Call for decommissiong evidence
A SENIOR unionist has hit out at the fact the public are still to see photographic evidence of illegal arms being destroyed.
DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson spoke out as the last of the republican and loyalist terror groups involved in the decommissioning process gave up their weapons on Monday.
The INLA, the Official IRA and the dissident South East Antrim Brigade of the UDA all announced they had disposed of their weapons.
All three groups waited until the last day before the remit for General John de Chastelain's arms decommissioning body runs out today to reveal they had given up their guns and explosives.
Anyone caught with paramilitary weapons after today will face the full weight of the law and possible prosecution for past crimes involving any guns shown to be involved.
DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said that all the various groups involved in the Troubles had used public displays of their arms in the past to terrorise, but now seemed very reticent to show their arsenals being destroyed.
Mr Donaldson said the stance was in stark contrast to many 'shows of strength' in the past, when guns and armed men were paraded in front of the cameras.
Mr Donaldson said while the DUP wholly supported the decommissioning process, he'd also like to see pictures of the weapons being destroyed
"If pictures were taken we would welcome their publication.
"It seems strange that the groups have been reticent about publishing that kind of information when one contrasts that to the way the same groups in the past have not only published photos of armed terrorists, but also videos of shows of strength.
"It marks a degree of double standards that they have not published some similar evidence of the decommissioning process."
The Lagan Valley MP said he now wanted to see the publication of an inventory of all the weapons destroyed, as promised by General de Chastelain.
He said: "We were told by General de Chastelain that once all the groups that had been designated during the process had completed decommissioning, then an inventory of weapons would be published by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.
"It remains our view that it would significantly boost public confidence if the general would publish the inventory as it is an integral part of the scheme and we believe that the information should now be placed in the public domain."
Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said the move by the three groups proved the process worked.
He said: "This is another hugely significant day in the history of Northern Ireland. On the eve of the end of the decommissioning legislation, these acts of decommissioning and those that have gone before are recognition that the future of Northern Ireland must be a peaceful one, free from violence and the fear of violence."
He said the remaining dissident republicans should now follow suit.
"The message it sends to those who still think that they can threaten, maim and murder when the voices of people around the world are raised against them could not be clearer.
"They delude themselves, and those they try to recruit, if they do not recognise that change that is to mean anything can only come about through argument, persuasion and dialogue, not coercion."
He also reiterated that today's decommissioning deadline will not be extended. "There were those who argued against the renewal of the decommission legislation for one final year when I proposed it last year.
"I understood their position but judged that if there was a chance to take more guns and bombs out of circulation through this mechanism then it should be taken.
"The fact that we have seen major acts of decommission during the year vindicates that decision."
He said the process was not just about the dumping of weapons.
"The significance of decommissioning goes well beyond the removal of arms, important as that is.
"It is a physical manifestation of the triumph of politics over violence."
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
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