INDEPTH: NORTHERN IRELAND
IRA disarms: what they're saying
CBC News Online | July 28, 2005
On Thursday, July 28, the Irish Republican Army announced that all of its clandestine units have been ordered to place their weapons into arms dumps and cease all activities. The paramilitary organization had announced an end to its armed struggle aimed at ending British rule of Northern Ireland.
Here's a sampling of reaction to the IRA statement:
IRA statement
All volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programs through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair
I welcome the statement of the IRA that ends its campaign, I welcome its clarity, I welcome the recognition that the only route to political change lies in exclusively peaceful and democratic means.
Reverend Ian Paisley, Democratic Unionist Party Leader
I am saying now the proof of the pudding is in the eating and digesting of it. We've heard it all before. You can wrap it up any way you like ... put a new bit of ribbon on the package but we want the action, the proof this is happening.
Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein Leader
Today's decision by the IRA to move into a new peaceful mode is historic and represents a courageous and confident initiative. It is a truly momentous and defining point in the search for a lasting peace with justice ... Republicans should not be surprised that our opponents will continue to try to defeat us. And in the short-term initiatives by the IRA are unlikely to change the attitude of those who oppose us whether in London or Dublin or within unionism.
Reg Empey, Ulster Unionist Leader
I can't take any statement from the Republican movement at face value because we've had that many of them in the past. We don't know where the gaps lie because after having had so many false starts in the past, naturally people are going to say actions speak louder than words. Let's see what happens to the weapons. Let's see what happens on the ground.
David Lidington, Northern Ireland spokesman for Britain’s opposition Conservative party
At the moment what all the independent reports say is that they are not shooting and bombing but they have the capacity to go back to that should they change their minds. We need to see the effective dismantling of paramilitary structure. I would also like to see very clear evidence on the ground that the IRA's involvement in organised crime punishment, beatings, racketeering, smuggling has ended and ended for good.
Mitchell Reiss, U.S. President George W. Bush's special envoy for Northern Ireland
The statement is very encouraging, it's potentially historic, and we need to wait and see over the next weeks and months if these words can be translated into deeds to determine if it is truly historic.
Bertie Ahern, Irish Prime Minister
I welcome the commitment by the IRA to end its armed campaign, to complete the process of decommissioning and to use exclusively peaceful means. If the IRA's words are borne out by verified actions it will be a momentous and historic development.
Fine Gael, main opposition party in the Republic of Ireland
The statement issued by the IRA today has the potential, if fully delivered on, to repair the damage done to public confidence in the northern peace process. However, IRA statements on their own are no longer sufficient to convince people. Too often in the past seven years we have witnessed promising statements followed by false dawns.
Mary McAleese, President of Ireland
Today's statement by the IRA offers a real opportunity to build the trust and mutual understanding on which a just, equitable and peaceful future will rest.
^TOP
CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. Links will open in new window.
