Posted on 04/13/2006 12:44:30 PM PDT by elc
The UVF leadership, in the first interview of its kind in almost 30 years, reveals today its internal thinking on winding down the organisation, decommissioning, its attitude to the latest political process and a host of other issues.
The secretive organisation has revealed it will not make a statement on the future of its organisation until after the November 24 deadline for a political deal here.
In the interview, the UVF signals its preference for an internal political settlement, but also flags up potential hostility to the two governments' alternative 'Plan B'.
That new position was outlined by the paramilitary leadership yesterday - its words spoken from behind a balaclava.
The UVF is waiting to see the detail of any political Plan B that might emerge if a power-sharing Executive is not restored.
For months now, the organisation - and the closely associated Red Hand Commando - has been involved in an internal debate.
The two groups - whose ceasefires are not recognised by the Government - are believed to be moving towards some kind of peace declaration.
But, in an exclusive interview, the UVF said there will be no announcement on "future intentions" for at least another seven months - even if its internal consultation process is completed before then.
"Whether it is called Plan B, joint management or joint authority it spells the same thing to this organisation," a spokesman said.
"There will be no statement of intent to declare the future of this organisation until after November 24."
As the talking continues inside the group, the organisation has also ruled out imminent decommissioning.
"Quite frankly, decommissioning is not a word that we use in our vocabulary ? It is not on our agenda," the leadership spokesman said.
(Excerpt) Read more at belfasttelegraph.co.uk ...
In the interest of fairness and bashing terrorists equally, I ping this to you...
I think people tend to forget that the UVF are not on a recognized ceasefire and now are dragging their feet about decommissioning.
They may not be officially represented in Stormont, like with Sinn Fein and the IRA, but that doesn't mean they should not start feeling some pressure to declare their war over.
I'll tell ya - with the hard core Marxists of the IRA running around - I would not give up my guns either...
Yes, one are as bad as another!! I'm convinced they'll bomb the Republic again!
And of course, July is just around the corner. Gotta hold on to those guns for the silly season.
For once I'm on the other side of the debate, as I'm usually bashing the fools here who support the IRA LOL! Anyway, the Loyalist terror groups are no better than the IRA - the Loyalists are as Fascist as the IRA are Marxist - my belief is basically that the Irish and British governments should just forget about the 'peace process', and simply crack down the terrorists from both sides!!
For 3 to 4 decades, the Irish "freedom fighters" have trained and conspired in league with muslem terrorists.
The Irish are wise to climb out of bed with muslim terrorists.
The Basques have done this recently, too.
No self-respecting European "rebel" should want to be associated with the muslim terrorists.
The Orange Order should distant themselves from the Loyalist terrorist groups - they are not doing their cause, which is basically the right to assemble, any good.
I'm betting there are many in the group who want the Loyalists purged.
I've always thought that the OO has done a pretty good job of distancing itself, but that the loyalists are constantly hijacking (no pun intended) OO events and marches.
But I could be wrong.
The real funny part of the story are that their arsenals (both sides) are pretty much an average collection of guns of any self respecting Texan...
That maybe true - but some would have it infiltrated, the same way the Provos are infiltrating the institutions of the Republic.
I believe the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms would take power away from the terrorists on this island - hard for gang to kneecap you when you are packing heat! ;)
Texans keep tonnes of semtex and surface to air missiles??
Must remember that next time I'm visiting! Don't want to piss off the wrong person.
The wisdom of our founding fathers still amazes me to this day...Of course the subjects of the UK do not have this right and they are sheep to the terrorists.
Oh, I forgot that bit! LOL
Must remember that next time I'm visiting! Don't want to piss off the wrong person.
Bobby Sands - probably the MOST famous IRA fighter - was sentenced to 14 years prison for possession of a handgun that was found in a car in was riding in...
Yeah, and I didn't agree with John Major's knee-jerk reaction after the Dunblane Massacre.
Our gun laws are strict here in the Republic, too - handguns were banned in '72(?), and we can only use rifles and shotguns for hunting and shooting (four-legged) vermon.
30 years ago. Doesn't change the fact that the IRA had some nasty stuff in their arsenal.
Hungry Bob was also involved in organising a bombing, but there wasn't enough evidence.
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