Paisley to confront Hain

Wednesday, 3 August 2005 12:00 AM

DUP leader Ian Paisley is meeting with Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain today in what is likely to be a fractious meeting about demilitarisation in the province.

Mr Paisley has condemned the government's swift move to normalisation following last week's IRA statement renouncing the armed struggle as a "surrender" to the paramilitary group.

Unionists are deeply sceptical about the IRA's commitment to decommissioning and insist that the process of removing the army from Northern Ireland is premature.

"Only last week the government indicated that words were not enough and that only actions would be satisfactory from the IRA," Mr Paisley said on Monday.

"However, yet again we see the government prepared to take republicans at their word. Have they learnt nothing from history?"

The dissolution of the three Northern Ireland-based battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR), comprising 3,000 soldiers, is also a cause of concern.

Mr Paisley said the disbanding of the RIR was a "scandalous betrayal of those who have given their lives to protect the community".

The disbanding of the regiment has caused outrage in other quarters. Colonel Tim Collins said cuts would only be acceptable if Sinn Fein accepted the legitimacy of the Northern Ireland policing board.

"It makes sense only if Sinn Fein actively co-operate with the policing board and actively support divisional commanders and actively encourage republicans to join the police service," Col Collins, who came to prominence with an inspiring speech before he led the 1st battalion RIR into Iraq, told Today.

"At that point, then one can say that. . . the Ulster Defence Regiment - the forerunner of the RIR. . . have accomplished their mission and can stand down with pride."

The issue of membership of the policing board, which Mr Hain yesterday announced would stay the same until October 2006, is another thorny issue on today's agenda.

Made up of nine independents and ten politicians, the membership was decided on the basis of the political make-up of Northern Ireland in 2003. The situation has subsequently changed, with the DUP wielding much more power now.

Mr Paisley will stay in London until Thursday, when he is due to meet Tony Blair to raise his concerns with the prime minister "face to face".

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