Distretto Nord

Nessun collegamento con The Warrior, dice UPRG

UPRG deny involvement with ‘Warrior’ magazine

uda ulster defence associationTHE Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) in Londonderry have insisted they have no link to the loyalist magazine ‘The Warrior’-which has caused controversy in the city within the last 48 hours.

Callers to BBC Radio Foyle on Monday said they felt pressurised into purchasing the publication, which contains heavy sectarian and racist material. The PSNI in the city area said they are examining the magazine to determine if it ‘contravenes the law’.

Regional secretary of the UPRG for Londonderry and North Antrim, David Malcolm said: “Having obtained a copy of the publication in question, I immediately note that it ‘exists as an independent voice of true loyalist and Protestant Nationalism in Ulster.’

“Claims linking it specifically to both the UDA and the North Antrim and Londonderry region in particular are false and without foundation.

“The UPRG and wider loyalist community do not subscribe to any racist views contained within the publication and I would condemn any comment that advocates racism.”

The UPRG spokesman said he believed this publication had been in existence in its current form for around five years. David Malcolm also maintained the ‘fact’ this is the first time that the publication had come to the attention of the media and political figures in the area was not a coincidence.

Hitting back at comments made about the magazine from Sinn Fein MLA, Martina Anderson, he said: “Considering Martina Anderson’s background in terrorism, it’s a bit hypocritical of her to lambast the loyalist community in the vitriolic way she has done over the past two weeks. I believe that Sinn Fein, the SDLP in Coleraine and others are using this issue to create a smokescreen both to mask the dissatisfaction in our community with policing and political institutions and to take pressure off Sinn Fein over their lack of ability to resolve the issues of anti-social behaviour, inherent drug dealing and dissident republicanism prevalent in their community.”

“As ‘Director of Unionist Engagement’, Martina Anderson has shown that she has no understanding of the issues affecting our community and that she is not interested in anything other than the complete annihilation of our community, our heritage and our culture.

“I remind her it is not loyalists who are bringing guns onto the streets, it is not loyalists terrorising communities and it is not loyalists who are engaged in attacks on the PSNI and emergency services.”

The UPRG stated that they and the wider loyalist community will continue to”peacefully” demonstrate their opposition to the unfair institutions that have allowed deprivation to grow in grass roots loyalist communities. Last Thursday, (July, 16), a substantial number of UPRG members conducted a ‘protest march’ around the Waterside. They had not as required submitted an application 28 days in advance under parades legislation to do so.

The PSNI in Londonderry say they may take ‘appropriate action’ if that law is breached again.

On July 9, the UPRG Londonderry and North Antrim branch stated a immediate withdrawal of co-operation with the PSNI and a non-recognition of Northern Ireland’s political institutions. The move came after claims that grass roots loyalist communities were the victims of a ‘green agenda’ being conducted by the PSNI-claims which the police heavily repudiated. The UPRG statement at that time was also scathing of mainstream unionist politicians as well as pointing at a wider campaign of ‘vilification’ of loyalists accusing them of engaging in drug dealing and sectarianism.

The regional branch of the UPRG say their current position will not shift until the issues affecting them are properly addressed. They have also repudiated suggestions that the current hiatus within the local UPRG branch does not indicate a split within the UPRG on an Ulster wide level, nor does it highlight a split within the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). The UPRG provides political analysis to the UDA.

Pagina precedente 1 2
Tags

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.

Related Articles

Close