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UDA Call For Truce
The Ulster Defence Association has called for an end to the violence plaguing Northern Ireland in a statement which came out of north Belfast today. The loyalist terrorist group called on loyalists to remain calm "no matter what the provocation".
"No longer can we or will we let these types of situations destroy our own communities as it seems the community is the only sufferer in this conflict."
UDA statement
Follow up:
Baring in mind that I don't claim to understand the mindset of a loyalist terrorist: the police and fire services said last night's rioting was less widespread than previous nights so forgive me for speculating that there's a chance this statement was timed to be a publicity stunt, allowing the UDA to claim the credit for restoring order that was returning anyway.
Maybe I'm wrong and the truth is that there's simply people in the UDA with the less than enormous brainpower necessary to realise that those the riots hurt most are the working-class Protestants in the areas concerned - ie the same people they're supposed to be 'defending'. It's just that very little the loyalists do (or say on LoveUlster) instills in me any belief that they have such capacity for simple rational thought.
Whatever their motives, I hope it works. I just want to live my life in peace and quiet.