Series of rallies seeks to underpin peace process

HEIGHTENED fears for the future of the peace process have resulted in the organisation of public rallies, protests and vigils in the North.

Trade union and student leaders from Britain and the Republic will add their support by attending demonstrations over the next few days.

The Northern Ireland committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is to hold a major rally outside Belfast City Hall as a result of cross community representations from individuals, voluntary organisations and political and church related" groups.

A special meeting of the Northern Ireland committee discussed the breakdown of the IRA ceasefire yesterday, and afterwards Mr Tom Gillen, deputy Northern Ireland officer of the ICTU, said a demonstration would take place on Friday at 12.30 p.m.

The Northern Ireland committee has appealed for a spirit of "working compromise".

Mr Gillen said the union was not being political.

"That's not for us," he said, but he stressed "We have always encouraged people to talk. People could only tackle the issues of economic, social and community justice if they talk, he said.

Leading trade unionists from the Republic, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland, will be among those attending Friday's rally.

The Northern Ireland section of the MSF union warned in a statement that "a return to bombs, death and destruction, will only come about if people remain passive and do not actively and democratically oppose violence."

It called on all political parties, and both governments, to "act responsibly and bravely at this critical juncture".

Another rally will be held today outside City Hall.

This follows a demonstration on Monday in which 3,000 people protested against the IRA bomb attack in London's docklands which killed two men.

The "No Going Back" campaign, which includes Militant Labour, is organising today's rally at 1 p.m. to protest against the attack and call for the lifting of barriers to talks.

Tonight Queen's University students' union is holding a candle lit vigil.

"It is a call for an end to the return to violence," the union president, Mr Colm McGivern, said last night. Hoping for a substantial turnout, he appealed to all staff, students and members of the local community to turn out for the rally.

The president of the Scottish National Union of Students, Mr Douglas Trainor, and the deputy president of" the Union of Students in Ireland, Mr Bob Jordan, will be among speakers at the vigil which was described as part of the "cumulative process" of demonstrations this week.

"The last 17 months of political non violence must be supported," Mr McGivern said.

"The young people who" have and will benefit from peace in Northern Ireland must act as a beacon of light, and hope to restore what is rightfully ours, the right to life free from violence and intimidation."