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UDA tells loyalists to be 'ready for battle'

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

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The UDA has issued a Remembrance Day statement threatening to take action if nationalists threaten its "British-ness".

"We need more of our members to participate in the challenges that lie ahead," the statement said. "They must understand that the threat from Irish republicanism and nationalism has not abated; they are challenging our very existence at every level.

"They are challenging through agitation and non-violence but it is every bit as dangerous and must be combated."

The group said republican "racism, ignorance and bigotry" had been displayed during protests at the recent Armed Forces' homecoming parade but also committed itself to peaceful means by stressing "The violence is over."

Last year, the paramilitary organistation used its Remebrance Day statement to "stand down" the UFF gunmen.

Yesterday, the Independent Monitoring Commission suggested London set a deadline for decommissioning after "disappointing" progress.

It says it remains ready to face the republican threat which, it says, is non-violent but every bit as dangerous and must be combated.

It accuses republicans of racism, ignorance and bigotry.

SDLP assembly member John Dallat said: "The latest belligerent bluster from the UDA cannot go unchallenged."

"An armed paramilitary group can state without repercussions that it is getting ready to do battle, that it is training in the skills to defend unionist communities."

The Independent Monitoring Commission's Joe Brosnan, a former secretary of the Department of Justice in Dublin, yesterday suggested a deadline be set for loyalists to move forward and decommission.

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26 Comments

Mickey you have such a small minded and one sided view of things. Why so bitter? Your continued use of the term 'our we country' harks back to the Mantra of Lord Craigavon 'Protestant Parliament for a Protestant people' It conjures up the images of ownership belonging to one side at the expense of the other. It's people who think like this are part of the problem and not the solution. So your condescending views of all things to do with the percieved attacks on this state are far of the mark, offensive and at times down right ridiculous. You fail to see that republicans whether you like it or not are part of the people of Ireland (North and South) they have every right to protest against whatever irks them, it is the right of every citizen to protest in a free democratic society. People in the Nationalist/Republican community were denied this right for generations and now that they have this right they are right to take full advantage.

Posted by Barry | 13.11.08, 16:32 GMT

Crongratulations, Mickey. I was wondering when someone was going to make idiotic justifications for the existence of a blatantly criminal organisation.
Damn those republicans, or anyone else for that matter, expressing their right of free speech. Let the Drug Barons and scum hold onto their guns. Loyalist paramilitaries might have to keep them in line if they disagree with what they are told to do.
By the way in what world do you live in to even suggest that Sinn Fein or the IRA (Note: Two separate entities) are responsible for the bomb scares at St. Colm's High School?

Posted by PC | 13.11.08, 13:06 GMT

Jim: "It seems the UDA wishes for another spate of "TROUBLES" to overtake what appears to be a calm in Ulster's religious and political strife"

I guess you weren't aware of dissident republicans' renewed campaign to target our police service and in particular Roman Catholic officers who would dare embrace peace and sign up to help rid our wee country of crime.

Add to that SF/IRA endeavours at cleansing the island of Ireland of ANY associations with Britain - ie the Royal Irish Rangers homecoming, the wearing of Poppies, the visit of Marines to a school in Belfast etc etc & etc.

Posted by mickey | 13.11.08, 12:07 GMT

I was under the impression that incitement to terrorism was now illegal.

Posted by Paul | 12.11.08, 16:01 GMT

It seems the UDA wishes for another spate of "TROUBLES" to overtake what appears to be a calm in Ulster's religious and political strife. Its spokesperson also makes the fatuous remark that nationalists use non-violence as a subversive weapon against those loyalists who still proclaim the Britishness of Norrthern Ireland. Hogwash from a bunch of thieves and rogues!

Posted by Jim Guinnessey | 12.11.08, 15:31 GMT

It seems the UDA wishes for another spate of TROUBLES to overtake what appears to be a calm in Ulster's religious and political stife.

Posted by Jim Guinnessey | 12.11.08, 15:24 GMT

We all know the new UDA Doomsday plan, the upper crust all get Irish passports, and the rest can swim back to Scotland....

Posted by naery | 12.11.08, 14:09 GMT

Like Trevor below, i also live in a housing estate in east belfast, where UDA'ism is everywere. But i genuiely couldn't give a toss what any of them are sayin at the moment. And that goes for sinn fein too! Get over it! The only worries i have are being able to pay the mortgage at the end of the month, and the threat of lossing my job!

Posted by A from BB | 12.11.08, 13:49 GMT

Tell me, Steve. Would you agree with the sentiments of the BNP. Referencing my last post for examples, are you really saying you agree with the sentiments of these bunch of rascist, ignorant bigots.
They are trying to justify why they have not even considered disarming. Oh, and don't give me any rubbish about how they have supported the Israelis. i can still remember a UDA mural with swastikas on it.
A peaceful protest does not make anyone a bigot or a rascist. How rascism or bigotry can be brought into the equation I'll never know.
Sill, with arms the UDA can protect their drug money.

Posted by PC | 12.11.08, 13:15 GMT

Why has such a statement from a drug running terrorist organisation not merrited a larger headline in your paper/ webpage? This is an organisation which is still armed to the teeth, and has murdered many innocent people. Also, into the mix, they are responsible for the import and sale of the majority of heroin, cocaine and ecstacy used in N. Ireland. Where is the media spotlight? Why is there not more focus on disarming these people who have nothing tangible to offer this community, from our media? The Belfast Telegraph has a weight and duty to bear on these issues.

Posted by Trevor | 12.11.08, 12:57 GMT

I agree Yip,

What a stupid accusation for the UDA to make...

Just another thing to bring themselves into the limelight..:D

Posted by The Bhoy | 12.11.08, 12:36 GMT

So, Republicans and Nationalists are using non-violence and the only way to combat this scurrilous tactic is through, er.. violence.

Posted by Yip | 12.11.08, 12:16 GMT

Still can not understand why your constant ignorance thinks you can run part of another country. Why don't you go back and try to run parts of India like years past?

Posted by McRee | 12.11.08, 11:28 GMT

Where are all the jounalists rushing to the doors of Unionist politicians for their view on this? Let's hear what the First Minister of this state has to say about this terrorist plot. Abu Hamza was arrested for less.

Posted by realist | 12.11.08, 10:48 GMT

Think alot of this so called marking ground is stereotypical of this wee country of ours, whilst i have no affinity with the UDA, i can agree with some of their sentiments regarding republicans. The RIR protests in Belfast sickened me & all of my family, for Gerry Adams to spout about the British Army parading in an Irish city is a bit rich when his mates like Sean Kelly[at protest] thought nothing of bombing this "irish" city & killing its citizens, to be fair if republicans keep up this anti everything that we hold dear it will unite & strengthen our resolve to remain British - wrong tactics Sinn Fein.....again

Posted by Steve | 12.11.08, 09:50 GMT

The UDA are wrecking this country from top to bottom with their drug-dealing and gangsterism!

The sooner they wind up like the provos and the uvf the better, but loyalists must also decommissioon their weapons.

They and their unionist politicians set a deadline for the provos to decommission their arms cache a number of years ago, and the provos decided to meet this to walk away from a violent path, can the uda and uvf not do the same.

The leaders of the UDA are a bunch of spice-boys anyway.

Posted by paddy | 12.11.08, 09:34 GMT

who are the UDA? I thought Johnnie Adair had run away?

Posted by canuck, Canada | 11.11.08, 23:07 GMT

I bet Jackie McDonald was glad to see this statement coming out when it did. Will take his men's minds off, his friendship with a woman who compares Unionism with Nazism. William.

Posted by UNIONCRUISER | 11.11.08, 20:57 GMT

Does the UDA not realise what a turn-off this kind of sensationalist language is for everyone? Can they not just say what they think in simple Queen's English and drop the provocative rhetoric? No one takes assurances of peaceful intent seriously when they're given in a tone that sounds like it's spoiling for a fight. Strangely enough, I do actually think there's a conciliatory message in there somewhere - but once again it's drowning in testosterone.

Posted by Graham | 11.11.08, 20:55 GMT