DATE=2/18/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND - WEAPONS
NUMBER=5-45483
BYLINE=ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Earlier this month, the British government
suspended local government authority in Northern
Ireland for an indefinite period. The suspension was
prompted by lack of progress on an issue that has
plagued politicians in the British province for
decades: how to get rid of weapons held by
paramilitary groups such as the Irish Republican Army.
In this report, former London correspondent Andre de
Nesnera looks at the issue known as decommissioning.
TEXT: "Decommissioning" is shorthand for the hand-
over, or verified disposal of weapons held by
paramilitary groups. Once again, politicians are
grappling with that issue which has proven to be the
main obstacle to a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
The largest, most sophisticated and well-organized
paramilitary group is the Irish Republican Army which
for decades has waged a guerilla war against British
rule in Northern Ireland.
Paul Beaver - senior defense analyst with the British
publication "Jane's Defense Weekly" - says the I-R-A
has a variety of weapons including several shoulder-
launched surface-to-air missiles known as SAM-7's. He
says the paramilitary group also has a devastating
sniper rifle - the American 50-caliber "Barret."
// BEAVER ACT //
It can kill at little over two kilometers. So that's a
real problem, because it penetrates body armor worn by
police or by the army. They also have a series of
heavy machine-guns of 50-caliber and 30-caliber -
again, procured in the United States: a number of
`Armalite' rifles, probably as many as 200 - now
that's the civilian version of the M-16. They have
about 600 `Kalashnikovs.' They have a number of
Belgian `Fall' rifles - both light machine-guns and
rifles. Pistols, `Brownings,' `Makarovs,' `C-Zeds,'
some `Webleys' - a variety of weapons. The problem is,
of course, they are not only in one location. They are
spread out around the Island of Ireland and possibly
even in the United Kingdom. And the other thing, of
course, which they have is a little over 200 pounds
(about 100 kilograms) of `Semtex' explosives.
//END ACT //
Mr. Beaver says the I-R-A bought most of its weapons
in the 1970's and 1980's through surrogates of the
Soviet Union - such as Libya and Syria. In addition it
raised huge amounts of cash from the Irish nationalist
community in the United States allowing it to buy
weapons on the international black market.
On the other side of the sectarian divide, are
Protestant paramilitary groups known as `loyalists'
because they remain loyal to Britain, favoring
continued British rule in the province. These groups
include the "Ulster Freedom Fighters" and the "Ulster
Volunteer Force."
Mr. Beaver says they have far fewer weapons than the
I-R-A. For example, if the I-R-A has a total of about
a thousand weapons, it is believed the protestant
loyalists have only about 150.
// SECOND BEAVER ACT //
The loyalists do not have heavy weapons. They do not
have heavy machine guns or rocket-propelled grenades.
They tend to have pistols. They tend to operate in
their terror campaign in small groups against
individuals. They don't blow things up. They target
the catholic community and kill, torture and extort
from that community.
// END ACT //
It is precisely because of this disparity in weaponry
and sophistication that the onus is on the Irish
Republican Army to begin the process of
`decommissioning' - handing in its weapons. Loyalist
extremist groups have consistently said they will
follow the I-R-A's example once it begins to disarm.
But although the I-R-A and loyalist paramilitaries
have stood by their cease-fires for several years now,
there has been very little progress on the
`decommissioning' front.
The April 1998 "Good Friday" Agreement stipulates that
paramilitary groups must hand in their weapons by May
22nd of this year. And it is because there has been no
movement on the weapons issue that the British
government suspended local government institutions in
Northern Ireland, re-instating direct rule from
London. British officials believe that may exert
pressure on the I-R-A since Irish Republicans have
always favored devolved rule from London as a first
step toward a united Ireland.
Noel Doran is deputy-editor of Belfast's daily "The
Irish News" - espousing the views of the Catholic
community. He says the definition of `decommissioning'
has been broadened.
// DORAN ACT //
All that is really being asked is that the Republicans
should make a credible start to the process.
Unfortunately, they don't see it in those terms. Their
attitude is that they must stick firmly to the letter
of the "Good Friday" Agreement, which means that they
believe they don't have to do anything until May.
// END ACT //
Other experts believe the real reason the I-R-A
paramilitaries refuse to begin the `decommissioning'
process is that they see the handing over of weapons
as an act of "surrender."
Historian and I-R-A expert Brendan O'Brien (author of
the book "The Long War") says that is a major factor.
// O'BRIEN ACT //
Once they decommission, the I-R-A is in effect
disbanded. Down the ranks, some of them do see it as
surrender. But I think the more level-headed of them
realize that `decommissioning' is part of a balanced
agreement with gains and losses all around. The gain
for them, is they get into government. The loss, if
you like, is `decommissioning.' A gain is reform of
the police force (Royal Ulster Constabulary) - a loss,
is they have to accept Northern Ireland as a political
institution - and so on. There are gains and losses
all around for them and for others. So - my view is,
that while `in their gut' they don't like it, and in
the gut of the men down the line they do see it in
terms of surrender, tactically, they know it is part
of an agreement - and the question is when can they
use it to maximum effect?
// END ACT //
Experts agree there is very little chance the I-R-A
will resume a full-scale terror campaign reminiscent
of the darkest days of the so-called "Troubles." But
many believe the problem will come from splinter
groups such as the `Continuity I-R-A' and the `Real I-
R-A' - groups that have never agreed to cease-fires
and want to continue the armed struggle.
Experts say after the `decommissioning' issue is
resolved, then the thorny issue of paramilitary
splinter groups must also be adequately addressed in
order to get - once and for all - the bullet and the
bomb out of Northern Ireland politics. (Signed)
NEB/ADEN/KL
18-Feb-2000 16:05 PM EDT (18-Feb-2000 2105 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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