Nationalist terrorism

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Nationalist terrorism is a form of terrorism through which participants attempt to form an independent state against what they consider an occupying, imperial, or otherwise illegitimate state. "Nationalist terrorism" has also been used to describe groups attempting to create a state which upholds the rights of a group (national, ethnic, religious or other) that they consider oppressed or denied of basic rights granted to others in the state.

As with the definition of terrorism, the characterization of "nationalist terrorism" is highly contentious. Both what constitutes an illegimate regime, and what types of violence and war are acceptable against one, are subjects of heated debate worldwide. Groups described by some as "nationalist terrorists" tend to consider themselves "freedom fighters," engaged in valid but asymmetric warfare.

The following are nationalist groups, which in some circles have been deemed "terrorist":

Some nationalist groups' activities are viewed by others as Left-wing terrorism or Religious terrorism, or can be included in both categories. Examples include:

[edit] Northern Ireland

The "Troubles" in Northern Ireland (1968-) is characterised by the competing nationalist claims of the two communities there. One, the mostly Roman Catholic republican or nationalist community, mainly descended from the native Irish inhabitants, identifies itself as Irish and want the six counties under British jurisdiction to leave the United Kingdom and unite with the Republic of Ireland. Paramilitary groups with this ideology include:


Irish Republican Army (IRA) (1916-present) **

  • Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969-2005?). It is currently on ceasefire and has destroyed most of its weaponry. Ihe 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.

It was a splinter group of the Official IRA. Supporters of the PIRA split from Official Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Democratic Left).

  • The PIRA has killed more people than any other single group in the conflict and has targeted British army, Royal Ulster Constabulary and Ulster Defence Regiment personnel as well as unionist politicians and paramilitaries and civilian "collaborators". It has also killed many of its own members for "informing" to the authorities. Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. In July 2005, the group formally announced that its war was over. However it retains some of its arms and is strongly suspected of criminal activities such as the Northern Bank Robbery of December 2004.
  • Splinter groups:
  • Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present). Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann (Irish for 'Volunteers of Ireland'). It is not on ceasefire although the CIRA is renowned as the only currently active paramilitary group in Northern Ireland never to have caused a fatality.
  • Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (1997-present). Also known as the True IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann (Irish for Volunteers of Ireland.) It is not on ceasefire.
  • Irish National Liberation Army. Small Marxist group - a split from the Official IRA. The INLA declared a ceasefire on August 22, 1998.

The other community, which is overwhelmingly Protestant and is known as unionist or loyalist, is largely descended from Scottish and English settlers who arrived in Ulster during the Plantations of Ireland. This community, which forms a slight majority in Northern Ireland, regards itself as British and paramilitary groups from this community describe themselves as loyalists. They have received clandestine assistance from the British security forces in the past. Most of their victims have been civilian Catholics with no political or paramilitary connections. Currently, two loyalist groups, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Loyalist Volunteer Force, are engaged in a bloody feud with each other.

  • They often use the name the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF. On February 22, 2003, they announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months, in February 2006, the Independent Monitoring Commission reported that the UDA continued its paramilitary activities, as well as involvement in organized crime, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, extortion, money laundering and robbery
  • Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Officially on ceasefire, although the Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain announced that the British government no longer recognized the UVF ceasefire after serious loyalist rioting in 2005.
  • Loyalist Volunteer Force. The LVF announced in October 2005 that it was standing down following the IRA's previous standing down and disarmament
  • Orange Volunteers. The group has not been active since 2000, when they declared a ceasefire. In February 2001, the group called off its ceasefire with a "Back to War" statement, but has not been thought to be active since then.
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