N IRELAND POLICE BLOCK PROTESTANTS MARCH THROUGH PORTADOWN

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(7 Jul 1996) English/Nat • • More than two thousand police have prevented Protestant marchers from marching along through the main Catholic neighbourhood of Portadown in Northern Ireland , Sunday. • • About two thousand marchers, members of the Protestant Orange Order, attended a church service before attempting to take their traditional route through Portadown. • • A tense stand off developed as the police blocked the marchers who vowed to mobilise thousands of other Orangemen throughout the province to support them. • • Last years march in the area led to three days of clashes with police. • • Thousands of soldiers and police officers surrounded the area of Drumcree in Northern Ireland as hundreds of Orange Order supporters moved into the town for their annual march. • • The Orange Order Parade traditionally runs along the Garvaghy Road, a nationalist area of Portadown, 30 miles south of Belfast. • • The route on the way to the church service in Drumcree but the route away from the church was banned after Catholics protested. • • A compromise on the march could not be reached, so a tense stand off has begun with the Orange Men refusing to back down. • • SOUNDBITE( English) • We are of the opinion that this is a politically motivated decision taken to appease republicanism. It is a dangerous concession to those who threaten . It is a dangerous concession to those who threaten violence to achieve their ends. As an organisation we are committed to civil and religious liberty. Therefore in all conscience we cannot accept any rerouting and we demand the restoration if our rights. We are determined to stand fast for our faith and our future. • SUPERCAPTION: HAROLD GRACEY, Portadown Orange Lodge] • • The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party,David Trimble MP, has warned the marches could spark the beginning of a new wave of violence from the IRA. • • SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) • • We know that the IRA for months now have been looking for an opportunity to resume violence in Northern Ireland. And that we believe that they think they can use this • situation to restart their campaign in Northern Ireland, and the Chief Constable through his folly and shortsightedness is playing into their hands. • SUPERCAPTION DAVID TRIMBLE ,Leader, Ulster Unionists] • • Last years march led to a three day standoff which ended in clashes between Unionists and the police. Both sides say they are keen to avoid a repetition. • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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