it may come in a report from the de Chastelain arms commission later.

'Process in jeopardy'

The statement referred to a political process on the "point of collapse" and said such a "collapse would certainly and eventually put the overall peace process in jeopardy". The IRA said its motivation was "to save the peace process". UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to make a statement on the IRA move later on Tuesday.

If the move is acceptable to Northern Ireland's largest unionist party, the Ulster Unionists, led by David Trimble, it could lead to the restoration of Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive. The UK government is expected to respond swiftly to the move, possibly by scaling back on some controversial military bases in south Armagh.

The move by the IRA to begin decommissioning had been widely expected after a statement from Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams on Monday that he had recommended a "ground-breaking" step on the arms issue. The absence of decommissioning of arms has been a key stumbling block to progress in the stalled Northern Ireland political process. The leader of the nationalist SDLP, John Hume, said he hoped the move would lead to a positive response from Mr Trimble and his party in putting the institutions back in place.

The latest crisis was precipitated by David Trimble's resignation as first minister in July, a move designed to put pressure on the mainstream republican movement. In August, the IRA confirmed that it had agreed a scheme with the international arms decommissioning body to put arms "completely and verifiably beyond use". However, the unionists rejected the IRA statement, and Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid suspended the devolved institutions for one day to trigger another six-week negotiating period. That sparked fury among nationalists - with republicans accusing the British Government of pandering to the unionists. Less than a week after widespread speculation that decommissioning could begin, the IRA issued a new statement, withdrawing the offer it had put before General John de Chastelain's international arms body.

Political crisis

However, in September, the IRA said it would "intensify" its engagement with the de Chastelain commission.

Then, in October, David Trimble said he intended to bring the political crisis to a head by withdrawing the rest of the Ulster Unionist ministers because his party could no longer sit in the executive with Sinn Fein.

The Democratic Unionist Party also said it would withdraw its ministers from the executive.

The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, headed by General de Chastelain was set up under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement and began its work on 24 September 1997.

Its role is to verify the decommissioning process.

[slhill]

Could be that in these grim days, we might, just might, have a little bit of good news. Here's hoping.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Here's hoping also, but this falls into the "I'll believe when I see it" category.

[Timesink]

I'll believe it when I see it. The IRA are terrorists just like Al-Qaida.

[harpseal]

Let us hope this is a positive step.

Stay wel - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[spycatcher]

Actually the IRA keeps the violence to "acceptable" levels to make a political point and doesn't seem to be into killing thousands of people for fun and profit.

[slhill]

Yes they are terrorists. Not they're not very much like Al Qaeda. They have a limited and clear agenda; they are relatively secular, relatively nationalist, relatively working class and relatively socialist and wholly political; they have claimed responsibility for most of their attacks in the past; they have a political wing; they have been moving--inching--towards giving up violence; they do not wish to institute vicious theocracies across the civilised world. I wish any of that were true of Al Qaeda.

[irishfest]

The American "patriots" in 1776 were terrorists to the English too. The English need to get out of Ireland and let them govern themselves. It has work for the USA.

[Benson_Carter]

big bttt

[slhill]

The UK (not English) government would *love* to get out of NI, which costs it an absolute fortune and is no end of trouble. However, that wouldn't solve the problems of NI as there are lots and lots of Unionists there. No-one (alright, very very few people) wants a civil war. So we have to find a solution that both nationalists and unionists can live with.

[Benson_Carter]

so if it costs a ton of $$$ to stay there, and they don't really want to be there, and polls show that blokes back home across the pond don't want to be a part of that mess anymore, please explain why they haven't packed up and gone home post haste.

[laureldrive]

"""The American "patriots" in 1776 were terrorists to the English too. The English need to get out of Ireland and let them govern themselves. It has work for the USA."""

Substitute "America" for "the English", and "the Middle East" for "Ireland," and your justification for terrorism could havew been spoken by Osama himself. The killers of the IRA - - and the cutthroats in Afghanistan - - thank you.

[laureldrive]

"""The American "patriots" in 1776 were terrorists to the English too. The English need to get out of Ireland and let them govern themselves. It has work for the USA.""" Substitute "America" for "the English", and "the Middle East" for "Ireland," and your justification for terrorism could havew been spoken by Osama himself. The killers of the IRA - - and the cutthroats in Afghanistan - - thank you.

[slhill]

Didn't you read the second half of my post? Because they don't want to spark a civil war, that's why!

[slhill]

Question for you: why do *you* think that they are still there?

[billbears]

Let's see. The IRA wants Ireland to be self-governed, a free state. Another country, Great Britain, who BTW has had plenty of experience with this very issue, refuses to turn Ireland over to the Irish instead giving them a few pitiful spots in the British government to speak up uselessly in Parliament where they will not be heard.

Yes, these Irish are terrorists of the worse kind. How dare they? They've been given pitiful representation opportunities within the Empire. They should use peaceful means to achieve their objective

And if the United StateS of America did that 226 years ago, we would still be bowing to the Queen of England

[Benson_Carter]

since you're new to the discussions of Irish politics here, I'll cut you a break. Are the IRA terrorists? Yes. Have they commited atrocities against civilians? Yes.

Not too many people here will back up the actions of the IRA; it's the end we agree with and the means we abhor. However to say that the IRA and nationalist militants in Ireland are like their counterparts in the ME is irrational at best.

[Cleburne]

If this does go through, how long before x42 claims responsibility?

[beckett]

Gerry Adams saw that the pivotal moment in world history caused by the events of 911 could serve as a legitimate stimulus for settling the decommissioning issue and getting to the endgame in Ulster. If it works, despite his shoddy politics, he is to be applauded.