THE BBC reports that a “tiny fraction” of the UDA’s murderous former South East Antrim brigade has started decommissioning, in a move overseen by the IICD. Chris Buckler reports: “Members of the South East Antrim faction of the UDA were present, however, many of its membership were not consulted and it is understood some are deeply unhappy about it. Some have even described the minor act of decommissioning as ‘treason’.” Brian Rowan reports in the Tele: “A loyalist told this newspaper that the number of weapons involved was between six and a dozen – rifles, handguns and homemade machineguns. He believes some of the guns had been “stolen”, that possibly three loyalists were involved in the decommissioning event, that one of them later “blabbed” , and that the weapons may have been destroyed at the Ballykinlar Army base.” The act seems comparable to the LVF’s ‘decommissioning’ move a few years ago, which was widely regarded as a gimmick, perhaps to try and get prisoners released early. It certainly made no difference to the group’s ability to get their hands on weapons. The move may add to pressure on the ‘mainstream’ UDA to begin disarming, as the organisation was expected to make an announcement on its future on Remembrance Sunday.
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