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24/03/2003
Speculation mounts over British demilitarisation deal
The BBC has reported that the government is planning to offer a significant demilitarisation carrot to republicans.
This may entail reducing army personnel numbers in the province to around 5,000 – in tandem with the scaling down of army watch-towers and bases.
The BBC claimed that its "well-sourced" report indicated that, in addition to slashing troops numbers by more than half, only 14 bases would remain active – and major centres such as Bessbrook in south Armagh could face the axe.
There is also speculation that legislation on policing, currently being considered in the Commons, could be amended to allow convicted paramilitary activists to sit on the district policing partnership boards.
If correct, it appears that the government is detailing its quid pro quo strategy to tempt the IRA into engaging in so-called "acts of completion".
However, the reports have alarmed some unionists. The UUP's Newry and Armagh assembly member, Danny Kennedy, is seeking meetings with senior military and PSNI personnel in relation to possible changes to security installations in south Armagh. He has also requested a meeting with the Secretary of State.
Mr Kennedy said he was "not simply prepared to sit around and wait for events to overtake people in South Armagh who supported the security presence and who would feel very exposed should the changes outlined in the leaked document be implemented."
He said, regardless of any action taken by the IRA, "it was clear that republican dissident groups represented an ongoing serious threat in the region, which must not be overlooked".
Elsewhere, the Northern Ireland secretary and the Irish foreign minister Brian Cowen met in Dublin today for further talks on the political impasse in the province.
(GMcG)
This may entail reducing army personnel numbers in the province to around 5,000 – in tandem with the scaling down of army watch-towers and bases.
The BBC claimed that its "well-sourced" report indicated that, in addition to slashing troops numbers by more than half, only 14 bases would remain active – and major centres such as Bessbrook in south Armagh could face the axe.
There is also speculation that legislation on policing, currently being considered in the Commons, could be amended to allow convicted paramilitary activists to sit on the district policing partnership boards.
If correct, it appears that the government is detailing its quid pro quo strategy to tempt the IRA into engaging in so-called "acts of completion".
However, the reports have alarmed some unionists. The UUP's Newry and Armagh assembly member, Danny Kennedy, is seeking meetings with senior military and PSNI personnel in relation to possible changes to security installations in south Armagh. He has also requested a meeting with the Secretary of State.
Mr Kennedy said he was "not simply prepared to sit around and wait for events to overtake people in South Armagh who supported the security presence and who would feel very exposed should the changes outlined in the leaked document be implemented."
He said, regardless of any action taken by the IRA, "it was clear that republican dissident groups represented an ongoing serious threat in the region, which must not be overlooked".
Elsewhere, the Northern Ireland secretary and the Irish foreign minister Brian Cowen met in Dublin today for further talks on the political impasse in the province.
(GMcG)
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