Red Rag

The IRA recently announced that it had ordered its volunteers to “dump arms”, and that it would

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.

There will inevitably be some scepticism about this, but it is apparently genuine enough for the British army to dismantle more watchtowers in republican areas, as part of a “security normalisation” process. I think Maurice Hayes describes the announcement well: “not yet historic, but good enough to be going on with.”

I will not hold my breath waiting for the Loyalist terrorists to make a similar promise, even a half-hearted one. I find it disgusting that many of those who constantly criticise the IRA turn a blind eye to the crimes of the other side.

It’s all well and good for the likes of Ian Paisley to complain, but he and his followers have never done anything to support the peace process — because there can be no peace without justice, and they exist to defend the injustice of Irish dispossession. Indeed, the Loyalists will work hard to undermine the peace process because they know the IRA’s tactical shift to parliamentary struggle increases the likelihood of a future united Ireland.

So while we must look to the IRA to put its words into action — not only by destroying weapons, but also by showing that the prohibition on volunteers “engag[ing] in any other activities whatsoever” includes a ban on non-political criminality — we must also demand that the Loyalists also move towards disarmament. The time for armed struggle in Ireland is over, but so too is the time for double standards.