LOYALIST politicians have given the clearest indication yet that the ceasefire by the Combined Loyalist Military Command is set to continue despite the resumption of IRA violence in Northern Ireland.
A delegation from the Ulster Democratic Party and key figures in the loyalist paramilitary leadership yesterday met UDA and UVF inmates in the Maze prison to discuss the political and military situation.
A UDP spokesman, Mr Johnny White, said the two hour meeting had gone "exceptionally well", and that the prisoners had supported the restraint shown by the CLMC since the IRA bombing of British army headquarters in Lisburn last week.
Mr White said the inmates were fully behind the decision not to be provoked by the Provisionals, and believed that there were ways of defeating the IRA other than violent reaction.
The prisoners included Michael Stone, who killed three people in an attack on an IRA funeral at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast in 1988. A fortnight ago the inmates had told their political representatives that they were with drawing their support from the peace process.
However, Mr White said that had never meant that they were advocating a return to violence. They believed that their restraint had dealt a serious blow to republicans, and they were pleased with the international praise they were receiving, he said.
There were clear indications that the CLMC ceasefire would continue for the moment anyway, he added. The Shadow Northern Secretary, Dr Marjorie Mowlam, also met UDA and UVF inmates at the Maze yesterday to discuss the political situation.
She told them there was growing respect" for loyalists who were working hard to maintain their ceasefire.
Meanwhile, loyalists welcomed reports that the Conservative backbench committee on Northern Ireland is to submit a plan to the British government later this week calling for the sentences of loyalist prisoners to be reduced.
The committee is keen to encourage loyalists to maintain their ceasefire. The UDP and the Progressive Unionist Party both said they would support such a development, but warned against raising prisoners' hopes until the proposals were adopted.
The Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, yesterday said the British government would consider the proposals. The loyalist ceasefire had been very beneficial", and I know that there are those who would like to see some recognition of that," he added.
However, the DUP's justice spokesman, Mr Ian Paisley jnr, said he opposed the policy of letting paramilitaries out of jail in order to buy peace. The loyalist ceasefire should he maintained, not because of concessions but because it was the right thing to do, he added.
The Workers' Party has welcomed the CLMC's decision to continue its ceasefire. The party's Northern chairman, Mr Tom French, described it as a victory for common sense and called on the IRA to follow suit.