UK: NORTHERN IRELAND: PEACE FORUM ELECTION PREVIEW UPDATE

Описание: (29 May 1996) English/Nat

Another stage in Northern Ireland's problematic peace process gets underway on Thursday.

Voters will go to the polls in a special election to determine which politicians will take part in talks on the future of the British-ruled province.

But as yet, there's no certainty that all the parties will even be at those talks, let alone sit down together.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams was on the campaign trail in Belfast Wednesday drumming up last minute support ahead of Thursday's election.

But he is a reluctant campaigner.

Sinn Fein, generally held to be the political wing of the I-R-A (Irish Republican Army), is opposed to the peace assembly.

Although around 70 Sinn Fein candidates are standing in the election, the party will not take its seat at the 110-member forum to shape the province's future.

And unless the I-R-A calls a new ceasefire, Adams will not be allowed to take part in the all-party talks.

He called for the British government to accept the rights of those people who voted for Sinn Fein.

SOUNDBITE:
Let's at least have a level playing pitch in so far as voters for example in this area will know that their votes are of the same value as those of the supporters of the other parties.
SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Adams, President Sinn Fein

Adams was with one of the Sinn Fein candidates- Gerry Kelly who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1973 for bombing the Old Bailey law courts in London.

The explosion killed one person and injured 250.

But now the I-R-A terrorist has turned politician.

SOUNDBITE:
I am hopeful that we can have conflict resolution, and for conflict resolution we need real talks, and for real talks we need John Major to take his responsibility seriously.
SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Kelly, Sinn Fein Candidate

In Randallstown, John Hume, leader of the more moderate nationalist S-D-L-P was taking a much more low-key approach to his canvassing.

The S-D-L-P have been in the forefront of negotiations between the British and Irish governments over the peace process in the province and expect to do well in the elections despite some vocal support for his opponents.

UPSOUND: (D-U-P supporter shouts out)
Make your mark and make it well, make your mark and make it tell for D-U-P.

SOUNDBITE:
The issue in this election is quite simple and clear cut. It's electing parties to go to the conference table to sit down and negotiate a lasting settlement and provide lasting peace and stability, and therefore we are asking people in this election to give us a very strong voice for peace and a very strong mandate to go to that table and begin the difficult task for the first time of reaching agreements.
SUPER CAPTION: John Hume, Leader of S-D-L-P

A number of unionist parties are running for this election.

Unionists want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.

David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (U-U-P) is worried the high number of unionist parties will split the vote.

But the U-U-P already have the largest share of the Unionist vote in the British parliament and they're hoping their supporters turn out in equal numbers tomorrow. (Thursday)

One of the Ulster Unionist's main rivals in this man - known in Northern Ireland simply as "The Big Man".

Reverend Ian Paisley's is a seasoned campaigner and his popularity is clear in this Protestant estate.

His Democratic Unionist Party is expected to come near the top of Thursday's poll.

Paisley refuses to sit down and talk with Sinn Fein who broke their 18 month long ceasefire earlier this year.


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