So, Army Council and Stormont Executive in same position - Allister
03 September 2008
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister
"Today’s IMC Report, despite all its Jesuitical verbiage, is unable to say the IRA Army Council is gone – in spite of the fact that the DUP told us it would have to go before they entered government with their political wing.
If the IRA's terrorist intent is at an end, then why does the Army Council still exist? What is its purpose? The NI Executive is no longer "operational or functional", yet one would hardly deny that it exists! The Executive remains in place, but is not involved in political activity! Now, we are asked to believe the Army Council remains in place but is involved in political activity! What a wonderland we live in.
With neither an Army Council nor the Executive to attend, one wonders what exactly IRA leaders are doing these days. McGuinness must have a lot of time for fishing!
As the IMC appears to be able to pronounce on these matters with such certainty perhaps they could enlighten us as to when and where the Army Council last met and who was there? The IRA is an illegal terrorist organisation stained with the blood of thousands of innocent men, women and children. The duty of government and its agencies is to pursue them for the vile crimes they committed, rather than downplaying the telling fact that their wicked Army Council still exists.
The IMC's pitiful whitewashing comments, following the brutal murder of Paul Quinn, demonstrated to all who were interested that it had become yet another pawn of the political process. Today's effort confirms its compliant role. Only when the gangsters of militant republicanism have been hunted down and brought to justice will the people of Northern Ireland know that a truly just peace has been obtained."
