(4 Jul 1998) English/Nat
Protestant marchers in Northern Ireland appear ready for confrontation on Sunday, over a parade in a catholic part of Drumcree.
Members of the Orange Order say they'll go ahead with their annual march along the town's Garvaghy Road - although they're certain to be halted by a massive police and army cordon.
It's feared the dispute could end in violence - an episode that would increase tension between the catholic and protestant communities.
Many of those opposed to Northern Ireland's new all-party Assembly regard the march of the Orangemen in Drumcree as a test of British commitment to the province.
In their eyes the use of the British Army to halt marchers loyal to the British crown would show that the UK was diluting its commitment to the unionist cause.
SOUNDBITE (English): "I pray God that God will avert this problem. Because only divine intervention can keep this from an explosion that no on will stop. And there is no man that will be able to stop it. If it breaks out. And I pray God that wiser counsel prevail. As for the best thing that could happen, and I think it would take a lot of steam out of this thing-- if the whole Parades Commission tonight resigned. (Here... Here..). Let them resign. If they want peace, let them make the thing".
SUPERCAPTION: Reverend Ian Paisley, DUP (Democratic Unionist Party
The decision to halt the march was taken by the Parades Commission - set up to rule on the large number of marches that take place each year.
Leaders of the Garvaghy Road Residents Commission are not happy that the parade commission has failed to convince the Protestants to avoid their road.
SOUNDBITE (English):
"Unfortunately, despite all the optimism which has been arising in the press all week. There has been no breakthrough whatsoever in relation to this issue. I don't know how many people are familiar with the proposals put forward by ourselves yesterday morning in an attempt to prevent this crisis which is being orchestrated by the Orange Order.
SUPERCAPTION: Spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition, Breandan MacCionnaith
The Garvaghy Road is inhabited by members of the Catholic nationalist community who claim that the march is simply a triumphalist expression of protestant victories in the past.
But their own position is equally entrenched.
SOUNDBITE (English): "This community does not want assurances. This community wants to see what it is entitled to actually being delivered. At the present time that means that the decision of the parade's commission should be implemented in full and that the British government should use its forces not against this community as it has done in former years, but it should use its forces to uphold the law this weekend."
SUPERCAPTION: Spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition, Breandan MacCionnaith
MacCionnaith - a former IRA prisoner - has organized his Catholic protesters to form a round-the-clock picket along the road.
He and his supporters fear the authorities will cave in to pressure from the Orange Order and allow the marchers to proceed down the road.
With the hardliners on both sides ready for confrontation there are fears that Drumcree may prove a flashpoint that could ultimately cause lasting damage to the cause of peace.
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