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Sinn Fein police move 'big step' IMC hails Sinn Fein policing move
(about 1 hour later)
The Independent Monitoring Commission has said Sinn Fein's endorsement of the police is a major step forward in the IRA's move away from paramilitarism.The Independent Monitoring Commission has said Sinn Fein's endorsement of the police is a major step forward in the IRA's move away from paramilitarism.
The organisation set up to monitor levels of paramilitary activity said it was "a very major development".The organisation set up to monitor levels of paramilitary activity said it was "a very major development".
Its 13th report covers the period 1 September to 30 November 2006.Its 13th report covers the period 1 September to 30 November 2006.
NI Secretary Peter Hain said the latest report from the ceasefire watchdog demonstrated the Provisional IRA's "commitment to the political path".NI Secretary Peter Hain said the latest report from the ceasefire watchdog demonstrated the Provisional IRA's "commitment to the political path".
The Irish Government welcomed the IMC's "very positive assessment" of the PIRA's commitment to democratic politics, and added that power-sharing should not be delayed any further.
The IMC delayed finalising their report until the outcome of Sinn Fein's special ard fheis on policing was known.The IMC delayed finalising their report until the outcome of Sinn Fein's special ard fheis on policing was known.
It said: "The decision of the ard fheis (special party conference) held on January 28, 2007 to support policing and the criminal justice system was a very major development.It said: "The decision of the ard fheis (special party conference) held on January 28, 2007 to support policing and the criminal justice system was a very major development.
"That decision and the efforts invested by the leadership of the republican movement in presenting the arguments in favour of the change were further substantial evidence of their commitment to the democratic process.""That decision and the efforts invested by the leadership of the republican movement in presenting the arguments in favour of the change were further substantial evidence of their commitment to the democratic process."
In its last report - in October 2006 - the IMC said the IRA had changed radically and dismantled some of its most important structures. The commission said during months of consultation about its policing plans, republican leaders encountered some resistance.
It was the most positive report about IRA activities to date, saying the republican paramilitary group did not want to go back to violence and no longer had the capacity to mount a sustained campaign. However, this had been expressed politically rather than through violence.
In that report it said the Real IRA was still a threat and that loyalist paramilitaries were changing, but at a much slower pace. The IMC report said the PIRA was no longer involved in attacks nor preparatory acts such as recruitment, training, weapons procurement and development or targeting.
It said the organisation continued to disband paramilitary structures, although some members had tried to acquire small arms for their own purposes against the leadership's instructions.
The report said they did not appear to have been successful.
Some individual members were still involved in activities such as smuggling and fuel laundering, but this was declining as a result of instructions from the IRA leadership, it added.
It also the republican movement was continuing to gather intelligence, but did not think this was for paramilitary purposes.
Dissidents
The IMC said dissident republicans continued to be active and the it reported the recent formation of a new hardline group, Oglaigh na hEireann.
It has launched pipe bomb attacks against the police and seeks to recruit dissident republicans.
"ONH has become more dangerously active," the IMC said.
The IMC welcomed moves within the UDA and the UVF to move away from paramiitarism and criminality.
However, it said the two main loyalist paramilitary groups needed to accelerate those moves and were still involved in racist and sectarian attacks and criminality.
The report said UDA members were still involved in attacks
The report said UDA members were behind attacks against immigrants in Antrim and had tried to force some foreign nationals from their homes.
The organisation was responsible for the majority of loyalist shootings and beatings, it said.
The commission said the UVF "had scaled down its violence, with no record of any so-called punishment shootings and assaults and leadership instructions for members not to get involved in crime.
The Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the British and Irish governments in January 2004.The Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the British and Irish governments in January 2004.
Most of its reports have concentrated on activity by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.
However, it also monitors the "normalisation" of security measures in the province.
Its four commissioners come from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Britain and the US.Its four commissioners come from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Britain and the US.