REPORTS THAT loyalist paramilitary organisations have begun to decommission weapons represent a welcome development at a time when positive news is in short supply in Northern Ireland. A removal of guns from the streets would reduce inter-communal tensions as the marching season gets under way. It would also make it more difficult for dissident republicans to justify a continuation of their mindless campaign of violence.
The extent to which paramilitary arms have been decommissioned is unclear. Head of the decommissioning body Gen John de Chastelain is not due to publish a formal report for some weeks, but that may change. In any event, the process of putting arms beyond use is unlikely to be completed until next year. What is important, however, is that a promising start appears to have been made. The Ulster Volunteer Force is said to have put a “significant and substantial” amount of weapons beyond use, with smaller arsenals being decommissioned by the Ulster Defence Association and the Red Hand Commando.
The development would vindicate last year’s decision by DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson to engage directly with loyalist paramilitaries in an effort to convince them to get rid of their arms. It would come as a relief also to Northern Secretary Sean Woodward who was criticised for his decision to extend the period of time within which paramilitaries could move weapons for decommissioning without fear of prosecution. Representatives of the two governments are cautiously optimistic that further progress can be made.
It would be naïve to expect the decommissioning process to be simple or quick. As the International Monitoring Commission found on a number of occasions, loyalist paramilitary organisations lack firm disciplinary structures and their members are deeply involved in drug dealing, extortion and other criminal activities. Lacking centralised control, the UDA, in particular, has a capacity to splinter into disparate gangs that would retain weapons in order to continue criminal activities and dominate local communities. Because of that, statements from the leadership of three paramilitary organisations are awaited to assess their commitment to a completion of the decommissioning process and to judge the degree of progress that has already been made.
Pressure to complete this critical aspect of the peace process has been exerted on loyalist groups in recent months by the British government and by the DUP. PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde regarded the development as “very significant” because, he said, the three organisations had shown a high degree of organisation and commitment. Let us hope he is correct in that assessment. The decommissioning of loyalist weapons would bring everybody on this island a step closer to normality. It has the capacity to shake members of the Northern Ireland executive out of entrenched positions and facilitate the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster. Ordinary citizens want to see progress in the establishment of a peaceful and law-abiding society.