NORTHERN IRELAND: FEARS OF FURTHER SECTARIAN CLASHES OVER MARCH

Описание: (8 Aug 1996) English/Nat

Fears are growing that sectarian clashes in Londonderry, Northern Ireland will be sparked on Friday if no agreement is reached between the Protestant and Catholic communities over the route of the planned Protestant "Apprentice Boys" march on Saturday.

In an attempt to limit the potential for trouble, Sir Patrick Mayhew, the British Northern Ireland Secretary (Minister) has banned the Protestant (Loyalist) Apprentice Boys from marching along a section of the city walls, overlooking the Catholic Bogside area.

This decision has enraged the marchers who argue their civil rights are gradually being eroded in order to placate Nationalist (Catholic) protesters.

Out on parade again, the Protestant Orangemen of Northern Ireland refuse to be deterred despite the violence during their traditional anti-Catholic marches a couple of weeks ago.

Last Saturday, the Apprentice Boys in Ballymena, County Antrim, were proudly marching in the run-up to the main festivities in Londonderry this weekend.

The march celebrates the successful Protestant defence of Londonderry against a Catholic siege in 1689, when Protestant apprentice boys barred the city gates to the besiegers.

The leaders of today's Apprentice Boys are convinced they are facing a concerted campaign to deny them their traditional right to celebrate their culture.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"They want to tell us where we will march, where we won't march. They want to dictate to us what they will accept and what they won't accept."
SUPER CAPTION: Reverend Stephen Dickson, Apprentice Boys

Many Protestants are not sympathetic to their Catholic neighbours.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"They make it look as if they're such reasonable people, they don't want our bands coming past their streets and them locked in their houses for 25 hours, prisoners in their home...We have been prisoners in our own country for 25 years."
SUPER CAPTION: Reverend Stephen Dickson, Apprentice Boys

But a local Catholic leader Donncha MacNiallais (pronounced Don a ka MacNellis) believes the consent of local people for any parade is the overriding issue.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We explained the process regarding the principle of consent that is that it is a process. That it involves negotiation and dialogue aimed at reaching an accommodation. Now that accommodation might mean that the march actually goes ahead as planned, it might mean that a proposed march be modified to take into consideration the feelings of residents. It might mean the march shouldn't go ahead down a particular road."
SUPER CAPTION: Donncha MacNiallais, Bogside Residents Association

The mood in nationalist (Catholic) areas indicates clearly that following sectarian violence during a similar Protestant march last month consent to the parade is not likely to be forthcoming.

In the shadow of the Londonderry city walls, residents of Fahan (pronounced Fawn) Street are nervous of what might happen if Saturday's march goes ahead.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I am very saddened that the talks didn't turn out. We're living here. We're living in fear. We were not getting any protection but the fellow was round this morning. He says that he will be putting something on the windows to protect the front of the houses."
SUPER CAPTION: Majella Frazer, Resident

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I don't think there will be any compromise at all. Because they don't want to compromise. They just want to walk where they want to walk. It does not matter about us. It never did."
SUPER CAPTION: Ellen Doran, Resident



SOUNDBITE: (English)




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