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Loyalist terror groups 'must remain in existence', says former Blair adviser Loyalist terror groups 'must remain in existence', says former Blair adviser
(35 minutes later)
Tony Blair’s former chief of staff and secret negotiator during the Irish peace process, Jonathan Powell, has warned that Ulster loyalist terror groups should be allowed to remain in existence in order to prevent their own hard-line dissidents taking over their names.Tony Blair’s former chief of staff and secret negotiator during the Irish peace process, Jonathan Powell, has warned that Ulster loyalist terror groups should be allowed to remain in existence in order to prevent their own hard-line dissidents taking over their names.
The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), the Red Hand Commando (RHC) and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) should continue functioning to manage their transformation from paramilitarism to community-based politics, Powell said.The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), the Red Hand Commando (RHC) and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) should continue functioning to manage their transformation from paramilitarism to community-based politics, Powell said.
Powell, who was Blair’s key aide during talks with the IRA leadership and was in Downing Street at the time of the Good Friday agreement (GFA) in 1998, joined a number of major loyalist figures in Belfast on Tuesday to support their moves to change the three main pro-union armed terror organisations.Powell, who was Blair’s key aide during talks with the IRA leadership and was in Downing Street at the time of the Good Friday agreement (GFA) in 1998, joined a number of major loyalist figures in Belfast on Tuesday to support their moves to change the three main pro-union armed terror organisations.
Powell told the Guardian that retaining the “corporate titles” of violent Ulster loyalism was necessary “so that no one takes over their name and continues the violence under the flag of UVF, UDA or RHC.”Powell told the Guardian that retaining the “corporate titles” of violent Ulster loyalism was necessary “so that no one takes over their name and continues the violence under the flag of UVF, UDA or RHC.”
He said he was concerned that loyalist working-class communities had been left behind by the peace process: “The loyalists were crucial to starting the negotiations which led to the GFA. David Trimble [ then Ulster Unionist leader and future first minister] wouldn’t have been able to participate without them. But once Davy Ervine died and they were left out of the assembly they lost their voice. He said he was concerned that loyalist working-class communities had been left behind by the peace process: “The loyalists were crucial to starting the negotiations which led to the GFA. David Trimble [then Ulster Unionist leader and future first minister] wouldn’t have been able to participate without them. But once Davy Ervine died and they were left out of the assembly they lost their voice.
“The loyalist communities see themselves as the losers and the Shinners [Sinn Féin] as the winners. This is not healthy for a sustainable peace in Northern Ireland and you see the consequences over marches, flags and so on” “The loyalist communities see themselves as the losers and the Shinners [Sinn Féin] as the winners. This is not healthy for a sustainable peace in Northern Ireland and you see the consequences over marches, flags and so on.”
Powell supported the creation of the Ulster loyalist community council, which the leaderships of the UVF, RHC and UDA have said will succeed the old Combined Loyalist Military Command, which secured their ceasefires in 1994.Powell supported the creation of the Ulster loyalist community council, which the leaderships of the UVF, RHC and UDA have said will succeed the old Combined Loyalist Military Command, which secured their ceasefires in 1994.
He said: “We really don’t want to see a Real UVF and a Continuity UDA. He said: “We really don’t want to see a Real UVF and a Continuity UDA. It is far better that the groups continue but there is no criminality; there is no violence; they continue in a civil fashion.
“It is far better that the groups continue but there is no criminality; there is no violence; they continue in a civil fashion.
“These communities need leadership and role models other than those engaged in crime and violence. If the new loyalist council can build that leadership and if they get support from politicians, government and civil society then they can be transformed.”“These communities need leadership and role models other than those engaged in crime and violence. If the new loyalist council can build that leadership and if they get support from politicians, government and civil society then they can be transformed.”
Asked if he believed the three organisations were genuine about moving away from paramilitarism, Powell said: “Yes, I do. Not all of them of course but I think that the guys who got together over the last 18 months to build this initiative do have the intention of making a clean start.Asked if he believed the three organisations were genuine about moving away from paramilitarism, Powell said: “Yes, I do. Not all of them of course but I think that the guys who got together over the last 18 months to build this initiative do have the intention of making a clean start.
“The difference this time is that it is not government just throwing money at them. They are doing it because it is the right thing to do. Now government has to support them but on a conditional basis. This is not about an event but a process which will let them demonstrate whether or not they are serious.”“The difference this time is that it is not government just throwing money at them. They are doing it because it is the right thing to do. Now government has to support them but on a conditional basis. This is not about an event but a process which will let them demonstrate whether or not they are serious.”
In a statement from the UVF, RHC and UDA, the loyalist organisations recommitted their support for the Good Friday agreement and the peace process.In a statement from the UVF, RHC and UDA, the loyalist organisations recommitted their support for the Good Friday agreement and the peace process.
The UVF, UDA and RHC killed almost 1,000 people during the Troubles. However, the armed groups have continued to be involved in violent activities since the ceasefires were declared 21 years ago this week.The UVF, UDA and RHC killed almost 1,000 people during the Troubles. However, the armed groups have continued to be involved in violent activities since the ceasefires were declared 21 years ago this week.
Over the last two decades they have killed 50 people – mostly but not all victims from within their own communities – in a series of bloody internal feuds as well as targeting Protestants who have crossed local paramilitary commanders in working-class loyalist areas.Over the last two decades they have killed 50 people – mostly but not all victims from within their own communities – in a series of bloody internal feuds as well as targeting Protestants who have crossed local paramilitary commanders in working-class loyalist areas.