Decommissioning in Northern Ireland facts for kids

Decommissioning in Northern Ireland was a big part of the Northern Ireland peace process. It was a plan to get all the armed groups, called paramilitary groups, to give up their weapons. This was a key step in bringing peace after a long period of conflict known as the Troubles.

What Was the Belfast Agreement?

The Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, was a very important peace deal. It was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998, which was Good Friday. The British and Irish governments signed it, and most political parties in Northern Ireland agreed to it.

This agreement aimed to create a government where both Catholics and Protestants could work together. These groups often had different ideas about Northern Ireland's future. The agreement said that both their hopes and dreams were valid. One main part of the deal was that all groups would work to get weapons out of use within two years, by May 2000.

Who Oversaw the Decommissioning?

To make sure decommissioning happened fairly, a group called the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) was set up. Their job was to help with the safe removal of guns, bullets, and explosives.

Why Was Decommissioning Difficult?

Getting all groups to give up their weapons was not easy. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) was one group that was slow to disarm in 2001. They said the British government hadn't kept its promises. The IRA felt the government had not changed the police force enough or removed enough troops from Northern Ireland.

The first deadline for decommissioning was May 2000, but it was missed. The IICD then set a new deadline for June 30, 2001. This date also passed without all weapons being given up.

The situation became very tense in July 2001. David Trimble, who led the Ulster Unionist Party, resigned from his role as First Minister. He did this to protest the IRA's failure to get rid of their weapons "completely and verifiably." He was later re-elected, but the peace process was almost falling apart again.

How Was a Breakthrough Achieved?

Things started to look up on August 7, 2001. The IRA finally agreed on a way to destroy its weapons. Tony Blair, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time, called this a "significant" and "historic" moment. General John de Chastelain from Canada, who led the IICD, confirmed that the IRA's plan would put their weapons "completely and verifiably beyond use."

This announcement came after meetings between the IICD and an IRA representative. The Ulster Unionists had said they would leave the Northern Ireland Assembly if the IRA didn't start disarming.

During the process, the Democratic Unionist Party asked for photos of the decommissioning. They wanted to show the public that it was really happening. However, the IRA refused, saying it would be humiliating. Instead, they said two religious leaders would watch the process to confirm it was done.

Years later, in June 2009, other groups also announced they had finished decommissioning. The Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando both completed their processes. The UDA also said it had started to destroy its weapons. These groups had originally refused, saying they didn't want to copy the IRA.

Key Dates in Decommissioning

• April 10, 1998 (Good Friday): The Belfast Agreement is signed. It sets a goal for all armed groups to give up their weapons by May 2000.
• May 2000: The first deadline passes. The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning sets a new deadline for June 30, 2001.
• June 30, 2001: The second deadline passes without full disarmament.
• July 2001: Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble resigns as First Minister. This is because the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) has not disarmed.
• August 7, 2001: The IRA agrees on a way to decommission its weapons.

See also

• Colombian peace process