Fresh demands on loyalists to decommission

There have been fresh calls from both sides of the political divide for loyalist paramilitary groups to decommission their weapons following a second historic move from the IRA.

The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning announced on Monday April 8 that they had witnessed an event in which the IRA had put a “varied and substantial quantity of ammunition, arms and explosive materiel beyond use”.

The move, although widely expected, has been the Republican terrorist organisation’s second act of decommissioning since October 2001.

SDLP assembly member for North Antrim, Sean Farren, said: “There can be no justification whatsoever for the lack of movement from the loyalists. Their ceasefires are in tatters and they are involved in stoking up discontent and violence on a nightly basis.

“It is time loyalism stood up on its own two feet, took a long hard look at itself and decided what it is worth and what it can contribute to the future of the North," he added.

The First Minister David Trimble also said that loyalist paramilitaries should make a similar gesture in order to maintain credibility within the peace process. He said: "There is now an overwhelming moral and political onus on the loyalist paramilitaries to seize the initiative once more and make a start to decommissioning."

Secretary of State Dr John Reid added that it was now more than ever incumbent on the loyalist paramilitary groups to respond and match the IRA’s important action with steps of their own”.

(AMcE)