Saying Sorry for 30 Years of Terror

The Irish Republican Army has issued an unprecedented apology for the deaths of civilians killed in its 30 year campaign of violence in Northern Ireland.

The statement, which appeared in the Dublin-based republican newspaper "An Phoblacht," marked the 30th anniversary of Bloody Friday, when nine people were killed as 21 bombs exploded across Belfast on July 21, 1972.

30 years on, the IRA has offered "sincere apologies and condolences" for the deaths of "non-combatants" – those who do not belong to any paramilitary organisation, the police or the Army - acknowledging the "grief and pain of their (the combatants) relatives".

A step toward peace

The IRA's apology can be described as highly significant for a terrorist organisation which has never previously admitted to having committed any atrocity.

Back in 1994, when loyalist paramilitaries declared a ceasefire, the Ulster Volunteer Force veteran spoke of their "abject and true remorse" for the pain they had caused.

But the IRA showed no remorse.

For them, the ceasefire was the end of a 30-year, justified and honourable struggle. Any casualties were seen as regrettable, but unavoidable.

Adressed to all "non-combatants"

In Tuesday’s statement, the IRA said: "While it was not our intention to injure or kill non-combatants, the reality is that on this and on a number of other occasions, that was the consequence of our actions. ... It is therefore appropiate on the anniversary of this tragic event, that we address all of the deaths and injuries of non-combatants caused by us".

It went on to say that the process of conflict resolution required recognition of the grief and loss of others and that the IRA was trying to fulfill its responsibilities. "The future will not be found in denying collective failures and mistakes or closing minds and hearts to the plight of those who have been hurt. That includes all of the victims of the conflict, combatants and non-combatants."

Half-hearted apology?

The apology was warmly welcomed by the Northern Ireland government. But others, mainly Unionists, were more sceptical, dismissing the apology as half-hearted because it did not include the relatives of soldiers and police officers.

The Unionists view the statement as politically oppurtune. Republicans are under continuing pressure over alleged connections to Colombian rebels and ongoing Belfast street violence.

The Unionists accuse the republican movement of acting in bad faith for publicly proclaiming peace while secretly carrying on arms training and intelligence gathering. And despite two major arms moves in October 2001, and March 2002, there is no doubt that the IRA is in a position to fight a decades long campaign.

Earlier this month, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble demanded that Tony Blair censure Sinn Fein, the IRA’s political wing. In addition, the Unionists accuse the British government of 'turning a blind eye' to republican and loyalist violence.

Trimble has given Britain's prime minister a deadline of July 24 to restore dwindling Protestant confidence in the Good Friday Agreement, which was the first step to historic powersharing government which began work in 2000.

On Tuesday, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said the IRA’s apology did not "absolve" Tony Blair of the need to say what the government would do if the republican movement breached the current ceasefire in Northern Ireland between now and July 24.

More optimistic

While sceptics have already dismissed Tuesday’s statement, the bereaved friends and families of victims in the conflict have shown more optimism.

While the apology would never bring back lost loved ones, they say, it could help bring a 30 year chapter of violence to an end.