January 12, 2005
Irish Northern Aid, slams scapegoating of Sinn Fein – calls on Irish government to step up to defend the Good Friday Agreement.
“Absolutely outrageous”. That’s what the National Chairman of Irish Northern Aid, Paul Doris, said of the recent comments by Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair and Hugh Orde. Doris went on the say:“Once again we see the Chief Constable of the so called police service of the north of Ireland being used as a political tool by the British government and anti-agreement Unionists. This tactic has been used several times over these past years to halt progress.“Hugh Orde and Ronnie Flanagan before him have been trotted out to make some murky pronouncement on alleged republican wrongdoing – each time without a shred of evidence. If they ‘know’ all they claim to know then where are all the resulting convictions?“Of course we know that Hugh Orde is just a pawn in the dirty tricks and politics of the north of Ireland. The British government has on numerous occasions suspended the government, shut down negotiations, stalled and prevaricated. Why? To maintain the status quo and to put off delivering equality and justice to nationalists.“Since the summer of 2001, the Irish government, under the leadership of Bertie Ahern, has tried to undermine and marginalize Sinn Fein because the party became a political threat to the ruling party of Fianna Fail. However, Ahern stooped to an all time low this past weekend when he accused Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and the Sinn Fein leadership of being dishonest in the recent negotiations. What a slap in the face his quisling behavior is not only Irish republicans but to all who have worked and supported the peace process.“One of the worst aspects in all of this is that Bertie Ahern, An Taoseach, is going solely on the word of representatives of the same British security forces who colluded with murderous unionists death squads – no one can forget the Dublin/Monaghan bombings or the murders of Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson and countless others.“Just who does this man, Ahern, represent? Certainly not the majority of nationalists and catholics in the north of Ireland; nor, a sizeable number of citizens in the 26 counties. His actions in the ongoing peace talks have shown he represents nothing more than narrow and petty self interest. Instead of being a confident leader, his conduct smacks of fear for his own – and his party’s - political future.“For the last 20 years, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, have led Irish republicans with courage and bravery. They have led Sinn Fein from a party of pessimism to the most confident, vibrant and progressive party in all of Ireland. Through their leadership, Sinn Fein is now the dominant nationalist party in the six counties and is the third largest party in the 26 counties.“Furthermore, each and every time Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness have engaged in negotiations with anyone – Irish, British or Unionists – they have been forthright and honest. These honorable men have proven time and again that they will keep every commitment they make; unlike the other peace process participants – none of who have fulfilled the pledges made in negotiations or in the Good Friday Agreement.“Merely a month ago, the world watched as Ian Paisley’s unionist party was allowed to veto progress in the peace process. For those of us who keep track of these negotiations it comes as no surprise that a ‘way’ has been found to twist the situation around to blame republicans for the failure to come to a deal.“More than 7 out of 10 citizens of the north of Ireland want the Good Friday Agreement implemented. They want equality and justice and a new future for their children and grandchildren. It is time for Ahern to stop acting impotently and step up to a new level of leadership in defense of his citizens and the Good Friday Agreement.
Oct. 03, '01 - IRA silent guns are no threat to peace
Aug. 8 '01 - Endorses IRA weapons proposals
A Statement from Paul Doris,
National Chairman,
Irish Northern Aid Committee
The Irish Northern Aid Committee calls upon the US media, the American people and our political leaders to acknowledge not only the Irish Republican Army's demonstrated, long term commitment to the peace process, but to put the British government and unionist politicians on notice that it is unacceptable for them to continue to either fail to implement or aggressively obstruct the Good Friday Agreement.
The IRA never signed the Good Friday Agreement, yet they have done more to see it succeed than any other organization that did, with the possible except of Sinn Fein who moved heaven and earth to keep the peace process alive.
Silent IRA weapons were never a threat to peace. In contrast, the Ulster Defense Association's and the Loyalist Volunteer Force's smoking guns continue to murder and terrorize the innocent. Catholic school children are still terrorized daily and Catholic families pipe bombed nightly. Where is the outcry over unionist/loyalist violence that has never abated at any time during the past thirty years of conflict and has in fact intensified in direct proportion to nationalist gains due to the peace process?
The British government has not only failed to demilitarize its war machine as agreed, it has failed to provide its promise of equality of opportunity for all, freedom from sectarian attack for the nationalist community, and a non-sectarian policing service in line with the GFA sanctioned Patten Commission's recommendations.
Mr. Trimble and other obstructionist unionist and loyalist politicians will sleep no safer in their beds because of the IRA's move to decommission its silent weapons;however, if their track records hold true, they will be staying awake nights trying to dream up new ways to stall and collapse the GFA and to blame republicans for it.
Unionist politicians have done nothing but seek to destroy the Good Friday Agreement, legally and illegally.
American media, politicians and citizens who demanded the IRA begin decommissioning its weapons, must now stand vigil and guarantee that the other side begins to implement what they agreed to. The GFA was far from a boon to nationalists. All it promised was fairness.
INA Statement August 8, 2001
The New York based Irish Northern Aid Committee today applauded the historic and unprecedented agreement announced August 6 between the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) and the Irish Republican Army.
"We congratulate the Irish Republican Army on securing this most positive, significant and important of all the IICD's statements affirming the IRA's commitment to a just and lasting peace," said Irish Northern Aid, National Chairman, Paul Doris. "We hope all political parties will now use this breakthrough as a gateway to full implementation of the Good FridayAgreement."
In endorsing the IRA's plan to secure its arms, the IICD clearly recognizes that Irish Republicans are commited to a peaceful settlement, Doris said.
He said, "Both the GFA and the most recent implementation plan advanced by the Irish and British governments August 1 reinforce the fact that the issue of paramilitary arms is the sole remit of the IICD. IICD's statement is clear and unambiguous in supporting the IRA's approach to the weapons issue. Neither Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble with his self-imposed deadlines, nor anyone else, should ever again be permitted to use the arms issue as a means to stall, destroy or attempt to renegotiate the Agreement.
"The Irish Republican Army has shown great courage and commitment, especially in an ongoing climate of British Loyalist provocation and violence," Doris said. "Loyalist death squads have been wreaking havoc for months, burning and bombing Catholics out of their homes, preventing Catholic children from walking to their school, setting fire to Catholic churches, raking a community center with gunfire in a blatant attempt to murder as many innocent people as possible.
"In the past two weeks, Loyalist attacks have claimed the lives of two young men, marked senselessly for death. These relentless, daily, anti-Catholic Loyalist attacks, ostensibly in support of Unionism, are nothing short of ethnic cleansing in an effort to goad the IRA into response.
"These attacks must stop. David Trimble must begin to use his influence to persuade Loyalists to halt their murderous sectarian campaign against nationalists.
"It will be interesting to see whether Loyalists keep their word and follow the IRA's lead in devising a plan, acceptable to the IICD, to put their weapons completely and verifiably beyond use.
"In the days ahead, the Irish Northern Aid Committee urges all of the political parties to seize this important opportunity created by the Irish Republican Army and endorsed by the decommissioning body, to shed the sham burden of silent weapons, and refocus efforts on resolving the genuine issues: policing, demilitarization and equality."
On behalf of the Irish Northern Aid Committee,
Paul Doris National Chairman
IRA Statements
Oct. 24, '01 - IRA announces it has disposed of arms
Sept. 19 '01 - Sympathy to the USA, Intesifies IICD engagement.
Aug. 14 '01 - Withdraws arms proposal.
Aug. 8 '01 - agrees to arms scheme to put weapons beyond use.
May 6 '01 - Agrees to put weapons beyond use
IRA announces it has disposed of arms
The following the full text of the IRA's statement announcing that is has made an unprecendented move to dispose of weaponry.
The IRA is committed to our republican objectives and to the establishment of a united Ireland based on justice, equality and freedom.
In August l994, against a background of lengthy and intensive discussions involving the two governments and others, the leadership of the IRA called a complete cessation of military operations in order to create the dynamic for a peace process. "Decommissioning" was no part of that. There was no ambiguity about this.
Unfortunately there are those within the British establishment and the leadership of unionism who are fundamentally opposed to change. At every opportunity they have used the issue of arms as an excuse to undermine and frustrate progress.
It is for this reason that decommissioning was introduced to the process by the British Government. It has been used since to prevent the changes that a lasting peace requires.
In order to overcome this and to encourage the changes necessary for a lasting peace, the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA) has taken a number of substantial initiatives.
These include our engagement with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning) and the inspection of a number of arms dumps by the two international inspectors, Cyril Ramaphosa and Martti Ahtisaari.
No one should doubt the difficulties these initiatives cause for us, our volunteers and our supporters. The political process is now on the point of collapse. Such a collapse would certainly, and eventually, put the overall peace process in jeopardy.
There is a responsibility upon everyone seriously committed to a just peace to do our best to avoid this. Therefore, in order to save the peace process, we have implemented the scheme agreed with the IICD in August.
Our motivation is clear. This unprecedented move is to save the peace process and to persuade others of our genuine intentions.
Signed: P O'Neill.
IRA Statement September 19, 2001
First of all we wish to extend our sympathy to the people of the United States and especially to the families and friends of the victims of the deplorable attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
On 8 August we confirmed that the IRA leadership had agreed a scheme with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) to put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use. This unprecedented IRA initiative was the result of lengthy discussions with the IICD over a long period. It was another expression of our willingness to enhance the peace process and it involved considerable problems for us and for our organisation. Peace making and peace keeping is a collective effort.
The IRA leadership's ability to speedily and substantially progress the decision was completely undermined by the setting of further preconditions and the outright rejection of the IICD statement by the Ulster Unionist Party leadership. Subsequent actions by the British government including a continued failure to fulfil its commitments, remove the conditions necessary for progress.
On 14 August we withdrew our proposal. However, as an earnest (sic) of our willingness to resolve the issue of arms, the IRA leadership wish to confirm that our representative will intensify the engagement with the IICD. This dialogue is within the context of our commitment to deal satisfactorily with the question of arms. 'Meaningful contributions' It is with a view to accelerating progress towards the comprehensive resolution of this issue.
Progress will be directly influenced by the attitude of other parties to the peace process, including and especially, the British government.
The IRA's commitment is without question. However, as we have said before, peace making and peace keeping is a collective effort. It is our considered view that the Irish peace process can succeed. The continued failure or refusal to sustain the political process and to deliver real and meaningful change has a direct bearing on how this will be accomplished.
The IRA has contributed consistently and in a meaningful way to the creation of a climate which would facilitate the search for a durable settlement. Colombia arrests We will continue to do so, including through our engagement with the IICD, particularly at this difficult time, and in the period immediately ahead. We also wish to state our attitude to the arrests of three Irishmen in Colombia.
There has been a lot of ill-founded and mischievous speculation about these arrests and some ill-considered and aggressive comment directed at our organisation. We wish to make it clear that the Army Council sent no one to Colombia to train or to engage in any military cooperation with any group. The IRA has not interfered in the internal affairs of Colombia and will not so do. The IRA is not a threat to the peace process in Ireland or in Colombia. The three men have asserted their support for the process and we accept that.
P O'Neill, Irish Republican Publicity Bureau, Dublin
IRA Statement August 14, 2001
On Thursday August 8 we confirmed that the IRA leadership had agreed a scheme with the IICD to put arms completely and verifiably beyond use.
Our initiative was a result of lengthy discussions with the IICD over a protracted period. This was an unprecedented development which involved a very difficult decision by us, and problems for our organisation.
While mindful of these concerns, our decision was aimed at enhancing the peace process. We recognised the very broad welcome which the IICD statement received. However the outright rejection of the IICD statement by the UUP leadership, compounded by the setting of preconditions, are totally unacceptable.
The subsequent actions of the British Government, including their failure to fulfil their commitments, is also totally unacceptable. The conditions therefore do not exist for progressing our proposition.
We are withdrawing our proposal. The IRA leadership will continue to monitor developments. Peacekeeping is a collective effort.
P O'Neill, Irish Republican Publicity Bureau, Dublin
IRA Statement August 8, 2001
On 8 March 2001 the IRA leadership re-established contact with the IICD the Independent International Commission on Disarmament.
Since then the IRA representative has met with the IICD eight times.
"As a result of these discussions we can confirm that the IRA leadership has agreed a scheme with the IICD which will put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use. We note the ongoing attempts in some quarters to prevent progress. They should not be permitted to succeed.
Our representative will continue to meet with the IICD. The IRA leadership will continue to monitor political developments.
P O'Neill, Irish Republican Publicity Bureau, Dublin
IRA Statement May 6, 2000
The leadership of the IRA is committed to a just and lasting peace. We have sustained that commitment despite the abuse of the peace process by those who persist with the aim of defeating the IRA and Irish Republicanism.
Republicans believe that the British Government claim to a part of Ireland, its denial of national self-determination to the people of the island of Ireland, the partition of our country and the maintenance of social and economical inequality in the Six Counties are the root causes of conflict.
The maintenance of our cessation is our contribution to the peace process and to the creation of a future in which the causes of conflict are resolved by peaceful means.
For our part the IRA leadership is committed to resolving the issue of arms.
The political responsibility for advancing the current situation rests with the two governments, especially the British government, and the leadership of the political parties. The full implementation, on a progressive and irreversible basis by the two governments, especially the British government of what they have agreed will provide a political context in an enduring political process with the potential to remove the causes of conflict and in which Irish Republicans and Unionists can as equals pursue our respective political objectives peacefully.
In that new context the IRA leadership will initiate a process that will completely and verifiably put IRA arms beyond use. We will do it in such a way as to avoid risk to the public and misappropriation by others and ensure maximum public confidence. We will resume contact with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning) and enter into further discussions with the commission on the basis of the IRA leadership's commitment to resolving the issue of arms.
We look to the two governments and especially the British government to fulfil their commitment under the Good Friday Agreement and the joint statement. To facilitate the speedy and full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the Government's measures our arms are silent and secure.
There is no threat to the peace process from the IRA.
In this context the IRA leadership has agreed to put in place within weeks a confidence building measure to confirm that our weapons remain secure. The contents of a number of arms dumps will be inspected by agreed third parties who will report that they have done so to the international independent commission on decommissioning. The dumps will be reinspected regularly to ensure that the weapons have remained secure.
P O'Neill, Irish Republican Publicity Bureau, Dublin