MAGINNESS COMMENTS ON UVF ANNOUNCEMENT
14-05-08
Commenting
on the announcement that the British government will once again
recognise the UVF ceasefire, SDLP Justice Spokesperson Alban Maginness
MLA stated:
“It
should be recognised that the UVF has taken some steps to address
some of the clear and well documented concerns that exist. This
was recently acknowledged by the IMC but there remains enduring
issues about other ongoing activities.
The
UVF must only be judged against how they measure up to the task
of ending all of their activities. This means that there must
be complete and verifiable disposal of all weapons, the ending
of all criminality and the dismantling of the command structures
and organisation. These are the standards on which the SDLP and
the wider community will judge the UVF.
The
British government have taken the decision to despecify the UVF.
The real issue is not their legal status but how the UVF reforms
and conforms to the democratic will of the people.”