DUP leader Ian Paisley made a rare trip to south Armagh yesterday (Monday) to reinforce his opposition to demilitarisation in the area.
Mr Paisley said there could be "no normalization until there was no IRA" as he visited Bessbrook police station with the DUP's Newry and Armagh assembly member Paul Berry.
The North Antrim MP hit out at reports of an imminent deal to restore devolution which would include a significant reduction in the British military presence over three years.
"I understand there is a deal made and the matter of demilitarisation is going to be the big issue," Mr Paisley said.
"We're in a serious position where it is suggested, in the course of a three-year period, all of these watchtowers will go.
"That is what the government has been specifying, but this government doesn't tell the truth and we'll not know what is happening but eventually see the drip-feed system of concessions unfolding.
"There can be no normalisation until there's no IRA, so let the IRA be disbanded. Let's hear that they're no more and let's see that action is taken to ensure that is so. There should be nothing done in this area until the IRA are no more."
Mr Paisley said police stations in Forkhill, Crossmaglen and Newtownhamilton "could not exist" without military support.
"If they demilitarise these, the police can't work because they will be without the intelligence, assistance and back-up of the military," he said.
He also claimed that a reduction in security in south Armagh could endanger Catholics who did not support the IRA.
"There is then, of course, a Roman Catholic population who, and there are many in this area, were not with the IRA and made this clear to the IRA. They could see themselves isolated in their own area and vengeance could be taken upon them."
Mr Paisley said he had written to British defence minister Geoff Hoon, asking him to visit 11 stations in the border area and see at first hand the current level of security.
Sinn Féin assembly member Conor Murphy said his party had not been informed of any three-year demilitarisation plan and said Mr Paisley's visit was simply about electioneering.
"This is more to do with the DUP scaremongering in border areas because the whole issue of demilitarisation has been avoided since the IRA ceasefire," he said.
"People want to see some movement and the British government made a commitment in the Good Friday Agreement, but only one watchtower has come down."
