Accord faces new pressure

By Stephen Dempster

The peace process is today (Thursday) facing renewed pressure amid claims

that the UVF's ceasefire is at breaking-point.

The only loyalist group still officially on ceasefire is under scrutiny as

four men are expected to appear in a Scottish court this morning on

terrorist-related charges.

The quartet are being linked to an alleged bid to move guns and explosives

to Ulster by loyalists.

Police are understood to be investigating whether any particular group,

including the UVF, was behind the suspected smuggling operation.

Last night, PUP leader David Ervine did not confirm or deny UVF involvement

in the alleged operation.

However, he said: "All I can do is interpret that this and other things that

are going on are evidently reactions to what people would perceive to be

happening on the other side."

The East Belfast MLA accepted that his party may come under pressure in

coming days, "because the PUP is always the whipping boy for anything the

UVF is blamed for".

However, the News Letter has learned of growing unhappiness in the UVF and

it is understood the group's "supreme commander" has told First Minister

David Trimble that 80 per cent of his membership were now anti-Agreement.

A loyalist source said: "When Trimble met the Commission, the seriousness of

the situation was spelled out to him in a heated discussion.

"He was told that while the UVF leadership is still on board it is watching

carefully what is happening with the Agreement and concessions to

republicans.

"The rank and file are getting more and more angry. And that's the polite

version I'm giving you."

It is also known senior unionist figures have met the UVF in recent months

and been questioned on their opinions on the process.

If the four men held in Scotland were to be found guilty of

terrorist-related offences and did have UVF connections, the Secretary of

State could face pressure to rule the group's ceasfire over.

Given events in Colombia and the fact the UVF is the only paramilitary

faction to officially maintain a cessation since 1994, an end to its

ceasefire could be very serious.

Mr Ervine this week warned the process is already in crisis over a wide

range of issues but claimed the media and others are failing to grasp the

situation.

His words were echoed by UUP MP Jeffery Donaldson, who said: "There is

growing disillusionment which is being reflected on the streets and within

unionism and loyalism and it's all relating back to the manner in which the

Agreement is being implemented."

He continued: "On the issue of the UVF it's very clear that there has been a

substantial shift of political opinion in the organisation and there is now

an anti-Agreement stance within the group.

"We have seen what has happened with the UDA's ceasefire being declared

void. We look at North Belfast and I fear where all this is going if the

Government does not act.

"We are approaching a major crisis if we are not already in one and it could

be a very difficult summer."

The four men to be charged were among six arrested last Saturday in

Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, following a joint operation, involving

Strathclyde Police, MI5 and the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch.

They are expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff's Court today (Thursday).