UDA move not enough - MLAs
Politicians from Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the DUP have said the UDA's decision to stand down the UFF does not go far enough.
In a statement read out at Remembrance Sunday commemorations in loyalist areas, the UDA announced that it was standing down its so-called 'military wing,' the UFF from midnight on Sunday. The loyalist paramilitary group also announced that all its "weaponry will be put beyond use" but ruled out decommissioning.
East Derry SDLP MLA John Dallat said the move was an insult to UDA's victims. "It made me sick when I heard the news. The UFF are nothing but a flag of convenience which brought about the deaths of eight innocent people in Greysteel.
"I would imagine that this would regarded as an insult to any of the families who lost loved ones at the hands of this ruthless sectarian group," he said.
Sinn Fin MLA Raymond McCartney said he would welcome any positive move from the UDA but said Sunday's statement did not go far enough.
"Right thinking people will support real efforts by thinking loyalists to move the UDA or other loyalist paramilitaries into the peace process. Sinn Fin welcomes in a positive way any progress on this front. What basically happened yesterday was the UDA effectively changed name by dropping the cover name of the UFF without any real commitment to the peace process," he said.
Foyle MP Mark Durkan described the move as "cynical" and called on the NIO to take a stronger stance against the UDA. "The announcement by the UDA on Sunday boils down to only the UFF being stood down. Everyone has always known that the UFF tag was the UDA in drag. They were cynical in their use of the UFF label in carrying out horrific deeds in the past. And they are still being cynical in their use of the UFF tag now.
"Nobody will be deceived that this announcement is in any way sufficient. However, if it signifies a realisation from the UDA that the message is getting through then it does represent some progress," he said.
East Derry DUP MP Gregory Campbell said the UDA announcement was overdue and called for the entire organisation to be disbanded. "They should have decommissioned and stood down all their units years ago. The UFF have been stood down but the UDA organisation remains intact. Many people do not see a difference and I would call for both groups to go out of existence. There is no need for them. We are often told the war is over so the people who prosecuted that terror should now go. They and the IRA Army Council need to be disbanded immediately," he said.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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