knoxdkm
knoxville area DKM supporters
http://www.sinnfeinonline.com/videos/388
IRA Statement
"The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon.
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."
Latest News - 2 February, 2005
09 March,2005
US calls for IRA to disband ???
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=2&u=/nm/20050309/ts_nm/irish_dc
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/09/ireland.sinnfein.reut/index.html
http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/8717
http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/8721
and my views on this:
US envoy Mitchell Reiss is quoted by CNN.com as demanding that the IRA disband, after the IRA made a statement offering justice to the family of Robert McCartney, who was recently killed after a bar fight in which some Irish republicans may have been involved. As an American voter and a Republican in both the American sense and the Irish sense, I find the calls for the IRA to disband extremely offensive and uninformed. Those who would require Irish republicans to unilaterally give up weapons and/or disband their armed units before allowing Irish republicans a part in the government of their own country, even though they have been democratically elected to govern it, are throwing away all of the progress that has been made in the Irish peace process. Admittedly, such progress has been slow and limited, but limited by the demands of unionists, whose own links to armed groups like the UVF ( not to mention the collusion of the British Army and former Royal Ulster Constabulary in their violent and illegal activities ) are ignored in the press and by the governments involved in said peace process. Irish republicans are not going away. Their vote has steadily and substantially increased in both parts of their partitioned nation since the peace process began. It is time that the US, British, and Irish governments allow the voice of the Irish people to be heard, and give up the calls for unilateral disarmament. Until the unionist paramilitaries disband, and the RUC and British Army are replaced in Ireland with a police force that is unbiased and with which Irish nationalists can feel safe, the IRA is necessary as protection for the Irish people and their rights.
Charles W. Crouch, Jr.
Lenoir City, TN
USA