The end of an era... Or is it?

[Stone]

The IRA have disbanded and declared they are to take the peaceful route for the reunification of Ireland. They have vowed to destroy thier arsenal of over 1000 AK 47's, 250 Armalite rifles, three tonnes of semtex, 7 SAM7 AA missles, 20 DHSKA Russian heavy machine guns (Armour piercing and can take down a helicopter from over 2 miles away) and 5 LP50 flamethrowers. As far as I know, this is what they said will destroy.

My opinion, bullshit! They'd have much more than that after over 30 years of being a paramilitary organisation! I don't know if ye've all heard about the bank robbery (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4117219.stm) by the IRA in Northern Ireland not so long ago. At the same time there was much talk about the IRA disbanding. There are elements in the IRA who are not just in it for the freedom of NI, they are in it because they are scumbags, they love trouble, and killing/maiming/intimidating people is a hobby for them. My thoughts at the time leaned to the idea that they robbed the bank to fund a splinter group, and now the provo's saying that that's all the weapons they will destroy? Shall we see a new paramilitary group join the scene soon?

[DoctaD]

If I remember correctly, they decided to disband as of 4pm yesterday.

So what's up with that, did they say to each other at midday "Right lads, we have four hours left... LETS KILL SOME PRODS!!" ?

I suppose in a sense, it's a step in the right direction. They are giving the impression that their violent career is over and if people believe them or not, they're still trying.

Of course, as soon as a group of young nationalists decides to cause some havoc and blame it on their latest denomination of the paramilitary, everything will be blown up again.

The only thing is now, there are many protestant paramilitaries who already thought they were gods, but now see less of a threat in the community.
-DD

[Stone]

The Provo's have changed alot from when they were founded, their aims may be the same but their members are not. Lately they have been commiting criminal acts, the IRA turned into a mafia-like group and thier members commit criminal acts that serve no purpose in the reunification of Ireland Jerry McCabe (http://www.limerick-leader.ie/issues/20041211/news02.html), [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McCartney_(murder_victim)[/url], I can provide more if ye want to read. My opinion is that the leadership of the IRA were losing control of thier members who were scumbags, who thought they were above the law because of their membership of the IRA and the leadership decided to call it a day. They also realised that the violence is getting them nowhere. Soon there will be a nationalist majority in Northern Ireland, the gap is closing extremely fast (53% Unionist to 47% Nationalist the last I heard) and roughly 10 years ago it was 60% to 40%. Maybe they realised that if there is peace, there is chance for a referendum and then reunification.

What I don't like about the idea of reunification is the Loyalist paramilitaries (who by the way, there has been NO pressure on to disband, they can still kill/maim/terrorise whoever they want) could start a campaign of violence in the Republic...

[Kakkaraun]

No, this is totally gonna work. Because, y'know, it's not like the provos have shown a history of agreeing to be nonviolent, and then continuing to be violent. That's, like, TOTALLY never happened before.

Hell, even if the provos do knock off the violence, a splinter group will pop up right away and start maiming people again.

[Stone]

The Provo's are gone, simple as that. The Real IRA and Continuity IRA still exist and now thier ranks will swell with the disbanded provo's.

The fucking Loyalists still aren't happy with the IRA disbanding though, it's 'not enough' for them, even though the Loyalist paramilitaries still have all thier guns and are still running around killing.

[Kakkaraun]

The Provos are gone on only a technical level. At least that's my perception of it, you probably know better as you're actually in Ireland. Anyway, "a rose by another name is just as sweet," dig? If it looks like a Provo and acts like a Provo and shoots at innocent people like a Provo, it's a Provo. :)