2005 – Twenty Years On Next Monday one of the most historic and transformative events in the Irish Peace Process took place. Twenty years ago on the 28 July 2005 the IRA issued a statement which ended its decades long armed struggle. In its statement the IRA said: "The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon. All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms. All Volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever.” The IRA leadership also said that it had authorised its representative to engage with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning) to “complete the process to verifiably put its arms beyond use in a way which will further enhance public confidence.” This was confirmed two months later on the 26 September by the Commission. The IRA initiative opened up opportunities for progress. Peace processes are by their very nature challenging and difficult. They frequently fail. Many of the wars of the 1960s and 70’s were a response to the colonial occupation and exploitation of native peoples by colonial powers. Africa saw many examples of these. Some conflicts went on into the 1980s and 90s. Algeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), Angola, Mozambique, and others, including in Asia the Vietnam War and in the Middle East the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The South African peace process brought an end to apartheid and witnessed the election of Nelson Mandela as President of that country in 1994. In our own place our peace process brought an end to decades of conflict and heralded processes of change. Today, in a world still bedevilled by wars, the Irish Peace Process is frequently held up internationally as an example of a peace process that is working. The governments occasionally try to root it in the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985. But the truth is that it started in the 1970s when Republicans began to claim back the word ‘Peace.’ A Welcome Electoral Change The decision, announced last week by the British government, that it will be lowering the voting age to those aged 16 and 17, is a welcome move. There is already widespread support for a reduction in the voting age. Last September the Assembly backed a Sinn Féin motion calling for this change. In the South the policy has received widespread cross-party support from Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, The Green Party, The Labour Party, Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and many Independents. The London government is focussed on the 2029 Westminster election but the North will have local government and Assembly elections in 2027. The focus now must be on ensuring that the necessary legislative steps are taken to ensure that 16 and 17 year olds can vote in those elections. Updating the electoral register and ensuring that this new tranche of young voters have suitable identification, will be a big job of work but with political will it can be done. It would also send entirely the wrong message to future voters if the 2027 deadline is missed. Legislating for young people to have the right to vote is the right thing to do. All parties in the North, with the exception of the DUP, support changing the voting rules. Young people should have the right to vote on decisions that impact on their lives, including voting for a united Ireland. Gaels le Cheile In Conversation with Peter Canavan Monday 28th July, 7:30pm - Naomh Eoin CLG Corrigan Park
