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IRA Statement

cc | 28.07.2005 21:35 | Anti-racism | Repression | Social Struggles

"The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon."



 http://www.sinnfeinonline.com/news/394

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."

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Comments

Hide the following 16 comments

All very good after 1,700 killed by them...

28.07.2005 23:59

Throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s the IRA successfully murdered 800 soldiers, 300 police and 600 civilians in bombings, ambushes, shootings and kidnappings. It seems like too little too late. The IRA are criminal terrorists masquerading as freedom fighters, no matter how many times they cry ‘British oppression,’ it’ll never justify the killings they committed in Ireland and England, and murders that are still being committed today. No matter how many statements they release, the IRA will never go straight and its supporters will simply either join other groups or sink back into the murky world of drug dealing and petty crime so many of them came from to begin with.

Jerry Adams, Martin McGuiness and the other murderous scum should be ashamed of themselves, and so should all the people who support them.


Fuck the IRA


Only on Indymedia

29.07.2005 00:13

The day the IRA lay down their weapons, you run the story with a picture that celebrates the violence that they have renounced.

Obviously the IRA aren't hardcore enough for some of the people around here!

Zorro


Give peace a chance

29.07.2005 04:15

"Jerry Adams, Martin McGuiness and the other murderous scum should be ashamed of themselves, and so should all the people who support them"

Fuck the IRA


Everyone should welcome the annoncement by the IRA. I know it must be difficult for some but history can't be changed, unlike the future.

There have been many examples in the past where terrorists have denounced violence and have changed from the gun to the ballot box.

Give peace a chance

Norrie


MaxYou forgot to add Nelson mandela!

29.07.2005 07:54

Isnt it funny how in these times the 'good' guys are now the 'bad' guys, and the 'bad' guys are now the 'good' guys. Take Gerry Adams and the rest of his cronies. They have murdered 100s of people, yet they are now in positions of power, having an influence on how society is run in Ireland. Blair is currently freeing even more terrorists, and then having tea and cakes with them at number 10.

This reminds me of Nelson Mandela (every liberals favourite black man) and his lovely ex-wife Whinny. Both terrorists not only actively participated in terrorist acts against the nasty whitey, but they also murdered (necklaced) 100s of their own people who didnt agree with them.

Mandela is now a celebrity. How things change.

Max


IRA aren't the only killers

29.07.2005 08:54

I notice people are still ignoring the fact the the IRA was reformed in repsonse to loyalist terrorism. How come their crimes - some 1,300 dead - are so easily glossed over? I have no time for nationalists of any description, but I think it's very wrong to lay all of the blame on the IRA.

When are the loyalists going to disarm and renounce violence?

dolly the doe-eyed bitch-hog


Max the fash

29.07.2005 11:31

Shouldnt you be on storm front mourning you lover/leader Tyndall.

On the subject of terrorists are you still writing to your BNP bomber mate Copeland.

Or writing an article denying Hitlers mass terrorism and holocaust. Im afriad Max to bleat about injustice is not really suitable for you.

Scamper off now nad get yourself aroused over german sheperd dogs or jack boots!

Black Flag


Thats it!

29.07.2005 18:54

'Black Flag' you really are a tosser! Answer the argument you fuckwit. sorry you cant so you have to insult an say i am a nazi. 'Black flag' you are a fucking joke.

Max


Grow up

29.07.2005 19:03

Black flag as you know i have never said any of that nonsense you spout about Hitler/Holocaust etc. I didny know David copeland because i am not a BNP member. Answer the questions. Put together an argument.

Any moron can fire insults at one another but you are honestly making a complete fool out of yourself.

You are not going to win anyone over by insults - but then again that may be all you have.

Bless

Max


There's no arguing with fascists

30.07.2005 00:59

Max, there's obviously nothing to debate with you, as you're obviously a narrow minded racist. Loyalist and British Security forces murdered a good deal of innocent people, but I don't see you calling for them to throw away their weapons.

Obviously, for you, you would rather be a fascist pig than to accept the fact you may have to make an agreement with people who were fighting for what was in their minds a just cause. You may have to concede your ideology of British domination over Ireland may have some colonial overtures.

Anti-fascist


Say no to blind hatred.

30.07.2005 01:18

That choice of picture was unfortunate.

I like many here have lived under threat from the IRA my entire life. I'm prepared to forgive and move past this spiral of hatred, gladly many others feel the same.

Its sad to see hatred bubbling up - addresses like "Max the fash" and references to sex with dogs are damaging and completely unhelpful.

It's also unhelpful to simply denounce past killings as murder and terrorism. That too has the sting of hatred in it. "Terrorism" as a word should not be employed by anyone who wants to make a serious argument. It doesn't have any clear meaning and simply serves as a negative emotive tool.

There's still a long way to go but we should all rejoice in the trend over the last decade or so towards an end to violence regarding Ireland.

If you blindly hate then your never going to move forward in your understanding. You'll never be able to see how you might be able to arrange things so as to live how you want and let others live how they want.

BTW....blind love is bad too - you've got to be a conscious man when you fall in love!

Stewart


Im of an

30.07.2005 09:14

I never mentioned the murderous scum on the other side, because that was not the issue. If that was the issue i would have commented on it. I am part Irish myself, and i am well aware of what happened over in Ireland, discuss the subject like an adult an i will let you know where I stand.

Max


...

30.07.2005 13:29

OK Max, I'm glad you acknowledge the other side were murderers too. Are you the same Max who made the comment about Nelson Mandela, or a different one.

The whole point in South Africa was that they had a 'truth and reconciliation' committee in order to see who did what during the conflict, come to terms with it, and then to leave it behind in the past. To start making comments about South Africa like that makes you look like some white supremacist wanting to bring back apartheid, combined with comments about the IRA, without mentioning the other side, makes you look like some White Supremacist British Nationalist who wants to bring back the good old days of empire.

But looking back at the posts, there may be one Max who posted about the IRA, and another about Mandela, because the title is 'Max, you forgot to mention Mandela'.

So can you clarify your position.

Not so pissed


Were i stand!

30.07.2005 16:01

I am against all acts of terrorism. Because i comment on Mandela and his murdering wife Whinny, doesnt mean i am a even white. Are you not allowed to criticize terrorists if they are black? is that not racist?

The problem with this site is that it has been hijacked by people who throw insults at anybody who has an opinion other than their own, rather than defeating it with argument.

Why is it alright to slag off British people for the country's involvement in Ireland and the way the irish were treated, but not criticize the IRA for the way they have maimed normal unpolitical people, who they disagree with.

I am against terrorism full stop. I dont make exceptions when it happens to be in the political direction of which i believe. I understand that one mans terrorist is anothers freedom fighter. The trouble is, if you justify one set of terrorists because you happen to agree with them, how can you make exceptions for the others.

All i want is a bit of balance, but unfortunately the extreme left is as deaf to arguments they dont like as the far right.

Max


Terrorism and freedom fighter

30.07.2005 20:09

Well, Nelson Mandela started off as a pacifist, but after the Sharpeville massacre, where the South African police murdered 69 people, he supported a policy of militiary sabotage and guerilla action. And you know what...fair enough. I think a distinction has to be made between oppressor and oppressed. Many times, people have tried non-violently to struggle for their rights, and simply been killed.

The famous 'peaceful' struggles didn't happen in isolation from violent struggles. Martin Luther King was part of a general black liberation movement which also included the Black Panthers. King didn't end partition on his own. Gandhi was part of an Indian liberation movement that also included the Indian National Army.

There is the difference between the violence of people who come to your country, take your land and resources, and condemn you to the status of slaves, and the people who try and resist that.

Now, within those movements, there are people who are more responsible than others. For example, Winnie Mandela condoned necklacing ( but not Nelson Mandela like you imply ). And for various reasons, they divorced each other.

We glorify the peaceful revolutionaries in the West, because we don't feel as threatened by them as the violent revolutionaries. However, we demonise our own pacifists, and glorify people like Winston Churchill.

What do you think about Winston Churchill? I mean, he murdered hundreds and thousands of Germans, many of them civilians.

Not a pacifist


Has the 'alternative' world gone mad?

01.08.2005 09:04

Instead of discussing whether the movement for the liberation for Ireland from British occupation was defeated, hoodwinked, taken over by opportunists, sold out, went up a blind alley or gave up due to lack of international support, or any other vaguely sensible discussion, this entire thread is dedicated to a competition between various types of Daily Mail reader angles on the IRA as fascists/terrorists/the enemy, with a tiny touch of liberal Guardian reading 'loyalists are bad too'...

For Chrissake, people, there are still 13,000 British troops in the north of Ireland. That's more than in Iraq. What was the Republican movement supposed to do - ask them nicely to leave?

communist


Ach wheesht!

01.08.2005 20:01

"What was the Republican movement supposed to do - ask them nicely to leave?"

Of course the Loyalists - who, correct me if I'm wrong, are still a majority - ask them to stay then we have an impasse!

I've not heard such a crap argument in support of Irish unification or terrorists in years, mate. Go home.



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