Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Looking The Other Way

The British government has found a solution to terrorism in Northern Ireland- capitulation and a continuing refusal to recognise its presence here.

The four-member commission confirmed the UDA was involved in clashes with a rival faction in Carrickfergus in July and said it had to bear responsibility for the wounding of a police officer in a gun attack.

UDA members, it also said, took part in serious rioting which erupted in August in the loyalist Kilcooley estate in Bangor following police raids.

The organisation was blamed for other attacks including the petrol bombing in Ballymena of premises occupied by two Polish nationals.

Despite efforts by the leadership to discourage involvement in crime, members also engaged between 1 March and 31 August in drug dealing, loan sharking and the sale of counterfeit goods.

And their ultimate conclusion based on this evidence?

The leadership of the loyalist Ulster Defence Association (UDA) is struggling to end violence and criminality in its ranks, a report by the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) said today.

And the IRA?

And while the IMC's report did not address claims that a Provisional IRA gang beat to death south Armagh man Paul Quinn last month, they insisted the organisation was still firmly committed to a peaceful path.

Beating a man to death is now classified as being committed to peace. How reassuring.

And the UVF?

The IMC said the other main loyalist group, the UVF had reached a turning point with its announcement in May that it had put its weapons beyond reach and was embarking on a strategy to civilianise itself.

In other words, they've cached their weapons for another day- and they thus retain a powerful bargaining chip with a government terrified of a return to violence.

Their report said broadly speaking that work was under way. UVF leaders had briefed grassroots members and had started to downsize the organisation, expelling some people on disciplinary grounds and allowing others to leave.

In short, terrorism continues apace here in Northern Ireland but, as per usual, the official line is to ignore it.

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