NORTHERN IRELAND: POLICE THROW ARMOURED CORDON AROUND PORTADOWN

Описание: (5 Jul 1997) English/Nat

Police and soldiers on Saturday threw an armoured cordon around Portadown in Northern Ireland.

The move came while British government officials sought to thwart a clash over an annual march, which last year triggered the province's most widespread rioting in a generation.

It is still not known whether the march will be banned, allowed or re-routed or when a decision will be made known to Northern Ireland's one and a half million people.

Armed soldiers patrolled the Drumcree area, on Saturday, which on Sunday could be the focus of trouble, should the controversial Protestant Orange Order march go ahead.

Troops also threw a cordon of armoured cars around the wider area, including Portadown town, while the government agonised over whether to allow the march through the towns main Catholic neighbourhood.

The approach road to Drumcree Church, where the Unionist marchers will hold a service on Sunday, was also sealed off.

Catholic protesters along the Garvaghy Road have vowed to block Sunday's annual march by the Orange Order, Northern Ireland's main pro-British Protestant fraternal group.

Anti-march murals painted along the roadside are a clear indication of the opposition by the local Nationalist community to the parade.

Last year, the confrontation between the Unionist (mainly Protestant) and Nationalists (mainly Catholic) triggered Northern Ireland's most widespread rioting in a generation.

In a bid to avoid the same situation, Mo Mowlam, the British minister responsible for governing Northern Ireland, and Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan, commander of the 12,000 strong police force, continued to seek a compromise with Orange leaders.

A peace camp has been set up alongside the Garvaghy Road as further protest over the planned Orange Order march.

This year representative from an American organisation, Peace Watch, were in town to monitor the situation for themselves, following an invite by the local Catholic residents.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We were in Ireland last year, being observers in Derry (Londonderry) and smaller villages and we've come to the Garvaghy Road community because the residents have invited us to come in and witness their situation, and to support their finding a peaceful solution. We're really concerned about the potential for violence and really concerned about the way that the community is being been treated and has been treated for years, but particularly in the build up to this over the past few months."
SUPER CAPTION: Pat Maher, Peace Monitor from Peace Watch Organisation

The atmosphere was more buoyant in the mainly Protestant, city centre, but many people are still worried over the Orange Order's parade.

One manageress of a local travel agent, said the number of bookings had risen noticeably in recent weeks, as people deliberately made plans to leave town.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"More especially these past three and a half weeks, yes, bookings and demand have increased."
SUPER CAPTION: May Creavey, Manageress of Travel Agent

Shoppers were still out and about but it was clear the planned march was on everybody's mind.

And some were convinced if the parade went ahead there clashes between the two rival communities would flare up.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well at the moment it's very tense. People seem to be going about and don't seem to have much care, but I think it's very tense right at the minute."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I know that something is going to happen and that's just it, you know.
A: Are you worried?
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop



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