Loyalists withdraw support for police and political bodies
THE Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), in Londonderry and North Antrim have released a statement saying that it has withdrawn it’s support for Northern Ireland’s political institutions and the PSNI with immediate effect.
The UPRG, which provides political analysis to the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) claim the decision has been “forced” upon them for a number of reasons. The decision comes the UPRG said after a widespread consultation of with its membership and grass roots loyalist communities in the Londonderry and North Antrim region.
In a statement, the UPRG regional group listed the reasons for the refusal to continue to support the Stormont Assembly and the PSNI.
The statement said: “We feel that this decision has been forced upon us for a number of reasons. The ongoing demonisation of loyalism in the region by government, politicians and others, the political apathy in relation to dealing with with the social issues affecting our grass roots loyalist communities and the politically motivated ‘green agenda’ operated by the PSNI throughout the north west.”
The statement comes in light of recent moves by loyalist paramilitary groups to decommission their arsenals. It has been confirmed that both the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando have completely destroyed their weapons cache, whilst the UDA have begun the process.
In June it was contended that the UDA had asked the Government for millions of pounds and the release of prisoners before commencing the decommissioning process.
The statement from the UPRG also said: “In 1998 were were told that no section of the community would be left behind in building a new Northern Ireland. However, since then, grass roots loyalist communities in the north west have been ignored and allowed to wallow in poverty, destitution and squalor. Political interference in community funding initiatives has seen vital work being carried out by loyalist community activists go ignored and unfunded.”
In a section of the press release labelled as a ‘Summary Statement by the Regional Committee UPRG North Antrim and Londonderry Region’, it is stated: “The situation today, with the announcement that the loyalist community in the largest geographical area of the Province have withdrawn their support for political institutions and the PSNI serve to remind all politicians that Northern Ireland is not about the city of Belfast alone.
“Loyalist communities in North Antrim and Londonderry have been unfairly excluded. The views of the public face of loyalism in Belfast-does not represent what loyalists in the rest of the Province are thinking.
“The issues facing loyalists face in North Antrim in Londonderry are completely separate to those faced by loyalists in the urban expanse of Belfast and surrounding areas.”
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