{"id":889,"date":"2012-06-22T08:53:07","date_gmt":"2012-06-22T07:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=889"},"modified":"2012-06-22T08:53:07","modified_gmt":"2012-06-22T07:53:07","slug":"violent-dissident-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=889","title":{"rendered":"Violent Dissident Threat"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his latest exclusive article for Long Kesh Insideout, former Blanket journalist and Radical Unionist political commentator, DR JOHN COULTER, assesses the threat which the violent vigilante group, Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD),\u00a0 could have on the Loyalist community. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Loyalist community must not be lured into physically striking back at factions from the dissident republican community who seem hell-bent on re-igniting the conflict.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Dissident republican terror gangs, such as the Real and Continuity IRAs and Oglaigh na hEireann, are all vehemently opposed to theProvos\u2019 ceasefire and the so-called Sinn Fein peace strategy at Stormont.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Initially after devolution was finally restored in 2007 after the previous year\u2019s St Andrews Agreement, the dissident republican targeting was simply to embarrass Sinn Fein into issuing statements supporting the police.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Then their targeting became more specific. The various dissident groups wanted to attack police officers who were from the Catholic community. It was a brutal strategy which both the Official and Provisional IRAs had adopted during the Troubles.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Rather than carry out a terror campaign under the banner of one organisation, the dissident republican movement has become so paranoid about infiltration by the security forces that each organisation operates as a separate group.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The various dissident groups may share the same violent agenda, and there has even been collaboration between some of the groups.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 But republican communities have faced a major crisis. As theProvosand INLA went on ceasefire and decommissioned their arsenals, criminal gangs took advantage of political developments to take over the previous republican racketeering turf.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The most lucrative area financially was the illegal drugs trade where vast fortunes could be amassed in a short time.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 In the years after the mainstream republican ceasefires, the IRA set up Direct Action Against Drugs (DAAD), which attacked and killed people it alleged were involved in the drugs trade.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Dissident republicans have established their own counterpart to DAAD \u2013 Republican Action Against Drugs, better known as RAAD.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Again, initially RAAD was viewed as a violent vigilante group wishing to re-assert dissident republican authority in Catholic heartlands that were once Sinn Fein strongholds.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 But RAAD went in a sinister new direction earlier this year when it said it would be targeting police officers. The question was then posed \u2013 what\u2019s the difference between dissidents like the Real IRA, Oglaigh na hEireann, and RAAD?<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The Loyalist communities should not dismiss this friction between RAAD and Sinn Fein as \u2018merely a republican problem\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 One of RAAD\u2019s strategies is to provoke the Loyalist organisations into some form of retaliation. It is imperative that those with political, spiritual and community influence within Loyalism ensure that Protestants do not rise to RAAD\u2019s bait.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 To understand RAAD\u2019s thinking, you must meet and talk with its members. The following in an interview with a source close to the leadership of RAAD.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 As you read through this, Loyalists of all shades, groups and opinions must ask themselves the fundamental question \u2013 at what point does targeting Loyalists enter the equation?<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 More importantly, does Loyalism have an effective strategy which will ensure Loyalism \u2013 whether mainstream or factional \u2013 does not get lured into dancing to RAAD\u2019s tune by responding with attacks on Catholic homes, property, or people.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The Troubles will be back on again \u2013 that\u2019s the conclusion from a secret interview last night with a source close to the leadership of the vigilante group, Republican Action Against Drugs.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The source said RAAD will develop into a new, experienced dissident terror group carrying out shootings and bombings against the security forces.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 In past months, while RAAD has been terrorising people it alleges are connected with the drugs trade, it recently announced it was to begin targeting police officers \u2013 the same strategy being adopted by dissident republican terror groups.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Senior police officers have consistently said this year that the threat from such dissident groups remains high.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The source said RAAD was a \u201cvery secretive organisation\u201d, but that \u201cpeople could expect all sorts of things in the coming weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The source claimed: \u201cThe majority of RAAD is comprised of former Provisionals from recent times.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhile there are new members in RAAD, they were like the Provisionals who joined Direct Action Against Drugs and were doing the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 In the aftermath of the Provisional IRA ceasefire of 1994 and the subsequent Good Friday Agreement of 1998, a republican group emerged called DAAD, which murdered a number of people it alleged were drug dealers.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 There have also been reports that Loyalist hardliners have launched their own anti-drugs vigilante group. However, it appears the threat to the peace process from RAAD remains the most serious.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 My republican source added: \u201cIt was an inevitable progression that because RAAD began in the republican community, the organisation would start attacking the police. RAAD is a new army emerging against the police.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis is a natural progression. They (RAAD) want the war. They started out attacking drug dealers, but the police goaded RAAD into attacking the police.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe police were saying they knew who was in RAAD and the police would sort them out. This only served to stir RAAD up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The source claimed RAAD could progress to the top of the dissident republican terror league because it contained members who were older and more experienced than other dissident groups, such as the Real and Continuity IRAs and Oglaigh na hEireann.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRAAD will stay separate from these other groups. They believe in the view that of there are a lot of these groups, it makes it harder for the police and MI5 to penetrate them.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRAAD did collaborate with the Real IRA for a time, but RAAD members didn\u2019t like being told what to do with Real IRA people who were less experienced.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe various organisations will stay separate and RAAD will not become an umbrella group for the other dissident groups. But RAAD will not criticise these groups.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI know of members of some families who are connected with both organisations \u2013 some are in RAAD, others in the Real IRA.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRAAD certainly appears to have expanded quite a bit and has members in Derry,Belfastand Tyrone. They certainly seem to have access to guns and explosives.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI am not sure why RAAD has held back from attacking the police until now. I would have expected it sooner.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHowever, I am not sure that RAAD will want to implement a long war strategy which the Provisional IRA favoured.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBut that could well happen if RAAD gains more experienced members. In the early years of the war, there were splits between the different groups like the Official IRA and the Provisional IRA. But not now.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere is a totally different attitude than even 20 years ago. Another reason for staying a separate group as well as the security is to make sure the leadership doesn\u2019t get carried away.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere is a lot more co-operation between these groups. For example, at a recent funeral of a former INLA man, the INLA could not fire a volley of shots over his coffin because the INLA is supposed to be on ceasefire.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSo supporters of the dead man brought in another group. RAAD wants co-operation, not fall-outs.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAs for a long war strategy, while RAAD has the experience for this, it still lacks the weapons and means to carry this on.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI believe the situation will stay the same with dissident groups doing their own individual things. But the big advantage for RAAD is the same as in business \u2013 experience works,\u201d said my source close to the RAAD leadership.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Loyalists cannot simply dismiss RAAD as troublesome psychos. RAAD is comprised of experienced republican terrorists who have a clearly defined strategy.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 While the security forces and intelligence community attempt to contain the RAAD threat, Loyalism should also be playing its part by ensuring combatants do not resort to armed struggle no matter how badly they are provoked.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 By keeping the lid of any so-called Loyalist retaliatory action, Loyalism\u2019s leadership will be showing tremendous political maturity. This is certainly one way in which the peace process legacy of Loyalist icons such as David Ervine and Gusty Spence can be maintained.<\/p>\n

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