A COMMITTEE of the Northern Ireland Forum has begun an attempt to gather information on the extent of the boycott of business people and premises across the North, with the aim of finding ways to end it.
Following a meeting of the Public Order Committee yesterday, its chairman, Mr Cedric Wilson, said that boycott was "the most cruel form of intimidation and a festering sore on the body of our community".
Mr Wilson added: "I acknowledge that those who boycott their neighbours do not always indulge in this action of their own free will, but do so under pressure of thugs."
He called on all those with influence in the community to do everything in their power to put an end to "this unacceptable and appalling activity".
The committee has asked interested bodies, groups and individuals with information or views on the issue to communicate with it at the Interpoint building in Belfast, the meeting place of the forum.
The inter party political talks resumed at Stormont yesterday, following last week's agreement between the parties on an opening agenda.
The opening plenary session continued with the series of party submissions of the agenda item of decommission ing, and yesterday heard a lengthy intervention by the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, on the issue.