INLA DECLARES END TO CAMPAIGN
INLA declares end to campaign
By Jonathan Turner
THE INLA leadership's decision to declare a ceasefire has ended a 23-year campaign of violence which killed 140 people.
The widely expected announcement was made on Saturday, as thousands across Ireland prepared to remember the 28 people murdered in Omagh.
In a lengthy statement, the INLA leadership said they now accepted the "conditions for armed struggle" no longer existed.
They also apologised to innocent people who had died because of the INLA's actions - though they remained unrepentant about the murder of members of the security forces.
The cessation follows increasing pressure from the group's political wing, the IRSP.
It now looks almost certain that INLA prisoners will be eligible for release under the terms of the Good Friday agreement.
There are currently 35 INLA prisoners behind bars - 25 in Northern Ireland and the rest in the Republic.
Yesterday, there were concerns that some members of the INLA, which suffered a bloody internal feud in the 1980s, may not go along with the ceasefire.
That was angrily denied by INLA sources within the Maze, who stressed members were "a 100 per cent" behind the leadership.
The announcement means only one republican splinter group is now not officially on ceasefire - the Continuity IRA.
Yesterday, IRSP spokesman Paul Little said he was "very confident" that INLA prisoners would soon be eligible for release.
He said that if there was dissent within the ranks of the INLA, he had not seen it.
"All the information we have is that the INLA have come 100 per cent on the issue," he said.
"That's not saying that everyone is convinced that it's definitely the way forward.
"But what they are very clearly saying is that it deserves a chance."
Mr Little denied the INLA was about to appoint a liasion with the decommissioning body, but added it was possible in the future.
"If they are doing that, I have no knowledge of it.
"We haven't talked about decommissioning at any of our meetings with the British or Irish governments," he said.
"When it does come up, and I'm assuming it will, we'll look at it then."
In their statement on Saturday, the INLA said they had told all their units to "desist from offensive actions".
"The Irish National Liberation Army has now shifted from the position of defence and retaliation to the position of complete ceasefire," the statement read.
Apologising for the deaths of innocent civilians, it added: "We acknowledge and admit faults and grievous errors in our prosecution of the war.
"Innocent people were killed and injured and at times our actions as a liberation army fell far short of what they should have been.
"For this, we as republicans, as socialists and as revolutionaries do offer a sincere, heartfelt and genuine apology.
"It was never our intention, desire or wish to become embroiled in sectarian or internecine warfare.
"We accept responsibility for our part in actions which hindered the struggle. Those actions should never have happened," it added.
"We have, however, nothing to apologise for in taking the war to the British and their loyalist henchmen.
"Those who preyed on the blood of nationalists paid a heavy price."
The statement added: "However, the will of the Irish people is clear.
"It is now time to silence the guns and allow the working classes the time and opportunity to advance their demands and their needs."
It added: "In calling this cessation we recognise that the political situation has changed since the formation of the INLA.
"We recognise that armed struggle can never be the only option for revolutionaries.
"In the new conditions prevailing it is only right to respond to the new conditions. Those conditions demand a ceasefire."
The statement said the INLA did not believe the agreement was worth the "sacrifices" of the past.
But they expressed their confidence in the IRSP to represent them in the political process, while still opposing the agreement.
By Jonathan Turner
THE INLA leadership's decision to declare a ceasefire has ended a 23-year campaign of violence which killed 140 people.
The widely expected announcement was made on Saturday, as thousands across Ireland prepared to remember the 28 people murdered in Omagh.
In a lengthy statement, the INLA leadership said they now accepted the "conditions for armed struggle" no longer existed.
They also apologised to innocent people who had died because of the INLA's actions - though they remained unrepentant about the murder of members of the security forces.
The cessation follows increasing pressure from the group's political wing, the IRSP.
It now looks almost certain that INLA prisoners will be eligible for release under the terms of the Good Friday agreement.
There are currently 35 INLA prisoners behind bars - 25 in Northern Ireland and the rest in the Republic.
Yesterday, there were concerns that some members of the INLA, which suffered a bloody internal feud in the 1980s, may not go along with the ceasefire.
That was angrily denied by INLA sources within the Maze, who stressed members were "a 100 per cent" behind the leadership.
The announcement means only one republican splinter group is now not officially on ceasefire - the Continuity IRA.
Yesterday, IRSP spokesman Paul Little said he was "very confident" that INLA prisoners would soon be eligible for release.
He said that if there was dissent within the ranks of the INLA, he had not seen it.
"All the information we have is that the INLA have come 100 per cent on the issue," he said.
"That's not saying that everyone is convinced that it's definitely the way forward.
"But what they are very clearly saying is that it deserves a chance."
Mr Little denied the INLA was about to appoint a liasion with the decommissioning body, but added it was possible in the future.
"If they are doing that, I have no knowledge of it.
"We haven't talked about decommissioning at any of our meetings with the British or Irish governments," he said.
"When it does come up, and I'm assuming it will, we'll look at it then."
In their statement on Saturday, the INLA said they had told all their units to "desist from offensive actions".
"The Irish National Liberation Army has now shifted from the position of defence and retaliation to the position of complete ceasefire," the statement read.
Apologising for the deaths of innocent civilians, it added: "We acknowledge and admit faults and grievous errors in our prosecution of the war.
"Innocent people were killed and injured and at times our actions as a liberation army fell far short of what they should have been.
"For this, we as republicans, as socialists and as revolutionaries do offer a sincere, heartfelt and genuine apology.
"It was never our intention, desire or wish to become embroiled in sectarian or internecine warfare.
"We accept responsibility for our part in actions which hindered the struggle. Those actions should never have happened," it added.
"We have, however, nothing to apologise for in taking the war to the British and their loyalist henchmen.
"Those who preyed on the blood of nationalists paid a heavy price."
The statement added: "However, the will of the Irish people is clear.
"It is now time to silence the guns and allow the working classes the time and opportunity to advance their demands and their needs."
It added: "In calling this cessation we recognise that the political situation has changed since the formation of the INLA.
"We recognise that armed struggle can never be the only option for revolutionaries.
"In the new conditions prevailing it is only right to respond to the new conditions. Those conditions demand a ceasefire."
The statement said the INLA did not believe the agreement was worth the "sacrifices" of the past.
But they expressed their confidence in the IRSP to represent them in the political process, while still opposing the agreement.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0189
Published Date: 24-Aug-98
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