FROM N10 PRESS OFFICE (MON) 09. 09' 96 08:31/ST.08.31/NO. 3580104751 P 1
DAILY DIGEST Monday 9 September 1996
DUNLOW
BBC RU: Police broke up a protest by Orangemen at Dunloy last night. A leading Orange leader in the area (John Finlay) said "We abhor the principle of consent" and that the "Brethren will march on the King'3 highway at a time of our chosing. " The RUC was attacked, and Ronnie Flanagan personally accused of being an "IRA supporter" as the force in general was said by the Orange Order to be supporting the nationalist position. An agreement thought to be in place on Friday was broken with each side blaming the other. The local Residents Association said they were very disappointed while the Orange side said the Association was a front for Sinn Fein/IRA. Irish Times Stones and bottles were thrown at the RUC by Orangemen during the standoff which followed the breaking of the agreement to let a limited number of the Brethren through to their Church service. Leader says the poll makes bleak reading, but shows that unless politicians press ahead for a settlement, 57% of the elctorate want to see the Irish and British governments filling the leadership vacuum, at least to the extent of proposing ways to break the deadlock. What is clear is that politics is what people want, not a return to the gun and bomb. News Letter's lead is 'RUC blocks orangemen.' Irish News has 'Orange protest follows town ban.' Leader concentrates upon the problem with the fringe loyalists, and prays for progress today.
TALKS
BBC RU: As Talks reconvene at Stormont today, the issue of loyalist fringe parties and the threat upon the life of Billy Wright is at the top of the agenda. Irish Times opinion poll shows that two thirds of the North's electorate say talks will fail. The Taoiseach will ask President Clinton today to renew his forthright commitment to support an agreement reached by the Northern parties through negotiation in the multi-party talks. There is a danger that the talks could contribute to a resumption of violence unless their format and conduct are revised, Dick Grogan argues. Unionist leaders, showing no urgency, now have a triple lock upon any real progress. Decommissioning is shackling debate, and George Mitchell is said to be throughly disillusioned himself. News Letter Threats of expulsion of the fringe loyalists go on amid speculation that the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP may be working on an arms decommissioning plan. BBC RU: Mark Durkin seemed to confirm that the SDLP was seeking some kind of unspecified agreement with the Ulster Unionists within the framework of the talks. Real engagement, real leadership, is what is needed now and what people want to see. News Letter Two page spread looks at the decommissioning question and the threat to Billy Wright as the talks reconvene. The notion of some kind of negotiated deal between the SDLP and Unionists to break the deadlock on the arms issue is being played down. Sir Patrick's weekend speech is summarised. Mervyn Pauley says the chemistry is absent for a quick solution, but the talks are, says Sir Patrick, are the only game in town. Irish Independent Intensive behind-the-scenes efforts are underway to produce a formula aimed at breaking the deadlock in talks. Gerry Adams said last night no one believed the political talks offer any prospect of a negotaited settlement. Leader says there is a welter of problems, but the talks are the only way forward. The Times Ulster returns to the search for peace as the summer marches are over and the tribal rites have been performed. The ancient emnitie3 are awake once more. The Independent As talks resume, the level of trust and goodwill is, by common consent, very low. The Guardian Pope backs search for Ulster peace as he told pilgrims in Rome that Protestants and Catholics both want to see an end to violence.
BUSINESS BOYCOTT
Irish Times:
Unionists have criticised the SDLP leader, John Hume, for suggesting that an apology from Protestant business people for their involvement in the Drumcree standoff or subsequent Orange blockades could end the Catholic boycott of their businesses. News Letter Eric Smyth said he had no regrets for saving he no longer shops in Roman Catholic stores. John Hume has been 'blasted' over his boycott stance by the DUP and the Ulster Unionists.
