Arms body confirms decommissioning
THE body overseeing decommissioning has confirmed the UVF and Red Hand Commando have given up their weaponry.
In a statement, the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) said the leaderships of both organisations have advised them that the weapons and material put beyond use in their presence "include all the arms under their control".
"The IICD can confirm it has witnessed a major decommissioning event involving arms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices belonging to the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando."
The IICD is due to give a written report on decommissioning to the two Governments at the end of August.
Loyalists' decommissioning welcomed 'but long overdue'
UVF statement in full
UDA statement in full
The statement comes as the Rev Harold Good, a former president of the Methodist Church of Ireland and one of the two independent witnesses to IRA decommissioning, said loyalist decommissioning has "put in place the last block of the foundation on which we can now build the peace process".
The retired cleric was invited along to the historic UVF Press conference in East Belfast Mission.
He said he was not a witness to the process – but that he understood there were three unnamed witnesses, one from the US, one from the mainland and one from the Republic of Ireland.
"I found the Press conference in east Belfast very encouraging to hear and to feel the spirit of those people who made the statements.
"There was no ambiguity about their statements."
Mr Good said the public now need to acknowledge how difficult it was for paramilitary leaders to bring their organisations to this stage.
"I accept without doubt the integrity of the statement we heard from the UVF and RHC and the UDA have made it clear that decommissioning is still a work in progess." He said the statements signalled "hugely important days for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland".
"They are saying the gun has gone out of Irish politics and their war is over.
"There will be those who question the decommissioning process and it is up to them to put their questions to General de Chastelain who will be making a statement on the process very soon."
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said he has concerns the loyalist decommissioning would be "to the same extent as that of the IRA's".
He said: "Any decommissioning is welcome but it must be close and complete.
"The nature of decommissioning is secretive and not open to public scrutiny. For that reason there are always question marks."
Mr Allister said he "does not have a lot of confidence with loyalist decommissioning as with the IRA the Government bent over backwards to cover up for them."
"They still are," he added. "For example the Government refused to give a history of the weapons used in the Antrim and Craigavon murders to save political embarrassment."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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