The two sides
of Northern Ireland
There are two important factors of the ?Ireland
Question?. The first one is ethnical
differences and the second one is religious differences between two nations. At
first, the Irish people have revolted against the colonial/imperial enterprises
on the island, later the question gained a more religious character, and this
factor is more utilised by the Protestant British. Today, the question remains
as a conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants. The Catholics are a
minority in Northern Ireland and the
Protestant majority preferred dependence on United Kingdom while the Catholics
wanted unification with the Southern Ireland. However, the referendum of 10
April 1998 revealed that, the majority of the Northern Ireland accepts
unification with the Southern Ireland. Thus, the view, which advocates the
Northern Ireland, is an indivisible part of United Kingdom has lost its
validity.
The Catholics
The Catholic parties are also known as Nationalists. The basic ambition of
nationalists is the aspiration to unify the island of Ireland. The main
constitutional party is the Social
Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), which contests the nationalist vote
with Sinn Féin, generally accepted
to be the political arm of the IRA. The SDLP campaigns for internal reforms,
and has accepted that unity must await the support of the majority in Northern
Ireland. Sinn Féin argues that force is necessary to remove the British
presence, and that its mandate is historical. Sinn Féin has refused to condemn
the IRA, and has not been included in any official political talks. John Hume led the SDLP in 1994, and Gerry Adams Sinn Féin.
3.1.1 Catholic Nationalist Parties
– Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)
– Sinn Fein
3.1.2 Military organisations
THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY
The IRA is a Catholic military group formed in 1857 by
the Irish Republican Society, which was a secret organisation formed by Irish
people who emigrated to the United States. The IRA?s political wing was lead by
Eadmon de Valera, and the military wing by Michael Collins.
The first action of the IRA was in Dublin in 1916.
Then, in 1921, there were internal disagreements because of the partition of
Ireland. Until 1969, the organisation carried out many sporadic actions, and
this year the IRA was divided in two parts: The PIRA and the official IRA, but
they were still the same organisation with same targets.
On 19 July 1997, the IRA declared a cease-fire, which
made the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland allow the Sinn Fein (political
wing of the IRA) entry into negotiation on Northern Ireland?s political future.
Despite the fact that the unemployment rate in
Northern Ireland in December 1997 was 7.8 per dent, the unemployment rate for
Catholics men in Northern Ireland was still twice that for the Protestant men.
The IRA was to remove British forces from Northern
Ireland and to unify Ireland. The IRA conduct
attack until its cease-fire, and agreed to disarm as a part of the 1998
Belfast Agreement, which established the basis for peace in Northern Ireland.
Disagreements because of the Northern Ireland peace
process resulted in the formation of two more radical groups: – CIRA (Continuity Irish Republican Army)
The IRA activities include bombing, murders,
kidnappings, robberies and punishment beatings. Before the cease-fire, the
group conducted many bombings in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, with
targets as senior British Government officials, civilians, police and British
military officials.
Although announcing the cease-fire, the IRA is believed
to retain the ability to conduct paramilitary operations.
The group?s minimal activities provide the IRA and the
political party Siinn Fein with millions of dollars each year.
The IRA has several hundreds of members, and several
thousands of sympathizers all over Ireland.
– Other Military groups:
RIRA (Real
Irish Republican Army)
Formed in 1998, opposed Sinn Fein?s adoption of non
violence and opposed North Ireland?s peace process. Many RIRA members are IRA
members who left that organisation because they didn?t want the cease.fire.
These members, brought to RIRA experiencein military tactics and bomb making.
Targets have included civilians, British military, police in Northern Ireland
and protestant communities. Since october 1999, RIRA has done more than 80
military attacks.
The RIRA has 100 to 200 activists. Approximately 40
RIRA members are in Irish jails. RIRA?s actions are in Northern Ireland, Irish
Republic and Great Britain. It?s suspected of receiving funds from sympathizers
in the USA.
INLA
The INLA was formed in 1974 by Seamus Costello and
other activists who had left (or been forced to leave) the IRA. The INLA became
involved in violence with their formed comrades in the IRA, who wanted to
destroy the new grouping. There were several assassinations on both sides, the
most important victim being Seamus
Costello, who was shot dead in Dublin.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, this organisation
became a considerable military organisation. During this period, INLA and IRA
attacked the Britihs army. INLA?s most prominent action was the assassination
of the polititian Ainey Neave in London.
Members of the INLA took Part in the 1980s and 1981 in
hunger strikes for political status. Three INLA members died during this strike
(Patry O?Hara, Kevin Lynch and Michael Devine). The INLA has also developed a
reputation of crime, including drug dealing and armed robbery, which led to a
very bad public image, with very little support even in the Irish Republican
circles. The INLA declared a cease-fire on August 22, 1998.
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