IRA Splinter Faction Nostalgic for the Old Belfast

by Daniel J Gerstle · 2009-11-23 07:37:00 UTC
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Just when you thought Northern Ireland was a success for peace negotiation, part of the Irish resistance has gone back in business. More than anything, the turn around reminds us of the incredible importance of the "follow through" required in building sustainable peace.

George Mitchell, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East formerly known as the US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his and others' efforts to end decades of violence between largely Catholic Irish who wanted to reunite with Ireland and largely Protestant Irish who didn't mind remaining part of the United Kingdom. Or at least that's the simplified version of this long, tragic conflict...

The efforts led by Mitchell did manage to forge a new collaborative government including the Irish Republican Army's political party, Sinn Fein, which had consented to the bombing of civilian targets in the past.

Now that the unity government has moved forward relatively well, a splinter group from the IRA has gone back to shooting at cops and bombing police stations. Fortunately, they are being more strategic, if still unnecessarily violent. So they have been targeting government security, not so much civilians. Let's hope that these guys come to their senses and realize that change is about building, not destroying.

[Photo: Ireland, back in the day, Liam]

Daniel J Gerstle is a journalist, human rights researcher, and humanitarian aid consultant. He is Editor and Chief Correspondent for HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine.
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