Transcript Defining Terrorism The History of Terrorism as a Strategy

The Irish
Republican Army
The History of Terrorism
as a Strategy of Political
Insurgency
April 2011
Where did the Irish Republican Army come
from?
Historical Roots in Genuine Oppression
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Economic – land redistribution, famine, race laws
Political – various associations with England, protestant maneuvers
Social - sectarian identification overwhelming national sentiments
Cultural – church opposition and romantic failures
One, two, three, four what are we fighting for!
In the end, the fight
was about a divided
nation
Divided by
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Territory
Religion/Community
Prospects (economic opportunity)
Historical perceptions
Decency
The Irish Divide
Richard Clutterbuck sees the Irish divide as having
some unique dimensions
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Mostly Urban fighting, but significant rural dimension
Fighters were working class
Absence of political ideology
Deep historical roots to the communal violence
Both communities behave like embattled minorities
Deep origins – from 1014 to 1912
Patchwork Kingdoms of 1014 gave way to Normans extending some control in 1300s, but by
the end of the 15th century English control was lost (for a little while)
The English Take Control
17th century wars
1556 to 1641- Plantations
1641 to 1653 – famine and
repression
1689 to 1691 – Civil War
1798 – Wolf Tone and the first
Ulster Volunteer Force
1886 & 1893 Home Rule bills fail
Predecessors and Catalysts
United Irishmen (1798/1803)
Young Irelanders (1848)
Irish republican Brotherhood (1867)
Fenians
The Ulster Volunteer Force then the Irish
Volunteers
The Irish Republic
Ulster Volunteer Force
(1912)
Easter Uprising (1916)
War of Independence
The Irish Free State
Killing Michael Collins
The Official IRA
IRA is opposed to everybody after
1922
Border Campaign 1956-62
Rise of the Marxists
1965 Political Process between North
and South develops
Rioting 1965 to 1969
1966 UVF
1969 Provisional IRA forms
The Ulster Volunteer Force
UVF (1966-2007?)
• Protestant
• Organized to oppose Catholic
rights marches
• Theoretically to counter the IRA
• 451 victims, mostly civilian
• Mostly fringe elements remain
after 2007
The Provisional IRA
1969-1971 formation
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Urban Guerillas
Bombings and assassinations
Segregated Communities
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De facto Police force for Catholic
Neighborhoods
British Troops deployed
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Collapse of Stormont Government
Bloody Sunday
Politicized prisons
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Blankets and Bobby Sands
Increased cooperation
between Great Britain and
the Republic of Ireland
Towards Peace
Effective Police work and the widespread use of
informers
Less repressive police methods
Improve economic conditions and rights for
Catholics
Cooperation between Irish Republic and Britain
Referendum on the Good Friday Agreement
The IRA and UVF both opposed the referendums
Bloody Sunday Revisited
Official Army Position
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The Paratroopers reacted to gun and bomb attacks from the IRA
Witness Accounts (residents, British and Irish journalists)
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The troops fired at unarmed protestors and those who tried to help
Facts
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13 civilians died (12 at the site), 13 wounded
No guns or bombs were found
No troops were injured
Saville Inquiry Findings:
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"The firing by soldiers of 1 PARA on Bloody Sunday caused the deaths of 13 people and injury
to a similar number, none of whom was posing a threat of causing death or serious injury.“
No Stones or petrol bombs were used by civilians
The Soldiers did not warn the civilians before shooting
The soldiers lost control and shot civilians and those who tried to help them
Appendix
Songs to sing while bombing the British
The Patriots Game
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Come all you young rebels
And list' while I sing
For the love of one's country
Is a terrible thing.
It banishes fear
With the speed of a flame,
And makes us all part of
The Patriot Game. Mu name is O'Hanlon
And I've just gone sixteen
My home is Monaghan
And there I was weened.
I was taught all my life
Cruel England to blame.
And so I'm a part of
The Patriot Game.
'Tis barely two years
SinceI wandered away
With the local battalion
Of the bold I.R.A.
I've read of our heroes
And wanted the same
To play out my part in
The Patriot Game.
They told me how Connolly
Was shot in the chair
His wounds from the battle
All bleeding and bare,
His fine body twisted
All battered and lame,
They soon made him part of
The Patriot Game.
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This Ireland of mine
Has for long been half free,
Six counties are under
John Bull's tyranny.
And still deValera
Is greatly to blame,
For shirking his part in
The Patriot Game.
I don't mind a bit if
I shoot down the police,
They're lackies for war
Never guardians of peace.
But yet at deserters
I'm never let aim
Those rebels who sold out
The Patriot Game.
And now as I lie with
My body all holes,
I think of those traitors
Who bargained and sold.
I'm sorry my rifle
Has not done the same,
For those quisslings who sold out
The Patriot Game.
Songs
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ira/poetry/song1.html
• [..] sent the feelers out
To shoot the people down.
He thought the I.R.A. were dead
In dear Old Belfast town,
But when he got to Belfast
He was seriously delayed
By the Fighting First Battalion
Of the Belfast Brigade. Chorus
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Glory! Glory! to Old Ireland,
Glory! Glory! to this island,
Glory to the memory of the men who fought and fell,
"No Surrender" is the war cry
Of the Belfast Brigade.
We have no costly tenders
Nor no unsecures to show,
We're at need to defend ourselves
No matter where we go,
We're out for our Republic,
To hell with every State!
"No Surrender" is the war cry
Of the Belfast Brigade.