Loyalists start weapons decommission
Updated on 27 June 2009
Politicians on all sides in Northern Ireland have welcomed the decision by two loyalist paramilitary groups to put their weapons out of commission. Roz Upton reports.
The UVF Red Hand Commando said their arms and explosives were now "irreversibly beyond use".
And the Ulster Defence Association said it had also started to disarm its arsenal in front of independent witnesses, declaring "the dark days are behind us and it is time to move on".
The decommissioning acts were overseen by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) led by General John de Chastelain who four years ago witnessed the destruction of the IRA's arsenal of guns, ammunition and explosives.
The UVF said it had destroyed its entire arsenal, with a further major disarmament act from the RHC.
The UDA released a statement in Belfast confirming it had decommissioned a portion of its illegal arsenal and had started a process that would lead to the destruction of all its arms.
The UVF leadership today said: "We have done so to further augment the establishment of accountable democratic governance in this region of the UK, to remove the pretext that loyalist weaponry is an obstacle to the development of our communities and to compound our legacy of integrity to the peace process."
A spokesman for the UVF and RHC said: "The leadership of the UVF and RHC today confirms it has completed the process of rendering ordnance totally and irreversibly beyond use."
The process began in Autumn 2008 when the so-called Combined Loyalist Military Command was brought together to address the issue. There was agreement to begin the disarmament process.
In March preparations were suspended after two soldiers and a policeman were shot dead by dissident republicans in Antrim and Craigavon.
The representative added: "Assurances were sought from the government and from the Irish government that those responsible, in whatever jurisdiction, would be vigorously pursued and the failures of 1969 (when the conflict began) would not be revisited upon our community.
"Only when forthright assurances were given and it became clear that they would be honoured did our process resume."
Every part of Northern Ireland and all regions of Great Britain where the loyalists had a presence co-operated in the process, which has now concluded.
The spokesman said the move would boost democracy.
"We believe the significance and substance of our actions will satisfy the above objectives. For God and Ulster."
Full text of the UDA statement:
Today is a milestone in the history of Loyalism, and Northern Ireland.
We came together to protect our communities and fought a long war to defend them against Republican violence.
The struggle has ended. Peace and democracy have been secured and the need for armed resistance has gone. Consequently we are putting our arsenal of weaponry permanently beyond use.
This is a courageous and unprecedented move that is part of a wider transition from conflict to peace. This process was initiated in autumn 2008 when the Combined Loyalist Military
Command was reconvened to address the outstanding issue of Loyalist military material. As a result of those discussions, all constituent parts agreed to set in place the internal arrangements necessary to begin the disarmament process.
As a result we have held a series of meetings with General John de Chastelain and his team who have witnessed an act of decommissioning. This process will be completed within the previously notified timescale. By carrying out this act we are helping to build a new and better Northern Ireland where conflict is a thing of the past.
In this important moment in our history we wish to pay tribute to the courage and fortitude of our comrades and communities.
To those who have died, we salute you and forever treasure your memory.
To those who have lost loved ones, we share your grief.
To those who have been injured or imprisoned, we thank you for your sacrifice.
The dark days are now behind us and it is time to move on. There is no place for guns and violence in the new society we are building. It is time to work for a better future.
Many Loyalist areas suffer high levels of deprivation and poverty, and we have a commitment to the communities that we have defended all these years. We will work with our people to build stronger and better communities so that our children and our children's children can enjoy peace and prosperity.
We are proud of our past and we rejoice in the new found peace, stability and democracy which we helped to secure. We look forward to playing our part in building a better Northern Ireland.
As John McMichael stated before his untimely death: "There is no section of this divided Ulster community which is totally innocent or indeed totally guilty, totally right or totally wrong.
We all share the responsibility for creating the situation, either by deed or by acquiescence. Therefore we must share the responsibility for finding a settlement and share the responsibility of maintaining good government."
Quis Separabit
