Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Shoukris expelled from UDA…
AS Andre’s court case takes a twist, it’s announced that the Shoukri brothers have just been kicked out of the UDA. More later…
Belfast Gonzo @ 02:09 PM
Perhaps someone has at last puzzled out that his name is not a traditionally Ulster protestant one.
But, whatever the Racial Equality Commission might say, that seems a valid reason for expulsion to me.
After all you dont get many “Johnny Adairs” or “Ian Paisleys” in Al Quaida or Hamas - be fair now - do you?
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 02:37 PMHow can they have been expelled?
According to the courts, they were not members in the first place.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 02:42 PMFor anyone waiting for more from Gonzo *ahem*
The BBC report has some more detail.
and since the Belfast Telegraph et al have been predicting this, as an imminent announcement, for the past month, it does at least prove that even a stopped clock can be right some of the time.
How this fits in with the comments of Judge Burgess is worth considering.. was the decision not to proceed with those membership charges influenced by reassurances from someone that the membership had been, or was about to be, revoked?.. perhaps by someone about to be seen glad-handing, again, with the head of state of the Republic of Ireland?
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 02:53 PM‘perhaps by someone about to be seen glad-handing, again, with the head of state of the Republic of Ireland.’
You have, as they say, hit the nail right on the head.
There is barely even an attempt made now to conceal the depth of corrruption and contamination here.Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 02:58 PMDo they get a redundancy package? Do they keep their balaclava’s? What? Perhap’s they could open a shop - shoukri sweets
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 03:03 PMUDA statement:
“We, the ruling body of the above named association, have, following a protracted period of negotiation and investigation, decided to expel a few individual members from our association in North Belfast.”
It’s understood Alan McLean has been kicked out as well.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 03:05 PMI would like to thank the people who are acting as witnesses against Andre, difficult decision to take. From what I hear many will rejoice if Andre is confined.
So one wonders why the UDA are replacing them? What is so noticeable different between the Egyptian brothers and the rest of the organisation? It is hardly a matter of saints and sinners?
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 03:07 PMIt’s possibly a conflict over lack of observance of strict dietary habits. The old Buckfast/Tennent’s Superglue division rising its ugly head again.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 03:22 PMPerhaps they could go to an industrial tribunal. They might have a case for unfair dismissal. And if that doesn’t work, they could always try the good old Human Rights Act..
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 03:37 PMRory
Could be a matter of dress sense; Andre has a thing about suits and looking smart. Just the wrong image.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 03:47 PMI don’t know, lads. We can only but idly speculate. As that most popular of all great American philosophers once sang “Fools give you reasons/wise men never try”. Thank you, Elvis.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 04:23 PM“So one wonders why the UDA are replacing them? What is so noticeable different between the Egyptian brothers and the rest of the organisation? It is hardly a matter of saints and sinners?”
There are many differences but, to put it as succinctly as possible, the transition that the vast majority of the rank and file wants is not shared by a small minority. So those in the small minority that cannot or will not accept change will have to leave the stage. There is a huge gulf between what the vast majority want and what a handful of the minority want. This announcement today marks a huge turning point and, finally, represents what has been asked for (demanded even) for a long time.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 04:31 PMMaybe they’ll join the Ulster Unionists? I mean who better than this pair of hoods to help bring loyalists in from the cold Reg? And after all they’re a bit out in the cold themselves so doubtless the UUP will be tripping over themselves to comfort them.
I mean its not like they’re in an organisation that’s up to its necks in crime and murder?Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 05:13 PMAndrex and Etab - Their only crime Loyalty!
Maybe an old friend of theirs in Troon can put them up for a while.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 05:33 PM‘There are many differences but, to put it as succinctly as possible, the transition that the vast majority of the rank and file wants is not shared by a small minority.’
What transition is that then?
From politically motivated defenders of the people, to a mafia-like crime organization?
Or vice versa?
That reply sounds as pompous as any from PIRA apologists and they way they spout on as if their terrorist organization is supposed to have some legitimate say in the way things should be. To me, neither the PIRA or the UDA should have any say in anything. They are terrorists and organized criminal thugs, and any attempts to portray them as anything else should be challenged.
So while some talk of them as if they have feelings that have to be considered, I say bugger that. I doubt that the UDA in this case has any thoughts about the good of society as a whole. I’d say they are just interested in eliminating any elements that won’t play ball in their ongoing moves to becoming an ‘accepted’ organized crime syndicate.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 05:36 PMWhoops!
I can see that this debate is best advanced from contributions from those within the unionist/loyalist community and I do not now think that my whimsical remarks added much light.
The lack of response to my possibly provocative remarks from these contributors demonstrates their maturity in the face of my lack of it.
Contrite apologies.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 05:52 PMIt is more in the way of a political and social transition. Criminality is an entirely separate issue and is being dealt with (with varying results in each respective area). I am more interested in the transition from naive used working class Loyalists to confident, politically aware Loyalists who are confident in where they want to take their people. There is an upsurge in support in the position that the UPRG and the Inner Council wish to take. Deride it of course, the middle class and the media are hell bent on keeping the status quo of depicting us as Neanderthal thugs and drug addled swine. It gives people a reason to fear the bogeyman. Change is coming and with change comes fear and loathing. And violence no doubt. That is the nature of the beast.
I see only positives from today. The doubters and the media pundits and the clueless see what they want to see. It will not change the direction we are going in and it will not change the principles that we are getting back to.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 06:27 PMlofholdingswood
“the middle class and the media are hell bent on keeping the status quo of depicting us as Neanderthal thugs and drug addled swine.”
Did you ever think that maybe they simply see these events as cheap publicity stunts now that loyalists have finally caught on to the benefits of a PR department a la Sinn Fein/the IRA. That’s certainly what it looks like to me: a simple case of loyalists looking at Republicans muttering “look what they got” and trying to emulate it.
So far I’ve seen a lot of high profile expulsions, yes, but is there any sign that they intend to give up the lives of crime?
It’s a big step from doubting the sincerity of the loyalist paramilitaries to what you seem to be suggesting, which is that people want them to be up to their necks in drugs and crime.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 07:55 PMIt is not just the high profile expulsions. Real progress is being made in all levels and in all areas. But you do have a point about looking at the Sinn Fein political machine and realising that, yes indeed, we can and should be putting our position in a more positive light. Also known as spin!. For too long we have let our so called political leaders in the UUP and DUP speak on behalf of Loyalist working class areas when they do not give a damn for us most of the time. I have always maintained that the UPRG should hit the airways in a similar vein to David Ervine and speak up and to the membership. All too often our spokesmen have been handcuffed by the tiny but vocal minority who have wanted to keep things the same whilst they line their own pockets. But this has changed and today’s very important announcement is just a start on what will become the total transformation that is taking place in the UDA. This in turn worries people hence my comments about certain people happy to see us as mere criminals and not people aspiring to a better way. The status quo keeps so many people in so many high paid jobs. We want to change that and I am sure we will.
I can’t emphasise enough the importance of the statement today.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 08:17 PM“Also known as spin!” Indeed. Led, I’d suggest, and implied earlier, by the NIO.. and where is Jonathan Powell anyway?
As Peking correctly pointed out in the comments, it is another indication of the depth of the corruption and contamination of the political [and judicial] system which was supposed to enable and assist progress to the fully peaceful democratic society which was held up as an objective in 1998.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 08:40 PMWho actually gives a fuck about these jumped up hoodies, promoted to the status of wanabees for the sake of protecting the Union...somebody pass the pyramid ice cream........
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 09:41 PMLoftholdingswood
depicting us as Neanderthal thugs and drug addled swine.
I’ll settle for swine the adjectives really are superfluous. How else do you describe a group that murder and extort. I have very good reason to hold the UDA in such esteem and I see no redeeming features.
I can’t emphasise enough the importance of the statement today.
I genuinely hope that you are right and wish you every success in that particular endeavour, but until I see some concrete sign of change for me the UDA will remain a second rate organised crime syndicate.
With regards politics, if any of you have any sense you would distance yourself from association with the UDA. Political poison in most Unionist areas though I do agree that working class areas need proper representation I don’t think that this is the best way of achieving that goal.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 09:46 PMWho is likely to take over the ‘drugs gang’ in North Belfast.
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 10:22 PMLoftholdingswood:
For too long we have let our so called political leaders in the UUP and DUP speak on behalf of Loyalist working class areas when they do not give a damn for us most of the time.
Jesus, I wish I could a quid each time this old chestnut was rolled out.
If loyalists don’t want to be represented by the UUP/DUP then why do they keep flipping voting for them ? Why do they consistently reject the political representatives of the UVF/UDA whenever they stand for election ?
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 10:33 PMI will not vote for any political party linked to the UDA. I feel no reason to reward someone for stopping what they shouldn’t have been doing in the first place. (And if I were a nationalist, I wouldn’t vote for SF for exactly the same reason.)
Posted by on Jun 20, 2006 @ 10:41 PM
