IRA Refuses to Back Nonviolence Pledge
The Irish Republican Army said Thursday that it will not surrender weapons or endorse nonviolence, complicating efforts by its Sinn Fein party allies to get into negotiations with pro-British Protestant leaders on Northern Ireland’s future.
The IRA’s refusal to lay down arms, published in the joint Sinn Fein-IRA weekly newspaper Republican News, reiterates its longtime stance--but at a critical time.
Protestant leaders are scheduled to meet with Sinn Fein on Monday for the first time in history as part of wider talks on Northern Ireland’s future. Two Protestant parties have already withdrawn and the main Protestant party, the Ulster Unionists, will decide what to do Saturday.
While not criticizing Sinn Fein, an IRA spokesman was quoted as saying the group “would have problems” with the party’s affirmation of nonviolence and reserved the right to resume bombing and shooting if Sinn Fein fails to make substantial gains in negotiations.
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