A leaked document has added fuel to the Drumcree crisis. The confidential memo, allegedly from Mr David Campbell, chief-of-staff to the North's First Minister, was dated June 30th and marked for the attention of the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and the British Prime Minister's chief-of-staff, Mr Jonathan Powell.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition, Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith claimed the first two paragraphs of the documents indicated "very real threats against the nationalist community in Portadown".
They read as follows: Paragraph 1: "I had lengthy discussions last night on the above impasse". Paragraph 2: "Options two and three as prepared by T. McCusker et al will not be considered by the District. In the event of a parade not occurring on Sunday, the District will refuse all engagement and will signal that for the next two years there will be nightly protests in Portadown."
The memo also said neither Mr Campbell nor Mr Trimble could deliver a joint meeting to reach final agreement, and perhaps Mr Tony Blair could do so. The document also made provision for floral tributes and gestures of reconciliation to take place.
In the light of these proposals, Mr Mac Cionnaith called for public reassurances from Mr Blair that no deal would be done without consulting the people of the Garvaghy Road. He said he was "amazed that the British government had not issued a statement saying they would not give in to such policies of the Orange Order".
The Orangemen and the residents were in talks late last night in Stormont. Earlier a massive security operation was under way to seal off the nationalist community in Portadown.
Mr Mac Cionnaith highlighted the feelings of fear in the community but he pointed out the quiet determination among the people who had endured intimidation to stand up for their rights and demand these rights be protected by the British government.
He indicated that if Britain did not uphold the rights of the Garvaghy Road residents and relieve the pressure on the community, "others within communities like themselves would be prepared to do so".
Mr Mac Cionnaith questioned whether or not the Parades Commission and British government were "engaged in a policy of appeasement with the Orange Order rather than abiding by their obligation under the Belfast Agreement, to ensure the right to live free from sectarian harassment".
He said he had been given firm assurances by the Irish Government, the SDLP and Sinn Fein that Drumcree would not be used as a bargaining chip in the wider political picture. However, he claimed Mr Trimble and the Unionist Party were using the situation as a bargaining tool.
Mr Mac Cionnaith claimed the RUC was not policing the town properly and had been involved in "a policy of misinformation with incidents not being contained in the daily incident book".
He produced a letter from RUC Deputy Chief Constable, Mr W.D.K. McCreesh, which said a 24-hour police presence had been provided in an area where the residents were particularly susceptible to attacks and intimidation. "In the period from 1st June 1998 to 30th April 1999, police have received no complaints of direct intimidation relating to the ongoing protest in Portadown".
Mr McKenna claimed that in the same period over 20 families had been intimidated from their homes.
Ms Orla Maloney, an active community worker and member of the Drumcree Faith and Justice Group, unveiled a document entitled Act of Reconciliation which was put forward last Sunday during negotiations at Stormont Buildings. It outlines proposals for a cross-community open-air act of reconciliation.
The leaked document revealed yesterday speaks of a proposal from the Portadown Orange lodge whereby on Sunday, "Mrs Cherie Blair might worship with the Garvaghy Road Community and proceed with them to the agreed point. The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP might worship with Portadown District LOL No 1 and proceed with them to the agreed point".