THERE seemed little prospect last night of a compromise over Sunday's Drumcree march as Orangemen and Garvaghy Road nationalists remained on course for another potentially violent stand off. The RUC yesterday delayed making its decision on whether to allow Orangemen parade down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Co Armagh, in the hope that a compromise could yet be brokered between the two sides.
It was clear, however, that no matter what decision is taken, it will provoke bitterness, protests, and a possible re-enactment of last year's violence in the Co Armagh town in which several hundred Orangemen and their supporters attacked police lines during a three day stand off.
Upwards of 2,000 RUC officers had been called upon to prevent the Orangemen parading down the Garvaghy Road. Last year, the confrontation lasted from Sunday to Tuesday when a compromise was finally reached which allowed 800 Orangemen to parade unaccompanied down the road, without music or fanfare.
All sides the police with British army back up, the Orange Order and the Garvaghy residents have contingency plans in place to deal whatever develops, on Sunday.
Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, assistant grand master of the Orange Order, urged the police not to reroute Sunday's parade away from the Garvaghy Road. He, would give little away about the order's specific plans in the event of Orangemen being rerouted, but said they were "prepared for any eventuality".
Mr David Trimble's stand with the Orangemen at Drumcree last year earned him unionist kudos and contributed to his success in gaining leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party. It is expected that Mr Trimble and the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, with whom the UUP leader co-operated last year during the stand off, will again be in attendance in Drumcree.
Mr Donaldson insisted that Orangemen had a right to march down their traditional parade routes. "We do not seek violence and I hope that there will not be violence that is my hope and prayer, that common sense will prevail he said.
"It takes 15 minutes to parade down Garvaghy Road, and if nationalists can't accommodate that, how can they talk of accommodating unionists in a new Ireland?" Mr Donaldson asked.
Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith of the Garvaghy Residents' Association, complained however that the Orange Order had refused numerous requests, issued through various intermediaries, to meet the association to hammer out a compromise.
He said that nationalists were equally intent on preventing the Orangemen parade down, the Garvaghy Road. The association has applied for permission for a counter march to Portadown town centre, and it is also planning to stage festival activities during the march.
Mr Mac Cionnaith said the only violence last year was perpetrated by Orangemen and their supporters. Nationalists had maintained a peaceful, dignified protest throughout the stand off. He added that solicitors for the association were taking legal action to try to compel the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, to prevent the march parading down Garvaghy Road.
Mr Ian Paisley jun., said he was informed that the British Parachute Regiment has been asked to support the RUC. At the height of the disturbances last I, year the RUC was planning to call in the army, but in the end this was not necessary.
The RUC may make a decision on the issue today. A spokesman said "unstinting" efforts were continuing to try to reach a compromise on the parade.
The RUC also has a contingency plan to try to limit the potential disturbances. Up to 2,000 officers may be drafted into Mahon barracks in Portadown in preparation for any trouble. Hundreds of British troops will also be on stand by.
Police are also expected to be better prepared for trouble elsewhere in the North, as occurred last year when loyalists engaged in several protests in support of the Orangemen at Drumcree.
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, the Sinn Fein chairman, said the Northern Secretary should end the uncertainty and reroute the parade. "Sir Patrick Mayhew cannot dodge his responsibilities in the current threatening situation. He has the legal power to reroute marches and he should do so without further delay."
