THE mainly Protestant town of Markethill in central Armagh has been blockaded by Orangemen since the Drumcree stand off began. Everyone in the town, including Protestants and Catholics, was being intimidated by the Orangemen, said local resident and SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, yesterday.
Just like the rest of the community, he was trapped in Market hill since Sunday last. He was due to meet Northern Minister Mr Malcolm Moss in Newry yesterday, but that meeting had to be postponed.
Barricades made up of hijacked vehicles, including an oil tanker, manned by Orangemen wearing their traditional collarettes, were preventing people from gaining access to and leaving the town.
One Orangeman involved in the protest defended the blockade. It would continue Just as long as the Drumcree stand off lasted. He evinced little sympathy for Mr Mallon. "I presume he can get out if he wants to," he said.
Eventually at noon yesterday, Mr Matlon managed to get out of Markethill by way of a specially arranged helicopter flight. "This is the most tense period that I have experienced in the past 25 years. The potential for danger is enormous", he said.
Markethill has suffered serious IRA bomb damage in the past. But since Sunday it was those who would "avow their loyalism" who were intimidating people, them from going to work, from going shopping, from going about their daily business, said Mr Mallon.
Unionist and Orange leaders were pandering to the lowest common denominator of loyalism in supporting will maintain.ing the Drumcree stand off and the attendant protests and violence throughout the North, he said.
The Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, said the experience of Mr Mallon and others living in Markethill and other blockaded towns illustrated "the evil that such violence brings".
If Orangemen were allowed to "get their way", it would be as politically damaging as the Ulster Workers' Council strike in 1974 which brought down the Sunningdale power sharing administration, Mr Mallon warned.
The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Annesley, made the right decision in rerouting the Drumcree parade, he said. "I hope he sticks by his decision, and that the Northern Ireland Office will support him in pursuing that decision.
"If there is a change of decision, confidence in policing in Northern Ireland will be crucially damaged. It will be stating that it is the biggest bully boys who are the winners", he said.
"This is an exercise in fascism, by those who should be leading in a constructive and courageous way. What they are doing is pandering to the lowest common denominator in terms of unionist attitudes", said Mr Mallon.
I think this is much more sinister than in 974, not least in that once again the leadership of unionism and the Orange Order has not had the courage to properly lead its people", he added.
"The authority of the state is being challenged by those who would avow their loyalism to this state. I would stress these people are acting illegally, contrary to the law, and doing it with apparent impunity", said Mr Mallon.
He said he would be in Westminster today and, with or with out an Orange blockade, he insisted he would be back in Markethill.
