Distretto Nord

I gruppi lealisti sono pronti a distruggere le armi

Paramilitary groups ‘preparing to destroy weapons’

Union Jack a Drumcree

Northern Ireland’s loyalist paramilitary groups are preparing to decommission their arsenal of illegal weapons this summer, according to loyalist sources in the province.

The move will allow the publication of a complete list of all terrorist weaponry, IRA as well as loyalist, which has so far been put beyond use.

The disposal of weapons will be a co-ordinated move by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), and the Red Hand Commando (RHC), the province’s three main loyalist terror groups.

The process will be supervised by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) which is headed by John de Chastelain, a Canadian general, and also includes US and Finnish representatives.

De Chastelain and his team reported in 2005 that the IRA had decommissioned its entire arsenal to their satisfaction, but, under special legislation, cannot reveal either the number of weapons involved or the method of destruction until they “complete their mandate” by overseeing the destruction of loyalist weapons.

When that happens they will forward a full report to the government which is free to publish it.

The loyalist armoury is not nearly as large as the IRA’s stockpile of weapons, which is mainly supplied by Libya. Security forces say the IRA arsenal included 1,000 rifles, three tonnes of Semtex explosives, 25 machine guns, seven surface to air missiles as well as seven flame throwers, 20 rocket propelled grenades and 100 handguns.

Unlike the IRA, the loyalists may allow photographs to be taken of the decommissioning process. The IICD will examine the weapons to determine that they are genuine. However under special legislation which expires in December, the police are prohibited from forensically testing the weapons for the purpose of prosecution.

Shaun Woodward, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced last year that the legislation would be ended early if the loyalists had not made some progress by the end of August. One source close to the UVF said that a date of 29 August, the date of a loyalist march known as “Last Saturday” was being considered.

In recent weeks the loyalists have been preparing the way with a series of talks with political parties and church leaders. They met Cardinal Sean Brady, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, for the first time last month. Dr Donald Patton, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, who met representatives of the UDA on Tuesday said “”They are seeking to move towards the point of decommissioning.”

Loyalist sources hope to announce the arms decision at a press conference where leading loyalist figures including John “Bunter” Graham, named in court as the “Brigadier General” of the UVF, Jackie McDonald, the leader of the UDA and Augustus “Gusty” Spence, the founding father of the modern UVF, will throw their weight behind the decision.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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