(14 Aug 1995) English/Nat
Several thousand nationalists gathered in Belfast Sunday for a Sinn Fein rally to protest the lack of progress in the Northern Ireland peace process.
It's been almost a year since the IRA called a ceasefire and republicans are angry that substantive talks with the British government and Ulster parties still haven't taken place.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams warned that the Ulster peace process was in danger as Britain refused to launch multi-party talks.
It's a measure of how life's changed in Northern Ireland that these Catholic demonstrators can bring the centre of Belfast to a standstill.
Only a few years ago this march wouldn't have been permitted.
The message from Sinn Fein is clear.
They want full talks between themselves, the British government and pro-British parties on the future of Northern Ireland.
Gerry Adams joined in a protest which also demanded the release of political prisoners, and the end of British rule in Northern Ireland.
The Sinn Fein president addressed the crowd in front of City Hall, which he said rightfully belonged to Catholics.
SOUNDBITE:
"Around the world our friends, especially in the USA, have made a significant contribution, and that hasn't brought peace, because peace can only by built when the British government and the Unionists become part of the peace process.
SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Adams - Sinn Fein president
Despite almost 12 months of paramilitary peace, the British government insists there can be no substantive discussions unless the Irish Republican Army surrenders its weapons.
Republicans say this demand is a precondition, intentionally introduced to avoid talking.
And despite a year of peace, Unionist parties show little interest in sitting down with the IRA.
SOUNDBITE:
"Why would we want to sit down with terrorists? We've no intention of demeaning ourselves by sitting down with those who have killed many thousand of people in Northern Ireland. We've no intention no matter how much the British government goes back on its word. If it wants to break its promises, it said it wouldn't sit down with the IRA until they surrendered their arms. If it goes back in its promise, which it has, then the Unionist community will not. We will not be sitting down with the IRA."
SUPER CAPTION: Peter Robinson - MP Democratic Unionist Party
The police presence at the Belfast event was discreet, in spite of trouble which occurred the previous day at a separate event.
Sinn Fein have criticised police handling of recent demonstrations where violence has flared.
It's expected Irish government officials will raise this issue when they next meet the British.
But while London continues to show little enthusiasm for talks, there is a growing clamour amongst nationalist politicians and the Irish government in Dublin for progress sooner rather than later.
SOUNDBITE:
"The peace process depends upon movement from the British government in the first instance, depends upon movement in the all party talks, and then obviously a settlement depends upon Unionists properly engaging, and they haven't done that."
SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Adams - Sinn Fein president
It is widely believed now that as the first anniversary of the ceasefire approaches, peace talks on Northern Ireland have truly reached a deadlock.
But there is hope that President Clinton's visit to Belfast and Dublin at the end of the year may help restart the peace process.
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