Historic Disarmament of Paramilitaries in Northern Ireland
(27 June 09 - RV) Northern Ireland's oldest paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer
Force, has announced its full disarmament.
It’s been a long-sought peacemaking
move that if confirmed will reinforce the Protestant group’s abandonment of attacks
on the province's Catholic minority.
The UVF, was responsible for killing
more than 500 people from 1966 to 1994.
Protestant paramilitary group, the
Ulster Defense Association, is also expected to confirm that it also has begun to
disarm.
We spoke to Belfast based policy analyst Robin Wilson, who says that
while the announcement will likely be welcomed in political circles the public’s reactions
will probably be less favourable.