Alliance: Northern Ireland's cross community party

Alliance Leader calls for UDA to go further and decommission its weapons

1.33.00pm GMT Sun 11th Nov 2007

Portrait-yellow: FORD David (photography: Allan Leonard)

Alliance Party Leader David Ford MLA

Alliance Party leader David Ford MLA has welcomed the statement by the UDA, who today announced the standing down of the Ulster Freedom Fighters. The UDA has also stated that it is putting its weapons beyond use. Mr Ford did however state that the UDA would need to do considerably more by decommissioning all of its weapons.

The South Antrim MLA said: "This step is welcome although it is extremely limited if the UDA is serious about moving forward. It is has to verifiably decommission weapons and not just state that they are beyond use.

"Similarly, standing down the Ulster Freedom Fighters which was widely regarded as a flag of convenience does not imply the whole organisation has given up criminal activities. I would like to see the whole of the UDA being stood down.

"Although I welcome this statement, the UDA will have to go to significantly further to provide confidence to the wider community."

ENDS

Bookmark this story at: del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg FacebookFacebook redditreddit StumbleUponStumbleUpon
Print this news story.
Previous news story: Ford in call for UDA to decommission and end criminality (Sat 10th Nov 2007).
Next news story: McCarthy says international collaboration to fight cancer is good news (Mon 12th Nov 2007).

Related News Stories:

Thu 15th May 2008:

Zimbabwe opposition leader Tsvangirai and Senegalese President Wade to meet Alliance Leader.

Sat 10th Nov 2007:

Ford in call for UDA to decommission and end criminality.

Mon 5th Nov 2007:

Campbell says time for UDA to decommission fully.

Mon 5th Mar 2007:

Alliance Leader calls on people to vote for alternative to tribal politics.

Mon 15th Jan 2007:

Alliance Leader calls for Paisley-Adams face-to-face talks to resolve difficulties.

Tue 25th Jul 2006:

Alliance Leader calls for clarity on restorative justice vetting process.

Mon 11th Oct 2004:

Alliance blasts Ervine over lack of action on loyalist weapons.

Tue 25th Nov 2003:

Alliance Leader calls for big vote for cross-community politics.

Thu 30th Jan 2003:

Alliance leader calls for round table meeting.

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY.
Published and promoted by The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, 88 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.