Northern Territories The Ira example essay topic

The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) was formed in 1969. The Official IRA declared a cease-fire in the summer of 1972, and subsequently the term IRA began being used for the organization that developed from the 'Provisional' IRA. Organized into small, tightly knit cells under the leadership of the Army Council the IRA has remained largely unchanged. It is difficult to know the exact number of IRA members because of the political and economic persecution that comes with publicly endorsing the IRA. It is estimated that there are several hundred members, plus several thousand sympathizers, but the IRA's strength may have been affected by operatives leaving the organization to join hard-line splinter groups. The Provisional IRA was the largest of the three republican-armed resistance groups organized under the leadership of the Army Council.

The policies of Sinn Fein under the leadership of Gerry Adams from 1994 to 1998 led to a split in the Provisional Irish Republican Army during the fall of 1997. This split resulted in one faction accepting the new Good Friday Agreement and cease-fire and the New or Real IRA continuing armed resistance to British partition. It has been assumed that the IRA acts as a clandestine armed wing of Sinn Fein, a legal political movement dedicated to removing British forces from Northern Ireland and unifying Ireland but a direct terrorist or financial connection between the two groups has yet to be publicly established. The Provisional IRA accepted the cease-fire and has endorsed its affiliates in taking seats in the new Stormont Northern Assembly. In order to maintain an upright appearance the IRA often uses the Direct Action Against Drugs (DAAD) organization as a cover (John Pike, web).

The IRA and its many splinter groups have claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist activities including bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, punishment beatings, extortion, and robberies. Their targets have included senior British Government officials, British military and police in Northern Ireland, and Northern Irish Loyalist paramilitary groups. Bombing campaigns have been conducted against train and subway stations and shopping areas on mainland Britain, as well as against British and Royal Ulster Constabulary targets in Northern Ireland and a British military facility on the European Continent. The IRA has been observing a cease-fire since July 1997 and previously observed a cease-fire from 1 September 1994 to February 1996. The IRA declared a cease-fire on July 19, 1997 to become effective July 20. At the end of August, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced her finding that the cease-fire was being observed, allowing Sinn Fein, the political party closely identified with the IRA, entry into negotiations on Northern Ireland's political future.

The July 20 cease-fire ended a 17-month terrorism campaign and led to the opening of inclusive political talks in September. Following the cease-fire there was a marked decrease of sectarian violence but not a total cessation. Police believe that paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland were responsible for 22 deaths, 251 shootings, and 78 bombings during 1997 (web). Both republican and loyalist paramilitary groups continued to engage in vigilante attacks, although there was a decrease in the number of such incidents even before the July cease-fire. In August 1998 the IRA claimed responsibility for a car bomb which killed 28 and injured 220 in the Northern Irish Town of Omagh. The bombing was the worst terrorist activity in nearly three decades for Ireland.

While claiming responsibility for the blast an IRA representative anonymously told an Irish newspaper "Despite media reports, it was not our intention at any time to kill any civilians. It was a commercial target, part of the ongoing war against the Brits. We offer our apologies to the civilians", (web). The tragic event had a profound effect on all of the British Isles and even brought Prince Charles to Ireland in order to bring royal condolences to Omagh.

More recent IRA activities include the arrest of four people in an early morning raid in an area near the border town of Dundalk on March 29.2001. The three men and one woman were held as part of an investigation into paramilitary activity (web). On March 4, 2001 the IRA was blamed for planting a bomb that exploded outside the British Broadcasting Corporation's main office in London, England. BBC duty news editor Laurie Margolis, who saw the explosion, said the force of the blast amazed him. 'I have seen things going off in Beirut, Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia,' he said. 'We knew from the police activity something was going to happen, but the actual force of the explosion was very substantial.

It was a fireball that seemed to fill the whole road between BBC TV Center and White City Tube station. ' (web). Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, head of the Irish Republican Army's political wing met with President Bush on March 17, 2001. Adams told CNN that he came away from the meetings with President Bush assured that the United States remains committed to the Good Friday Accords, and that he sees more progress being made in the now-stalled negotiations. He blamed the British government for the current impasse, saying it has traded off on too many issues, and made too many promises.

'That's why we " re in the mess we " re in,' Adams said. (web). Acting as a terrorist group it is difficult for the IRA to raise money in order to fund their "projects and operations". The IRA has received aid from a variety of groups and countries and considerable training and arms from Libya and, at one time, the Palestinian Labor Organization (web) It is likely that sympathizers in the United States also have mad considerable contributions. The raising of funds is a delicate matter and it is easy to assume that the business of terrorism is a rather expensive one to participate in. Within the northern territories the IRA holds Republican Marches consisting of local IRA supporters marching door to door in order to ask for donations. While donations are voluntary most feel obligated to give because those collecting are usually close friends and neighbors.

Racketeering while difficult to prove provides a considerable portion of the funds necessary to maintain the IRA. Many shops, restaurants, and small business are forced or brow beaten into paying a tribute to the IRA in return for security that the IRA provides. IRA merchandise available on the internet and in shops provides the IRA with increased exposure and funding. Shops set up and run by the IRA utilize volunteers to maintain the day to day operations of the shop and distribution of merchandise. Organized crime is often overlooked as a serious problem throughout Northern Ireland because those involved in committing the crimes and those affected by the crimes feel that there is a common bond that out weighs the material possession. Collections are often taken at local GAA events.

GAA is the nationalist sport that involves all territories bringing them together in the spirit of competition and sport. There is a tremendous sense of community at theses events and people again often feel obligated to make a contribution because of their relationship with those taking the collection according to Michael Mold une an exchange student from Ireland at Heidelberg on a one year Business scholarship. During election periods the IRA may place collectors at poll and voting stations. Regardless of the means used to locally raise funds the IRA relies on a common bond shared among the Irish people. Their grass roots take on fund raising has come a long way from the days of taking Prisoners of War and holding them for ransom. The struggle between the British government and Northern Ireland is very much in the forefront of the international political arena.

Concerns over resuming peace talks and disarmament of the IRA and its overly zealous splinter groups continue to encourage those involved to make sacrifices in order to reach a common understanding. In an interview with CNN Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams had the following to say in summary of the peace process in Northern Ireland to date. 'There are problems,' he said. 'But it's interesting that, despite all of that, while there isn't the degree of bonding necessary to get rid of all the difficulties, I think there's huge progress made. 'None of us should for one moment underestimate the progress that has been made in the last 10 years,' he continued. 'We " ve a long way to go, but we " ve come a long way. '