The Five Demands

Il Ministero della Difesa è parso allarmato dalla leggerezza dimostrata da alcuni soldati britannici che, noncunranti delle precise norme di sicurezza personale, hanno affidato a internet dati sensibili e fotografie anche in uniforme, con lo scopo di cercare fidanzate.
Il Ministero teme che in internet possano celarsi ‘trappole’ dei dissidenti repubblicani, atti ad individuare i loro bersagli nell’esercito britannico. Nel 1973, tre soldati ed un’ altra persona vennero attirati in un albergo di Lisburn da due donne e in quell’occasione i tre militari trovarono la morte. Dopo queste evento venne imposto ai membri delle forze armate, di socializzare solo quando fuori servizio.
Un portavoce del Ministero ha dichiarato: “si consiglia al personale militare di fare attenzione e di diffidare da implicazioni per quanto riguarda la loro sicurezza personale, nonché quello di colleghi ed amici”, pena sanzioni disciplinari.
Sono 5000 le truppe a tutt’oggi nel territorio nordirlandese.

MoD fears dissident IRA ‘honey trap’ (The Irish News)
The Ministry of Defence is to investigate claims that serving British soldiers have been breaching security by posting their personal details on internet dating websites.
Soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland have been openly using the internet to find girlfriends.
However, the soldiers have ignored basic personal security measures by admitting their profession on a number of popular dating websites. Some have even posted pictures of themselves and colleagues in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In recent weeks the increased dissident republican threat has led to warnings being issued to soldiers to take extra measures to protect themselves when off duty.
A 300lb car bomb abandoned on the outskirts of Castlewellan, Co Down, last week was said to be destined for Ballykinlar army base.
A dissident republican group phoned warnings, containing sketchy details of the car’s whereabouts, to a number of media outlets on Tuesday.
However, it was the following day before the Volkswagen Bora, containing the home-made fertiliser bomb, was discovered by police and Saturday before the massive device was made safe.
The increased push by dissident republicans to target soldiers stationed in the north has alarmed MoD bosses who are now warning soldiers to remove their personal profiles from dating sites.
Soldiers have been warned that dissident republican groups could use the internet sites to set up a ‘honey trap’ murder plot to lure them to their death.
In March 1973 the IRA shot dead three soldiers and wounded one other after they were lured from a Lisburn hotel to a flat on the Antrim Road by two women.
A man armed with a machine gun entered the flat a short time later and ordered all four members of the Royal Army Medical Corps into a bedroom where they were shot.
Following the murders, British army personnel stationed in Northern Ireland were given strict rules as to where they where allowed to socialise when off duty.
However, following the recent downgrading of the army command structure in the north those rules have been relaxed.
Around 5,000 troops remain stationed in Northern Ireland.
A spokesperson for the MoD said yesterday: “Like all members of the public using the internet for personal use, military personnel are advised to be alert and wary to implications regarding their personal security as well as that of colleagues and friends.
“Additionally, they are subject to disciplinary action if they participate in any activities or publish anything that brings their service and uniform into disrespect.”