Speculation has been rife in Northern / Southern Ireland and UK media circles that the Ulster Defense Association was using the request of funding for “community groups” in loyalist areas, as a bargaining chip in negotiations with both the British Government and the IICD over their decommissioning.
However, NI Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, completely ruled out any such provision during a recent interview with The Post.ie ,whilst welcoming the UVF and RHC(Red Hand Commando) decommissioning of their weapons arsenal. Mr McGuinness said:
“Money going into any area is on the basis of objective need and there are no other considerations.”
General John de Chastelain’s, Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), are due to issue a statement detailing the UVF/RHC act of disarmament later this week.
As regard the UDA’s decommissioning, The IICD said there was a “significant” move and looked forward to completing the process. The UDA (the North's largest loyalist paramilitary group) said in a press release yesterday which coincided with the UVF/RHC announcement:
“This is a courageous and unprecedented move that is part of a wider transition from conflict to peace.....By carrying out this act we are helping to build a new and better Northern Ireland where conflict is a thing of the past.”
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