SF told stand on electoral mandate

Sinn Fein must stand on its electoral mandate alone and not rely on the threat of violence to back up its demands, the Ulster…

Sinn Fein must stand on its electoral mandate alone and not rely on the threat of violence to back up its demands, the Ulster Unionist Party chairman, Mr Denis Rogan, told delegates at Saturday's annual conference.

"The pressure to disarm is on the paramilitaries. They must honour their obligations or the process will go on without them," he said. Looking back at the Assembly election campaign, Mr Rogan said it had been divisive and damaging, and brother had been set against brother. However, he called on delegates to set aside personality, self-interest and aspirations for the sake of party unity, warning them that a house divided would fall.

The motion on security, proposed by the Mayor of Coleraine, Ms Pauline Armitage, supported the security forces and rejected "any attempt to dismantle or neuter our local forces of law and order".

Ms Armitage, who served in the Ulster Defence Regiment, said: "I want to pay tribute to the brave men and women of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Royal Irish Regiment. They have served this country well for 30 years, they have protected the entire community and some have given their lives: and for what? Now that the war is presumably over, prisoners are being released daily and checkpoints have been removed."

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She was critical of the Independent Commission on Policing and its consultation process, but accepted that change was important "as long as it is change for the right reasons".

Seconding the motion, Mr David Hillis said the UUP was very aware of the pain and heartache felt by the "forgotten" casualties, the 300 officers who had died because of terrorism. He reminded the conference that the Belfast Agreement did not mention a two-tier police service or allow for former paramilitaries to be recruited. ein propaganda for the number of Roman Catholics in the force. The motion was carried by an overwhelming majority.