 IRA says The Armed Campaign is over!!!!! | |
The day that all Irish people have been waiting many years and decades to happen has happened and the IRA has put down their weapons from today at 4pm. They are due to decomission their weapons soon. I am so happy.
I wish they had have apologised for what they have done but I can understand what they wanted to achieve.
The statement in full:
The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm [1600 BST] 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.
The IRA leadership has also authorised our representative to engage with the IICD [Independent International Commission on Decommissioning] 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. The outcome of our consultations show very strong support among IRA Volunteers for the Sinn Féin peace strategy
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 Fein peace strategy.
There is also widespread concern about the failure of the two governments and the unionists to fully engage in the peace process. We reiterate our view that the armed struggle was entirely legitimate. This has created real difficulties. The overwhelming majority of people in Ireland fully support this process. 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. The IRA is fully committed to the goals of Irish unity and independence and to building the Republic outlined in the 1916 Proclamation . 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.
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 Oglaigh 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. | 
