SAOIRSE32

BBC

Members of both the SDLP and Sinn Fein have been threatened by separate paramilitary organisations.

SDLP members have been threatened by a breakaway group of the UDA

It is believed the threat to the SDLP comes from a breakaway group of the Ulster Defence Association.

Sinn Fein has said its councillors in Belfast have been threatened by dissident republicans.

Police have also warned Orangemen about an imminent attack by dissident republicans. At least four Orangemen have been warned about their security.

Drew Nelson, Grand Secretary of the Orange Order, called on all Orangemen to be vigilant and increase their personal security.

“We believe that dissident republicans have been responsible for recent attacks on Orange Halls in Armagh and Tyrone,” he said.

“It now appears that this campaign has spread to County Antrim and has taken a more sinister turn with a direct threat against our members.

“It is very worrying that an individual has now been targeted by dissident republicans.”

Drumartin Orange Hall was among those targeted this year

Sinn Fein members who have received threats include the wife of former Sinn Fein councillor Martin Meehan, who died earlier this month.

Sinn Fein north Belfast assembly member Gerry Kelly said: “Threats have been issued to Belfast Sinn Fein councillors, including those sitting on the District Policing Partnership in recent days.

“There have also been threats made against a number of other republicans across the city including those who have given many years to the republican struggle and their local communities.

“These threats are coming from people who claim to be republicans.”

“They are the same people who made repeated threats to the wife of Martin Meehan, Briege, in the days before his sudden death.”

An SDLP spokesman said police had warned them elements within the south-east Antrim area were planning an attack on a member of the party.

Speaking on Thursday, an SDLP spokesperson said: “Our headquarters have contacted all elected representatives, staff and membership to make them aware of the need to step up their personal security.”

Sir Desmond Rea, chairman of the Policing Board, said he unreservedly condemned the threats.

“In recent days and weeks it has been reported that a number of threats have been made against Sinn Fein and SDLP representatives,” he said.

“Those who threaten public representatives, who have been elected by and for their communities, have nothing to offer our society.”

Belfast Telegraph

UK-wide body meets in Ulster to press the case

By Noel McAdam
Friday, November 16, 2007

Ulster councillors are to seek the backing of their Great Britain counterparts in the campaign to win significant new powers from the Stormont Executive.

The National Association of Councillors (NAC) is holding its annual conference in Belfast at the weekend and will focus on a number of national issues.

But its overall theme - Power to the People: working with local communities - ties in with the demands of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), which has asked the Stormont Executive to think again over its initial proposals.

Criticising the proposals as a “travesty” if they are implemented, NILGA has complained that they water down the vision for councils outlined by former Secretary of State Peter Hain.

But, with devolution returned, Executive Minister Arlene Foster has argued a balance between regional and local government will have to be struck - and it won’t be in the short term.

Heather Moorehead, chief executive of NILGA, is to address the NAC gathering at the Ramada Hotel tomorrow and will point out that the Assembly this week agreed to simply note rather than endorse proposals.

All parties also agreed to an Ulster Unionist amendment calling for the transfer of “meaningful and significant” new powers to local councils.

The NAC, meanwhile, will hold its annual meeting today, and over the weekend consider a number of initiatives designed to strengthen local structures.

Among the main issues are proposals for local area agreements, which have some degree of overlap with Mr Hain’s proposals to allow councils power for local community planning, and participation in budgeting by Government departments.

Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Communities, said earlier this month: “This is a watershed moment for local government. Here is an opportunity to recognise the uniqueness of every area but also a challenge to make every town, city and village a place to be proud of.

“More local decision making is the key to better services, greater public satisfaction and will show what local democracy in action can do.”

The NAC is an all-party organisation, representing councillors at all levels of local government and has not held its annual conference in the province for several years.

Guardian

Henry McDonald
Saturday November 17, 2007

The Real IRA’s attempts to assassinate two police officers mark an attempt to disrupt Northern Ireland’s policing deal and continue the so-called armed struggle, says a dissident republican source.

The organisation is said to have trained assassination units to target more officers, aimed at dissuading Catholics from joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland but also at embarrassing Sinn Féin’s increasing cooperation with the reformed force.

A PSNI constable is recovering after being shot outside Dungannon police station on Monday, hours before Sinn Féin took its seats on the local district police board. Five days previously Real IRA gunmen tried to kill another officer in Derry.

One Derry veteran who, although not a member of the Real IRA, has extensive knowledge, said: “They have trained up a couple of teams and now two of them have been ‘blooded’ in the attacks. In Derry the ‘Reals’ have grown particularly strong, with a combination of ex-Provos and new young recruits who have been trained up. And they have a bit of a support base up there.”

The source pointed to the several thousand votes of anti-Good Friday agreement candidate Peggy O’Hara in assembly elections. “This has nothing to do at all with Peggy but the number of republican activists who voted for her indicates there is enough people in Derry willing to help out those carrying on the ‘armed struggle’.”