N. Ireland: Loyalists threaten more violence

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JULY 31. A day before the expected announcement of the British and Irish Governments' much-awaited peace package on Northern Ireland, a loyalist group today threatened more violence in the ``coming weeks, months and days''signalling a new phase of terrorism fuelled by the deepening political uncertainty.

The deadlocked peace process looked set for a long haul as rival political parties remained deeply sceptical if the ``package'' would satisfy them, and there were renewed calls for a review of the Good Friday Agreement which has got mired in a bitter row over arms decommissioning. The Unionists believe that the British-Irish compromise proposals are not likely to address what they term as the bottomline of their position - that there can be no real peace so long as the IRA continues to hold on to its weapons. ``If the IRA cannot move from their position on arms, I think there is going to be a substantial review of the agreement,'' the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) chief, Mr. David Trimble said.

The militants' threat to step up their violent campaign came amid increased tension following the murder of a youth of mixed parentage in North Belfast by loyalists prompting the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr. John Reid to warn of a ``tough and uncompromising'' response. Dr. Reid, who reviewed the worsening situation today, said he was ``disgusted'' by the ``cowardly'' terrorist acts and warned that these ``will be stopped.''

The killing of 18-year-old Gavin Brett, the son of a Catholic father and Protestant mother, has caused outrage across the political divide as his murder is seen to be aimed at destroying the fragile harmony that still exists between the two communities at a personal level. He was speaking to a Catholic friend when he was shot dead by militants who later claimed they belonged to the Red Hand Defenders, a nom de guerre used by the Protestant paramilitary outfit, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) which recently withdrew support for the Good Friday Agreement.

The Unionists were quick to distance themselves from the UDA. They denounced Brett's murder as ``senseless and brutal'' and said anyone who believed that this kind of violence helped their cause was ``denuded''. Republicans, however, blamed Unionists for creating a political crisis that was now being exploited by militants.

The growing cycle of violence and counter-violence, allegedly by terrorists released from prison as part of the Good Friday Agreement, has confirmed fears that a prolonged political vacuum is likely to be used by the anti-peace process elements to create more disturbances. Even the hardline mainstream Unionists are worried that the initiative could pass into the hands of armed extremists if a political solution is not found - but they want a solution on their own terms thus creating a vicious circle from which there seems to be no way out.

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