f8n_begorra ([info]f8n_begorra) wrote,
2005-07-28 08:29:00
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  • Mood: Cautious optimism

Good News for Ireland

The Irish Republican Army announced Thursday it is renouncing violence as a political weapon and resuming disarmament in a dramatic declaration designed to revive Northern Ireland's peace process.

The IRA said all of its clandestine units had been ordered to place their weapons in arms dumps and cease all activities, effective at 4 p.m. (11 a.m. EDT), but would not formally disband.

Full Text of Statement

Did anyone learn anything?

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  • 10 comments

[info]quuf

July 28 2005, 15:48:33 UTC 6 years ago

My first thought was that Al Qaeda had stolen their thunder, but there's probably more to it than that.

[info]f8n_begorra

July 28 2005, 15:55:32 UTC 6 years ago

It has been an extraordinarily complex issue, and continues to be so. The enormous wealth of the Republic of Ireland in the last decades, and remarkable changes in the demographics on the ground have certainly contributed. But the Irish people are, in my opinion among the most peace loving and forgiving I have ever encountered. Ultimately forgiveness with dignity, honor and justice is the key. (The truth Commission in South Africa, for example). While there is no perfect solution, this appears to be another marker on the path of peace. I hope, as the PM of Ireland said earlier today, that actions match the words.

[info]eireangus

July 28 2005, 16:54:44 UTC 6 years ago

tiocfaidh ar la - though, at this point, non violence is the way to go!

Perhaps saorise na hEireann ;-) one day peacefully?

[info]f8n_begorra

July 28 2005, 17:17:59 UTC 6 years ago

Yeaaaah!

[info]theoctothorpe

July 28 2005, 18:08:10 UTC 6 years ago

I heard this news late last night/really early AM. This is wonderful news.

Of course, I do hope this can lead to a re-unification, but alas, I am not holding my breath.

Pax

[info]danbearnyc

July 28 2005, 19:19:25 UTC 6 years ago

I'm afraid I took the news in yesterday's Times more cynically, and I see the renunciation of violence coming about because of demographic changes and the decreasing effectiveness of violence as a tool within a newly prosperous country.

The announcement says nothing about the IRA giving up their illicit drug trade I notice.

[info]f8n_begorra

July 28 2005, 21:09:49 UTC 6 years ago

Little steps!
Ten years ago I would never have predicted this much progress. In another ten, hopefully more.

[info]danbearnyc

July 28 2005, 22:33:27 UTC 6 years ago

Itsy witsy baby steps.

[info]jawnbc

July 29 2005, 00:32:56 UTC 6 years ago

Gestation towards a nation

Hope it's true. Really really do.

Besides, Ulster republicans have figured out how to make reunification happen: babification. At current birth rates, the Catholic population will exceed the Protestant in about 10 years. Add 20 more for voting age and a referendum will convincingly lead to eliminating the damned border.

Stoopid in so many ways, not the least of which in the era of the EU.

[info]paddygrappler

July 29 2005, 23:27:40 UTC 6 years ago

Its phenomenal news, even for an ole cynic like me. Having grown up in Dublin and seeing bombs and killings every day on the news, its a stunning move by the IRA. i hope its true, and i want to believe it is true. ireland deserves it to be true. afterall we are quite a nice bunch of people
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