Wikipedia

Nationalist terrorism

Nationalist terrorism is a form of terrorism motivated by a nationalist agenda. Nationalist terrorists seek to form self-determination in some form, which may take the form of gaining greater autonomy, establishing a completely independent sovereign state (separatism), or joining another existing sovereign state with which the nationalists identify (irredentism). Nationalist terrorists often oppose what they consider to be occupying, imperial, or otherwise illegitimate powers.

Nationalist terrorism is linked to a national, ethnic, religious, or other identifying group, and the feeling among members of that group that they are oppressed or denied rights, especially rights accorded to others.

As with the concept of terrorism itself, the term "nationalist terrorism" and its application are highly contentious issues. What constitutes an illegitimate regime and what types of violence and war are acceptable against such a state are subjects of debate. Groups described by some as "nationalist terrorists" tend to consider themselves "freedom fighters", engaged in valid but asymmetric warfare.

Other nationalist terrorism can include violence against immigrants in a country. Nationalists in many countries see immigration as a threat to the prosperity of the local or native population of that country.

List

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

The label of a group as carrying out "nationalist terrorism" does not preclude it being described in other terms:

Northern Ireland

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The "Troubles" in Northern Ireland (c.1968–1998) were characterised by the competing nationalist claims of the two largest communities there:

The mainly Roman Catholic Irish republicans or nationalists community, mainly descended from the native Irish inhabitants, identify as Irish and want the six counties of Northern Ireland, currently part of the United Kingdom to leave the UK and unite with the Republic of Ireland. Paramilitary groups associated with this ideology include:

  • Irish Republican Army (1922–62) A split from the "old" IRA that opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty that solidified the partition of Ireland following the Irish War of Independence. Largely ineffective, petered out in the late 1950s and was officially ended in February 1962.
    • Official IRA (1969–72) Although formally on ceasefire, except for "defensive actions", since 1972. The Official IRA continued some attacks on British forces up to mid 1973, killing seven British soldiers in what it termed "retaliatory attacks". No longer an active organization.
    • Irish National Liberation Army (1972–1998). Small Marxist group – a split from the Official IRA. The INLA declared a ceasefire on 22 August 1998.
    • 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.
      • 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.
      • 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.

The other community is overwhelmingly Protestant and are known as unionists or loyalists and are 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 essentially British. Paramilitary groups associated with this ideology have received clandestine assistance from the British security forces in the past. Many of their victims have been civilian Catholics with no political connections. These paramilitary groups include:

  • Ulster Volunteer Force (1966–present). 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. UVF renounced "violence" and declared it was putting its arms "beyond reach" on 3 May 2007. The Red Hand Commando is a cover name for UVF.
    • Loyalist Volunteer Force (1996–2005). The LVF announced in October 2005 that it was standing down following the IRA's previous standing down and disarmament. The Independent Monitoring Commission confirms that the LVF is keeping its paramilitary ceasefire, is heavily involved in organized crime and drug trafficking.
  • Ulster Defence Association (UDA) (1971–present). Formed as an umbrella organisation of loyalist groups. Legal in the United Kingdom until 1992. Often used the name "Ulster Freedom Fighters" (UFF) when it wished to claim responsibility for attacks. 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. On 11 November 2007, the UDA formally renounced violence, but a commander said the group would not surrender its weapons to international disarmament officials.
    • Red Hand Defenders (1998–present). Opposes ceasefire.
    • Orange Volunteers (1998–present) The group has not been active since 2000, when they declared a ceasefire. However, 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.

References

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  1. ^ Slomp, Hans (2011). Europe, a Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics, Volume 1. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 744. ISBN 978-0-313-39181-1. Grey Wolves Turkish terrorist group (Bozkurtlar in Turkish), the youth organization of an extreme right party...
  2. ^ "The list of prohibited on the territory of the RK foreign organizations". din.gov.kz. Committee for Religious Affairs of The Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2014-10-25. II.
  3. ^ Ali, Kyamal (18 February 2014). "Серые волки" собрались на охоту. ann.az (in Russian). Azerbaijan News Network. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. В 1995 году Верховный суд ликвидировал регистрацию «Боз Гурд» в связи с названием организации, известной в мире как террористическая.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-07-26. Retrieved 2009-02-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ Raza, Syed Irfan (10 April 2006). "BLA declared terrorist organisation, banned". DAWN.COM.
  6. ^ Report, Dawn (18 July 2006). "UK declares BLA terrorist organisation". DAWN.COM.
  7. ^ Home Office - Proscribed terrorist groups in the UK Archived 2007-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ EU list of terrorist groups
  9. ^ Canadian listing of terrorist groups Archived 2006-11-19 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Conversi, Daniele (1997). The Basques, the Catalans, and Spain. London: C. Hurst & Co. pp. 92–97. ISBN 9780874173628.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Karyos, Andreas (2009). "EOKA and Enosis in 1955-59: Motive and Aspiration Reconsidered" (PDF). London School of Economics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-29. Retrieved 2015-06-30.
  12. ^ a b Matovic, Violeta, Suicide Bombers Who's Next, Belgrade, The National Counter Terrorism Committee, ISBN 978-86-908309-2-3
  13. ^ Terrorist Group Profiles. DIANE Publishing, 1989. p.32
  14. ^ Cameron I. Crouch (2009). Managing Terrorism and Insurgency: Regeneration, Recruitment and Attrition. Routledge. pp. 35–36. ISBN 9781135230180.
  15. ^ Moloney, Ed (2007). A Secret History of the IRA (2nd ed.). Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0141028767.
  16. ^ Arad, Yitzhak; Arad, Yitzchak (2010). In the Shadow of the Red Banner: Soviet Jews in the War Against Nazi Germany. Gefen Publishing House Ltd. p. 189. ISBN 978-965-229-487-6. "The first UPA unit was officially established on October 14, 1942. …The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (Ukrainska Povstanska Armia-UPA) was an arm of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (Orhanizatsia Ukrainskikh Nationalistiv – OUN)."
  17. ^ Ralph Bunche report on assassination of UN mediator Archived 2008-05-07 at the Wayback Machine 27th Sept 1948, "notorious terrorists long known as the Stern group"
  18. ^ Pope Brewer, Sam. IRGUN BOMB KILLS 11 ARABS, 2 BRITONS. New York Times. December 30, 1947.
  19. ^ "Chetnik". Encyclopædia Britannica.
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