Northern Irish loyalist paramilitaries withdraw support for 1998 peace deal

[webfact]

Northern Irish loyalist paramilitaries withdraw support for 1998 peace deal

By Guy Faulconbridge

 

FILE PHOTO: People walk through the grounds of the Stormont Parliament buildings in Belfast, Northern Ireland. December 30, 2020. Picture taken December 30, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary groups have told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson they are temporarily withdrawing support for the 1998 peace agreement due to concerns over the Brexit deal.

 

While the groups pledged "peaceful and democratic" opposition to the deal, such a stark warning increases the pressure on Johnson, his Irish counterpart Micheál Martin and the European Union over Brexit.

 

Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace deal, known as the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement, ended three decades of violence between mostly Catholic nationalists fighting for a united Ireland and mostly Protestant unionists, or loyalists, who want Northern Ireland to stay part of the United Kingdom.

 

The loyalist paramilitaries including the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando said they were concerned about the disruption to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland due to the Brexit deal.

 

"The loyalist groupings are herewith withdrawing their support for the Belfast Agreement," they said in a letter to Johnson quoted by the Belfast Telegraph.

 

They said they would not return to the deal until their rights were restored and the Northern Irish Protocol - part of the 2020 Brexit Treaty - was amended to ensure unfettered trade between Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

But, they said, their core disagreement was more fundamental: that Britain, Ireland and the European Union had in the Northern Irish Protocol breached their commitments to the 1998 peace deal and the two communities.

 

"Please do not under-estimate the strength of feeling on this issue right across the unionist family,” the letter said.

 

"If you or the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the agreement then you will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the agreement," the letter said.

 

DISRUPTED SUPPLIES

Preserving the delicate peace in Northern Ireland without allowing the United Kingdom a back door into the EU’s markets through the 310-mile (500 km) UK-Irish land border was one of the most difficult issues of the Brexit divorce talks.

 

The loyalist groups abandoned the armed struggle in 1998 and residual violence since the accord has largely been carried out by dissident nationalist groups who opposed the peace deal.

 

Since Brexit proper on Jan. 1, 2020, Northern Ireland has had problems importing a range of goods from Britain - which unionists, or loyalists, say divides up the United Kingdom and so is unacceptable.

 

The European Union promised legal action on Wednesday after the British government unilaterally extended a grace period for checks on food imports to Northern Ireland, a move Brussels said violated the terms of Britain's divorce deal.

 

The EU's finance chief said Britain's move raised questions over whether it can be trusted in future trade negotiations with any partner.

 

"It does open a question mark about global Britain, if this is how global Britain will negotiate with other partners. Our experience has been not an easy one to put it mildly," Mairead McGuinness, who is negotiating post-Brexit financial services terms with Britain, told Irish broadcaster RTE on Thursday.

 

Joe Biden, while campaigning in the presidential election last year, bluntly warned Britain that it must honour the 1998 peace agreement as it withdrew from the European Union or there would be no separate U.S. trade deal.

 

Johnson's office did not immediately comment on the letter.

 

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Estelle Shirbon and Giles Elgood)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-04

 

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[Rookiescot]

Brexit.

The gift that keeps on giving.

[fangless]

*Deleted post edited out*

 

There are no good terrorists unless they are dead!

I do not subscribe to "One side's freedom fighter is the other side's terrorist!" or vici versa!

[RuamRudy]

1 minute ago, fangless said:

There are no good terrorists unless they are dead!

I do not subscribe to "One side's freedom fighter is the other side's terrorist!" or vici versa!

 

Sorry, I was being facetious.

 

All through the Brexit debate, when Corbyn was leading the Labour Party, our Brexit loving friends on TVF relentlessly brought up the fact that Corbyn had met with the leadership of the IRA (in attempts to negotiate a peace deal) and referred to him as a terrorist sympathiser. 

 

At the same time, the government of Theresa May was being propped by the DUP, the political wing of the terrorist organisations in the OP. And despite the fact that these terrorists are responsible for more deaths than the IRA, not a peep of criticism was heard from said Brexiteers. Hence my bitter comment about good terrorists and bad terrorists. 

 

For the record, I agree with you 100%.

 

[polpott]

15 minutes ago, fangless said:

vici versa!

Once saw her in a bar in Benidorm. Memorable act.

[Chomper Higgot]

Now let’s go back to what the US Democrats has to say about the US/UK trade deal and Brexit impacting the GFA.

 

 

[Joinaman]

ahh yes, the great paramilitaries'

if in doubt, blow it out ! 

 

[fangless]

4 hours ago, polpott said:

Once saw her in a bar in Benidorm. Memorable act.

The Vici Versa act always goes one way and then the other.

That's why it's called a turn!

[placnx]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

Northern Irish loyalist paramilitaries withdraw support for 1998 peace deal

By Guy Faulconbridge

 

FILE PHOTO: People walk through the grounds of the Stormont Parliament buildings in Belfast, Northern Ireland. December 30, 2020. Picture taken December 30, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary groups have told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson they are temporarily withdrawing support for the 1998 peace agreement due to concerns over the Brexit deal.

 

While the groups pledged "peaceful and democratic" opposition to the deal, such a stark warning increases the pressure on Johnson, his Irish counterpart Micheál Martin and the European Union over Brexit.

 

Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace deal, known as the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement, ended three decades of violence between mostly Catholic nationalists fighting for a united Ireland and mostly Protestant unionists, or loyalists, who want Northern Ireland to stay part of the United Kingdom.

 

The loyalist paramilitaries including the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando said they were concerned about the disruption to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland due to the Brexit deal.

 

"The loyalist groupings are herewith withdrawing their support for the Belfast Agreement," they said in a letter to Johnson quoted by the Belfast Telegraph.

 

They said they would not return to the deal until their rights were restored and the Northern Irish Protocol - part of the 2020 Brexit Treaty - was amended to ensure unfettered trade between Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

But, they said, their core disagreement was more fundamental: that Britain, Ireland and the European Union had in the Northern Irish Protocol breached their commitments to the 1998 peace deal and the two communities.

 

"Please do not under-estimate the strength of feeling on this issue right across the unionist family,” the letter said.

 

"If you or the EU is not prepared to honour the entirety of the agreement then you will be responsible for the permanent destruction of the agreement," the letter said.

 

DISRUPTED SUPPLIES

Preserving the delicate peace in Northern Ireland without allowing the United Kingdom a back door into the EU’s markets through the 310-mile (500 km) UK-Irish land border was one of the most difficult issues of the Brexit divorce talks.

 

The loyalist groups abandoned the armed struggle in 1998 and residual violence since the accord has largely been carried out by dissident nationalist groups who opposed the peace deal.

 

Since Brexit proper on Jan. 1, 2020, Northern Ireland has had problems importing a range of goods from Britain - which unionists, or loyalists, say divides up the United Kingdom and so is unacceptable.

 

The European Union promised legal action on Wednesday after the British government unilaterally extended a grace period for checks on food imports to Northern Ireland, a move Brussels said violated the terms of Britain's divorce deal.

 

The EU's finance chief said Britain's move raised questions over whether it can be trusted in future trade negotiations with any partner.

 

"It does open a question mark about global Britain, if this is how global Britain will negotiate with other partners. Our experience has been not an easy one to put it mildly," Mairead McGuinness, who is negotiating post-Brexit financial services terms with Britain, told Irish broadcaster RTE on Thursday.

 

Joe Biden, while campaigning in the presidential election last year, bluntly warned Britain that it must honour the 1998 peace agreement as it withdrew from the European Union or there would be no separate U.S. trade deal.

 

Johnson's office did not immediately comment on the letter.

 

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Estelle Shirbon and Giles Elgood)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-04

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

There should have been a deal on Ireland so that the whole island could receive goods from either side with minimal checks, thus valuing the 1998 agreement above the Brexit issue. But EU had to play hardball.

[Kwasaki]

What a shame so much turmoil over an EU boarder.

Cannot Northern Ireland and Eire just decide what they want. 

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, placnx said:

There should have been a deal on Ireland so that the whole island could receive goods from either side with minimal checks, thus valuing the 1998 agreement above the Brexit issue. But EU had to play hardball.

Exactly, but the EU has to protect it's precious single market above all else. They never really cared about the Irish issue or they would have realized that a border down the Irish sea is as offensive to Unionists as a border between North and South is to Republicans. They didn't care though, it was all about the single market, not to mention trying to prise NI away from the UK as a punishment for leaving it's protectionist racket.

 

Fortunately, article 16 of the protocol is a safeguard clause within the Northern Ireland Protocol that allows either party to take unilateral measures if there is an unexpected negative effect arising from the agreement. 

[vogie]

23 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

And despite the fact that these terrorists are responsible for more deaths than the IRA, not a peep of criticism was heard from said Brexiteers.

I don't think that this graph corroborates your statement RR.

 

https://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/past/troubles/troubles_stats.html

 

[RuamRudy]

12 minutes ago, vogie said:

I don't think that this graph corroborates your statement RR.

 

https://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/past/troubles/troubles_stats.html

 

 

Look like you are right, Vogie - there appears to have been a period in the early 90s when they were killing more, but overall, the IRA killed more. Does this explain why so many on TVF willfully ignored the fact that the DUP is in bed with them?

 

With the old guard in the UDA out of the way, the younger, more militant members seized control of the organisation's ruling body, the Inner Council.

Once in power, these young, visceral sectarians embarked on a murder campaign directed at times against republican activists but more often simply against ordinary members of the nationalist community. By 1991 and 1992 loyalists, principally the UDA, were outkilling the IRA for the first time. LINK

[7by7]

2 hours ago, placnx said:

There should have been a deal on Ireland so that the whole island could receive goods from either side with minimal checks, thus valuing the 1998 agreement above the Brexit issue.

 

The NI protocol means exactly this!

 

2 hours ago, placnx said:

But EU had to play hardball.

 

Understandably the EU did not want an open customs border between themselves and a non member; something no other non member has.

 

The EU first suggested a customs border in the Irish Sea when May was PM. But as this would mean cutting off NI from the rest of the UK, she rejected it as something no British PM could ever agree to.

 

Her proposed agreement with the EU had the Irish Backstop to prevent a customs border between NI and GB.

 

The UK parliament rejected this; in part because it effectively kept the whole of the UK in the customs union until a final agreement was reached, but also because Johnson and his backers in the Tory party put Johnson's political ambition above country and used this as the opportunity to oust May.

 

Unionists also objected to it as they believed it favoured the Nationalists.

 

Having won power, Johnson brought back the notion of Great Britain leaving the customs union while Northern Ireland remined inside. Hence the customs border down the Irish sea.

 

To no one's surprise, except die hard "Brexit at all costs" supporters, this angered the Unionists even more than May's backstop.

 

Johnson sold out the Unionist population of Northern Ireland in order to get his version of Brexit done. If the Troubles start again, will history ever forgive him?

[Sujo]

32 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Exactly, but the EU has to protect it's precious single market above all else. They never really cared about the Irish issue or they would have realized that a border down the Irish sea is as offensive to Unionists as a border between North and South is to Republicans. They didn't care though, it was all about the single market, not to mention trying to prise NI away from the UK as a punishment for leaving it's protectionist racket.

 

Fortunately, article 16 of the protocol is a safeguard clause within the Northern Ireland Protocol that allows either party to take unilateral measures if there is an unexpected negative effect arising from the agreement. 

And why shouldnt the eu protect itself. Its a uk issue. Uk voted out, nothing to do with the eu how the uk now has to deal with it.

 

Decisions can have consequences. Up to u.

[Surelynot]

Could have been worse....imagine if Johnson had signed up to a border down the Irish Sea....something no British PM would ever do.

[7by7]

34 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Exactly, but the EU has to protect it's precious single market above all else. They never really cared about the Irish issue or they would have realized that a border down the Irish sea is as offensive to Unionists as a border between North and South is to Republicans. They didn't care though, it was all about the single market, not to mention trying to prise NI away from the UK as a punishment for leaving it's protectionist racket. 

 

Utter rubbish; Johnson is to blame for the customs border down the Irish Sea, not the EU.

 

35 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Fortunately, article 16 of the protocol is a safeguard clause within the Northern Ireland Protocol that allows either party to take unilateral measures if there is an unexpected negative effect arising from the agreement

 

Remembering the outrage expressed by Brexiteers (including you?) when the commission talked about so doing, I find your comment above very odd!

 

Even though that particular suggestion was a huge mistake and unjustified.

[bannork]

53 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Exactly, but the EU has to protect it's precious single market above all else. They never really cared about the Irish issue or they would have realized that a border down the Irish sea is as offensive to Unionists as a border between North and South is to Republicans. They didn't care though, it was all about the single market, not to mention trying to prise NI away from the UK as a punishment for leaving it's protectionist racket.

 

Fortunately, article 16 of the protocol is a safeguard clause within the Northern Ireland Protocol that allows either party to take unilateral measures if there is an unexpected negative effect arising from the agreement. 

Brexit is entirely responsible for this entire mess. Blair warned years ago both choices of border were unpalatable to the locals but Johnson pretended there need be no borders.

If you want to blame anyone then blame Cameron for the absurdity that is Brexit.

'I know! Let's put up trade barriers with our nearest neighbouring countries. Let's make it difficult and expensive for 45% of our trade.'

Stupid is not strong enough a word  

[rott]

On 3/4/2021 at 4:59 PM, RuamRudy said:

 

 

 

 the DUP, the political wing of the terrorist organisations in the OP. 

 

Absolute garbage. 

[placnx]

45 minutes ago, 7by7 said:

 

The NI protocol means exactly this!

 

 

Understandably the EU did not want an open customs border between themselves and a non member; something no other non member has.

 

The EU first suggested a customs border in the Irish Sea when May was PM. But as this would mean cutting off NI from the rest of the UK, she rejected it as something no British PM could ever agree to.

 

Her proposed agreement with the EU had the Irish Backstop to prevent a customs border between NI and GB.

 

The UK parliament rejected this; in part because it effectively kept the whole of the UK in the customs union until a final agreement was reached, but also because Johnson and his backers in the Tory party put Johnson's political ambition above country and used this as the opportunity to oust May.

 

Unionists also objected to it as they believed it favoured the Nationalists.

 

Having won power, Johnson brought back the notion of Great Britain leaving the customs union while Northern Ireland remined inside. Hence the customs border down the Irish sea.

 

To no one's surprise, except die hard "Brexit at all costs" supporters, this angered the Unionists even more than May's backstop.

 

Johnson sold out the Unionist population of Northern Ireland in order to get his version of Brexit done. If the Troubles start again, will history ever forgive him?

In order to protect the Good Friday Agreement, the EU could have made a concession by having a customs check between Ireland the island and mainland EU. This need not have been cumbersome if technology and preclearance of everything that regularly passed between Ireland and the mainland were registered in advance. UK items, if any, would have been covered by the same technology and preclearance as between the UK and mainland EU will be done, hopefully.

[RuamRudy]

17 minutes ago, rott said:

Absolute garbage. 

 

DUP terror links and other skeletons in cupboard of party propping up Tory 'coalition of chaos'

 

The DUP have strong historical links with Loyalist paramilitary groups.

Specifically, the terrorist group Ulster Resistance was founded by a collection of people who went on to become prominent DUP politicians.

Peter Robinson, for example, who was DUP leader and Northern Ireland’s First Minister until last year, was an active member of Ulster Resistance.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Sujo said:

And why shouldnt the eu protect itself. Its a uk issue. Uk voted out, nothing to do with the eu how the uk now has to deal with it.

 

Decisions can have consequences. Up to u.

Nothing to do with the EU? Do you realise the republic of Ireland is a member?

 

Why did they pretend that the peace process was the most important thing? It's the EU single market that is being protected here. They used Ireland as a pawn. Varadkar fell for it like the mug he is.

 

They didnt seem too concerned with the peace process last month when they wanted a hard border for vaccines did they ?

 

They could have installed a soft border for tariffs like the one that already exists between north and south for currency, vat etc. They could have had a trusted trader scheme. A technological solution. But no, they were too worried about losing a few tariff collections in their precious protectionist racket. And trying to steal northern ireland. And now this. Tariffs before peace. Shame on them. 

 

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

4 hours ago, placnx said:

There should have been a deal on Ireland so that the whole island could receive goods from either side with minimal checks, thus valuing the 1998 agreement above the Brexit issue. But EU had to play hardball.

There was a deal. But the UK had to play hardball. 

[welovesundaysatspace]

2 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

What a shame so much turmoil over an EU boarder.

Cannot Northern Ireland and Eire just decide what they want. 

They did. 

[welovesundaysatspace]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Exactly, but the EU has to protect it's precious single market above all else.

“take back control” was the Brexiteers. Not the EU. 
 

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

They never really cared about the Irish issue or they would have realized that a border down the Irish sea is as offensive to Unionists as a border between North and South is to Republicans.

Had the UK cared about any of that, it wouldn’t have Brexited. 

[rott]

56 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

DUP terror links and other skeletons in cupboard of party propping up Tory 'coalition of chaos'

 

The DUP have strong historical links with Loyalist paramilitary groups.

Specifically, the terrorist group Ulster Resistance was founded by a collection of people who went on to become prominent DUP politicians.

Peter Robinson, for example, who was DUP leader and Northern Ireland’s First Minister until last year, was an active member of Ulster Resistance.

Really, and exactly how active have Ulster Resistance been in the thirty odd years of their existence.? 

How many deaths have they been responsible for.? The "paramilitary wing" of the DUP does not seem to have caused much trouble for the security forces or Republican/RC murderers. 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

“take back control” was the Brexiteers. Not the EU. 
 

Had the UK cared about any of that, it wouldn’t have Brexited. 

Losing control is what triggered the EU. They simply can't accept that we are now a sovereign nation.

 

It is the EU that is obsessed with protecting its single protectionist market. Global Britain is open to the world now. We were perfectly happy with a soft border it was the EU that freaked out at the concept. Now this.

 

The protectionist racket. The gift that keeps on giving. 

 

 

[RuamRudy]

12 minutes ago, rott said:

Really, and exactly how active have Ulster Resistance been in the thirty odd years of their existence.? 

How many deaths have they been responsible for.? The "paramilitary wing" of the DUP does not seem to have caused much trouble for the security forces or Republican/RC murderers. 

 

I would say that all terrorists are bad, regardless of who they murder. That their friends support Brexit should not get them a pass.

 

DUP 'held series of meetings with loyalists' to discuss EU exit specifics

 

DUP leader Arlene Foster met with a number of prominent loyalists during a series of meetings last week over Brexit, it has been alleged.

The revelation came after loyalist paramilitaries threatened protests if Northern Ireland's status in the UK is "diluted" after the UK leaves the EU. The warning led to calls for greater engagement with the loyalist community.

In a series of tweets yesterday, journalist Brian Rowan alleged that Mrs Foster, along with other senior DUP colleagues, met with Jimmy Birch, Jackie McDonald and Matt Kincaid, who have previously been named as senior UDA figures.

At a separate meeting, organised through the auspices of the Action for Community Transformation project, Mr Rowan stated that alleged senior UVF members Winston Irvine and Harry Stockman were present.

 

[Rookiescot]

2 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Could have been worse....imagine if Johnson had signed up to a border down the Irish Sea....something no British PM would ever do.

 

It would only happen over his dead body I believe were his exact words.

[welovesundaysatspace]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

They simply can't accept that we are now a sovereign nation.

 

Quote

It is the EU that is obsessed with protecting its single protectionist market.

Amazing that your Brexit fanatism goes so far that you can write two sentences without noticing that you’re completely contradicting yourself. Demanding others accept your sovereignty and complaining when those others have theirs. Amazing. 
 

Quote

Global Britain is open to the world now. We were perfectly happy with a soft border it was the EU that freaked out at the concept. Now this.

 

The protectionist racket. The gift that keeps on giving. 

Global EU is open to the world. We were perfectly happy with no border. It was the UK that freaked out at the concept. Now this. The Brexit protectionist racket. The gift that keeps on giving.