REPUBLICAN dissidents are more active than at any time in the last four-and-a-half years, the Independent Monitoring Commission has revealed.

The body, which monitors paramilitary activity, said dissidents are directing their efforts to kill PSNI officers.

In its 20th report the IMC said dissidents have "engineered" public disorder to expose officers to attack.

It said the current political vacuum in Northern Ireland is likely being exploited by the groups.

In its report to the British and Irish governments, the IMC said dissidents had sought to raise tensions with loyalists during the parades season.

It said in previous years, when one group was active, another would be less so.

"In the past few months the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA have been more active at the same time," the report said.

"One possible reason for this may be a perception that the absence of progress on the devolution of justice and policing has created a political vacuum, or may have caused disaffection among republican supporters, which the dissidents think they are able to exploit."

As in its last assessment, the report once again confirms, that the Provisional IRA had maintained an "exclusively political path".

On the subject of loyalists, the IMC said that although some loyalists want to make progress, they still had work to do especially in the area of decommissioning and that progress had been slow.

The report covered the period between 1 March and the end of August.

Speaking on the publication Mr Woodward said while challenges remain to secure an end to paramilitarism and the devolution of policing and justice, society in Nothern Ireland has clearly and decisively moved on.

He said the fact Ulster society had moved on was illustrated by the mutual respect and sensitivity demonstrated at the recent Homecoming Parades.

The Report provides an assessment of paramilitary activity.

Mr Woodward said "The Report underlines the very significant progress that Northern Ireland has made, particularly over the last three years, towards becoming a more normal society.

He added that the process would be greatly enhanced by the devolution of policing and justice powers.

He said: "The IMC make the point that the devolution of policing and justice would bring important benefits to Northern Ireland not least in allowing closer integration of law enforcement with other domestic policy.

"This underlines the fact that the devolution of policing and justice is not some abstract concept but will have a real and positive impact on people's lives and the problems they face on a daily basis.

"The Report also makes reference to the potential for dissident groups to exploit uncertainty on this issue and try to argue that politics is not winning in Northern Ireland when the reality is very different."

The Secretary of State said it was clear that both RIRA and CIRA have been more active at the same time in recent months and they remain determined to kill police officers.

"I commend the work of the PSNI and the security service in tackling this threat and welcome the close working relationship between the PSNI and the Garda Siochanna which has undoubtedly saved lives."

The Secretary of State said that the report confirms previous assessments, in that PIRA have maintained an exclusively political path and are now redundant.

Referring to loyalism Shaun Woodward said that although some loyalists want to make progress, they still have work to do particularly in the area of decommissioning.

"The report makes it clear that some loyalists want to make progress, and continue to do so. But progress is disappointingly slow.

"The message to loyalist paramilitaries is clear. We will work with anyone who wants to turn away from the past and engage positively for the benefit of their community and wider society.

"But you cannot do that effectively and retain weapons.

"I made the point in May that the decommissioning train will leave the station sooner rather than later.

"Six months on, that message has even greater urgency"

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Republica...than.4677876.jp

My view is this:

This report by the Independent Monitoring Commission is available through many media outlets, and although the headlines has a negative bias against Republican groups it would seem that the Loyalist paramilitaries are unwilling to disarm and that given the continued stalling tactics of Protestants over the the future of NI politics, it may be that the Republican groups are losing patience with the 'peace process'.

There'll always be some who'll settle for nothing less than a united Ireland.

Being Irish I have strong feelings about this. Wanting a united Ireland or not, as the case may be, are both valid viewpoints. It's how it's acheived that's important. Real progress has been made in Ireland in the last few years. Unfortunatley on both sides of the community there are those who settle for nothing less than violence. Violence will acheive nothing, unless backward steps are considered something!

We need to continue with the political process, as, slow as it's been, it's the only way to acheive real improvement in peoples lives.

BTW, there are relatively few 'nutcases' but they can cause misery for so many people.

Robbo,

I have now been in the middle of two long posts, both of which I have deleted, perhaps it is better that way.

I will leave just one point, there are only a few small groups of hard liners left, the Continuity and Real IRA the best known, the INLA who appear to be back after the Omagh bomb and a new group called, Oglaigh na hEireann, not to be confused with the official name of the Republics soldiers, the worrying part of these groups is, the guys being picked up now are young and not the hardened guys of the 'Long War/Troubles'.

This recruitment is troubling, but I think it better for me to 'beat the retreat'.

Good Luck

Moss

Your opinion is valued Moss.

A united Ireland is a very real prospect in our lifetime if we persue diplomacy and tact. There is no sense in violence.

A united Ireland is a very real prospect in our lifetime if we persue diplomacy and tact. There is no sense in violence.

Yes, I believe so, I agree on all three points.

Moss

I'm so glad you do.

It certainly is a hot potato.

I understand the reasons for the continuing tension in the region.

My main concern is with the bias in the UK media regarding the causality of the current situation.

Yes there are a small number of people in both communities that have the potential to fire up the situation, but I feel that it is the beligerence of Protestant politicians, the continuing sectarianism in the judiciary and police, and the threat of Loyalist paramilitaries that are providing the stimulus for Republican paramilitaries to re-gain support.

After all it is from the seeds of a minority of men willing to wage a war against injustice that led to the escalation of hostilities and the long history of conflict in Northern Ireland.

But as with the Middle East question it is such an emotive, inclusive and broad subject that it is difficult to to deliniate the issues and deal with them objectively.

The IRA will always be the bogeyman of the British parliment and media.

Interestingly, after all the religious warfare, the history of Northern Ireland may ultimately be determined by atheists, who seem to have the numbers to hold the political balance of power.

Wiki: The population of Northern Ireland was estimated as being 1,710,300 on 30 June 2004. In the 2001 census, 45.6% of the population identified as belonging to Protestant denominations (of which 20.7% Presbyterian, 15.3% Church of Ireland), 40.3% identified as Catholic, 0.3% identified with non-Christian religions and 13.9% identified with no religion.

Interestingly, after all the religious warfare, the history of Northern Ireland may ultimately be determined by atheists, who seem to have the numbers to hold the political balance of power.

It has always ( in recent times ) been the Orange Unionist vote that has provided succour to many Gov'ts who have pandered to their crucial 8-10 votes that are able to tilt the balance from a hung parliament, so they demand and in return, they sell thier vote and the status quo continues to the detriment of the island of Ireland as a whole.

Moss

Until the recent " peace", the Government in the South would have run a mile rather than unite with the North; too busy becoming a major economic player with EU hand-outs by the bucket full. to even contemplate how they would deal with the "Orange" issue. The IRA as a thorn in the UK's side would have paled into insignificance when compared to the campaign the UDA/UVF would have mounted against a united administration.

Peaceful unification a dream in our lifetime.........................( sadly )

What you say S' bears some careful thinking, Loyalists had a bigger 'kill' ratio through a lot of the years during the mid '70s and early '80s, but their organisation and bomb making capacity was not on a level of the IRA.

Even the Dublin bombs of '74 were allegedly masterminded by security forces and supervised by the UDR, admittedly carried out by Loyalists, a larger loss of life than both Birmingham and Omagh. ( Little of this can be proven and is completely stated as 'Allegedly'.)

But I have seen little documentary evidence to suggest that the Republic would not have taken the six north-eastern counties with open arms and have seen little to suggest they would not have undertaken the role, if it could have been followed through democratic or political means.

I will look again, but a pointer would help.

Moss

My dear Moss. One day you must allow me to buy you a jar or two and I'd be happy to discuss the experiences which led to my opinions. As for now, I will retract into my little old shell on this one, one too many brown ones before the first post.

My dear Moss. One day you must allow me to buy you a jar or two and I'd be happy to discuss the experiences which led to my opinions.

Crikey! I hope you've got a spare week or three.

My dear Moss. One day you must allow me to buy you a jar or two and I'd be happy to discuss the experiences which led to my opinions.

Crikey! I hope you've got a spare week or three.

I am not sure S' knows we are coming to Town and a jar or two has been known to grow into a quiet couple

I think we would enjoy that S', but I request Crowboy and Soundman to Mod the proceedings

Moss

( Just don't call me My Dear )

I request Crowboy and Soundman to Mod the proceedings

Too right, I'm not doing that again!