GENERAL’S WORK NEARLY DONE AS UDA GUNS REMAIN
By Barry McCaffrey
Irish News
29/06/09
General John de Chastelain this morning confirms that he has witnessed a ‘major’ UVF decommissioning.
In a statement issued after midnight General de Chastelain said that he had witnessed the UVF and Red Hand Commando destroying weapons including arms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices.
“The leaderships of both organisations have advised us that the weapons and materials put beyond use in our presence include all the arms under their control,” he said.
The statement came less than 24 hours after the Canadian general confirmed he had witnessed a “significant” act of UDA/UFF decommissioning.
However, he also confirmed that the loyalist group has so far failed to destroy all its weapons.
“This is a significant move and we look forward to completing the process of putting all UDA/UFF arms beyond use at an early opportunity,” the general said.
On Saturday UVF interlocutor Billy Hutchinson said that it had put its weapons “totally and irreversibly beyond use”.
“The government and the Dublin government and the executive have no excuses, loyalist weapons have been put beyond use,” he said.
The UDA confirmed that it had begun decommissioning but has failed to say when the process would be completed.
Secretary of State Shawn Woodward described loyalist decommissioning as “bold and courageous”.
First Minister Peter Robinson said: “I believe they have taken the right step, both for their own communities and for Northern Ireland as a whole.”
Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly said that nationalists remained sceptical.
“It is a long time coming,” he said.
“People will be glad if it has occurred.’’
SDLP leader Mark Durkan welcomed the UVF’s complete decommissioning but called on the UDA to follow suit.
“The sooner that this happens, the better for everyone in the north.”
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands