Ulster Defence Association
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The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) is a unionist paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland, outlawed as a terrorist group in the UK and Republic of Ireland, which is perceived by its supporters as defending the unionist community from Irish nationalism. It was a legal organisation until 1992. The group has been involved in the killings of some republican paramilitaries, but mostly in attacks on and murders of republican and Catholic civilians. Many Irish people believe that a lot of these attacks were carried out with the assistance or complicity of the security forces. This belief was later backed up by the Stevens Enquiry. The group has often been associated with the Democratic Unionist Party, now the largest party in Northern Ireland.
It is deeply involved in racketeering and in the drugs trade in Northern Ireland, and to a lesser extent in western Scotland. The US State Department's 2002 "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report substantiates these accusations, stating: "The UDA/UFF has evolved into a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and other moneymaking criminal activities."
The UDA was formed in 1971 as an umbrella organisation for various loyalist vigilante groups. It originally had the motto 'law before violence' and was in fact a legal organisation until it was banned in August 1991. During this period of legality, the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) committed a large number of murders. The UFF was simply a cover name for the UDA. The two organisations are indistinguishable.
In the 1970's the group favoured independence for Northern Ireland, but they have rowed back from this position in recent years.
They have been involved in several feuds with the Ulster Volunteer Force, which led to many murders. On February 22 2003 it announced a 'complete and utter cessation' of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months. It also apologised for the involvement of some of its members in the drugs trade.
Its 'ceasefire' was welcomed by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Paul Murphy and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Hugh Orde. Most nationalists are sceptical, however, as the UDA has a history of making statements it cannot or will not back up.
The Red Hand Defenders is an organisation that formed in 1998. Its members are loyalist hard-liners that oppose the ceasefire. The organisation seems to be made up of members of the UDA/UFF and LVF - all organisations that officially denounce them. Speculation remains as to exactly what their relationships are.pt:Associação de Defesa do Ulster