What factors helped to bring about the IRA ceasefire in 1994?

Answer 1

The term Official Irish Republican Army or Official IRA refers to one of the two organisations—the other being the Provisional Irish Republican Army—that emerged from the split in the then Irish Republican Army in 1969–70. Both organisations continued to refer to themselves as the Irish Republican Army and rejected the political legitimacy of the other. The Official IRA had an essentially Marxist approach. Initially engaged in military action against the British Army, it declared an end to offensive action in 1972 but since then engaged in feuds with both the Provisional IRA and the Irish National Liberation Army, a radical splinter group formed in 1974. In later years, it was accused of involvement in organised crime, and while it has not carried out any military actions for many years it appears that it remains in existence.

The Official IRA was associated with Official Sinn Féin, later renamed Sinn Féin the Workers Party and subsequently The Workers Party, and now known as The Workers Party of Ireland.
============================
[edit] Ceasefires and decommissioning of arms
In August 1994, the Provisional IRA declared an indefinite ceasefire. Although this ceasefire temporarily broke down in 1995-97, it essentially marked the end of the full scale PIRA campaign.

From December 1995 until July 1997, the Provisional IRA called off its 1994 ceasefire because of its dissatisfaction with the state of negotiations. They re-instated the ceasefire in July 1997, it has been in operation since then.[21]

The Provisional IRA decommissioned all of its arms between July and September 2005. The decommissioning of its weaponry was supervised by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD). Among the weaponry estimated, (by Janes Intelligence), to have been destroyed as part of this process were:

1,000 rifles
3 tonnes of Semtex
20-30 heavy machine guns
7 Surface-to-air missiles (unused)
7 flame throwers
1,200 detonators
20 rocket-propelled grenade launchers
100 hand guns
100+ grenades[22]
The conclusion of the IICD, (that all PIRA weaponry has been destroyed), was arrived at by their full involvement in the process of destroying the weapons and their comparison of weapons destroyed with the figures British security forces estimate the PIRA had.[23] Since the process of decommissioning completed, unnamed sources in MI5 and the PSNI have reported to the press that not all PIRA arms were destroyed during the process. This claim remains unsubstantiated so far.[24] Although the group overseeing the activities of paramilitaries in Northern Ireland - the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), in its latest report, dated April 2006, points out that it has no reason to disbelieve the PIRA or information to suspect that the group has not fully decommissioned. Rather it indicated that any weaponry that had not been handed in had been retained by individuals outside the PIRA's control.[25]
========================================
Irish Republican Army (IRA) Ceasefire Statement, 31 August 1994

"Recognising the potential of the current situation and in order to enhance the democratic process and underlying our definitive commitment to its success, the leadership of the IRA have decided that as of midnight, August 31, there will be a complete cessation of military operations. All our units have been instructed accordingly.

At this crossroads the leadership of the IRA salutes and commends our volunteers, other activists, our supporters and the political prisoners who have sustained the struggle against all odds for the past 25 years. Your courage, determination and sacrifice have demonstrated that the freedom and the desire for peace based on a just and lasting settlement cannot be crushed. We remember all those who have died for Irish freedom and we reiterate our commitment to our republican objectives. Our struggle has seen many gains and advances made by nationalists and for the democratic position.

We believe that an opportunity to secure a just and lasting settlement has been created. We are therefore entering into a new situation in a spirit of determination and confidence, determined that the injustices which created this conflict will be removed and confident in the strength and justice of our struggle to achieve this.

We note that the Downing Street Declaration is not a solution, nor was it presented as such by its authors. A solution will only be found as a result of inclusive negotiations. Others, not the least the British government have a duty to face up to their responsibilities. It is our desire to significantly contribute to the creation of a climate which will encourage this. We urge everyone to approach this new situation with energy, determination and patience."

==========================================
August 31, 1994 was the beginning of the first extended IRA ceasefire. The purpose of this ceasefire, and a subsequent extended ceasefire, was to provide a chance for the political process to resolve, in good faith,the long-standing problems of a poorly governed colonial statelet.

The British Government and the Unionist parties in the six counties (which is not Ulster) responded to the 1994-5 ceasefire with a colonial power mentality. Instead of receiving this opportunity with an open mind, they pressed for a surrender that could not be obtained militarily.

In the process, they torpedoed the opportunity to seriously explore, and implement, peaceful solutions.

Today, five years later, the ceasefire is met with the same demands for surrender. More than a year ago the people clearly spoke in democratic referenda. They voted for an all-party Agreement that would provide for a shared governing body and a stable and civil society. However, the Unionist politicians failed to listen, and, Britain, in appeasing the Unionists parties again and again, has not fully supported the peoples'wishes.

The arrogant colonial attitude prevails. The intransigent Unionist parties refuse to share power or accept equality for all of the people in the six counties. Unfortunately, their 19th century "not an inch" siege mentality is still being catered to by the British Government. The "Protestant State for a Protestant People" adage seems to be the preferred stand of the British Government, and, that Government's dual-standard form of governing has fostered a totalitarian state based largely on bigotry. Remember, we are talking about western civilized Europe in 1999, not 1899. The Unionist and British Government politicians raised the hopes of the people in 1998 and are now thumbing their noses at them.

Failure to sieze the opportunity and properly implement a truly democratic and stable governing body, and quickly, will again signal the failure of the political will of the British Government and the Unionists parties. As such, it will signal the failure of the political process.

With high frustration levels and repeated deceptions the resulting void will have ominous implications. What is required to bring the British and Unionist politicians to the table to force more honest negotiations? Apparently, democratic methods are viewed as signs of weakness by these politicians. What options exist then?

By the way, the gun, bomb, brutal beatings, ad nauseum have been very much in use during this political process over the past year, by the Loyalist community. Given this fact, how can the duplicitous Unionist parties be allowed to provoke the use of the gun and at the same time usurp the democratic process by continuing to stonewall the path to a just and permanent peace? Further, how can the British Government extend the draconian emergency legislation during a time of peace and at the same time call for "trust and confidence building measures" to be undertaken?

If the British Government is incapable of or lacks the political will to enforce the Good Friday Agreement, as written, and a truly equitable and democratic governing process in the six counties of Ireland, then it is past time to relieve them of this responsibility. Looking at the broad picture, their governing of the statelet since 1921 has been one of callous disregard and irresponsibility. It is time to place the oversight responsibility to implement the Good Friday Agreement in the hands of an independent international decision-making body, who would also be required to implement the various international human rights covenants in the process.

To paraphrase Rita O'Hare, just think of how the lives of the people in the six counties could be changed today if the British and Unionist politicians constructively received that first extended ceasefire five years ago.

Jim Gallagher

Answer 2

Sinn Fein and the IRA knew that they could get a united Ireland through politics faster than through war but because of pre-conditions from the British government which led to no progress in the talks the IRA ended that ceasefire by blowing up Canary Wharf in Feb 96 and then Manchester and a mortar attack on a Army base in Germany and 2 car bombs inside Thiepval Barracks in the North.They called a new ceasefire in July 97

The peace process started with John Hume and Gerry Adams talks and the Hume Adams Document.

Answer 3

Most of the pro English answers above are total rubbish,, I'm from Wales another country that the English INVADED ,, So now lets see who the greedy ones are,, Scotland ,Wales and of course Ireland,all invaded by the GREED of the English monarchy..Someone said in another question that the Irish were not educated enough,now let me see, the teaching of the Irish language and schools in Ireland was Illegal ACCORDING TO THE ENGLISH RULERS,,resulting in something called Hedge schools,during occupation the playing of traditional IRISH games was also highly illegal ,should i go on,so now comes the question of ceasefire..it has nothing with the British MI5 or any other English organisation infiltrating the IRA it maybe has something to do with the hard work resting on the shoulders of those who DID NOT walk out of the talks back in the 1990s..Should i say more..I do know a little about English history and the heartache they have caused other countries down through the ages..ONE ANSWER ABOVE STANDS OUT ABOVE ALL..if you know your history you will know what one....

Answer 4

In short, intense talks.

Sinn Fein moderated; John Major abandoned the "no quarter" policy of his predecessor.

I would like to say, though, that there wasn't a total ceasefire in 1994. The building across the street from my husband's work was bombed in 1996 and he was injured in the blast - and we're not even British. (BTW, Mojo and Sean X, it wasn't Canary Wharf, it was Harbour Exchange Square in South Quay. It's just that the blast was so strong that it also caused damage as far away as the better-known Canary Wharf. For those in doubt, the IRA chose almost all civilian targets during their bombing campaigns from 1974 to 2001).

It's good to see a sustained period of peace, though - hats off to all those responsible for making it happen.

Answer 5

I'm probably going to get a lot of thumbs down's but lets not forget that the IRA found a very powerful weapon in the early 1990's - big bombs in London. The damage caused by the City of London bombs (Stock Exchange) was enormous in financial terms and, just as the IRA always knew they could not beat the UK by "military" means (hence they called it "The Long War") so the Government recognised that they could cause massive economic damage. (The subsequent Canary Wharf bomb proved this too). These bombs were more effective than the previous 30 years of violence.

When both sides recognised they couldn't win, they both had an incentive to talk instead.

Answer 6

the IRA just got to old, always were cowards but became more scared as they got old,
the women got fed up of them killing the children & the big tough "lol" ira men hiding behind women & children,

would not give them the time of day just what they deserve ,

Answer 7

the 'no surrender' attitude of the british people combined with a better educated generation of republicans and failing support for the terrorists

Answer 8

Power sharing and probably the fact that it was not a winnable war.

Answer 9

Because over a number of years unsung hero's of MI5 & SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE had identified & infiltrated them right to the top

Answer 10

me,i made a big pot of tea sat them all down and gave them a right bollicking