THE two fringe loyalist parties have insisted that the loyalist paramilitaries will not be coerced or goaded by certain middle class unionists into abandoning their ceasefire.
The Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) made the assertion after a Presbyterian minister, the Rev Roy Magee, yesterday reiterated that there were elements within the unionist middle classes who wanted the ceasefire to collapse.
Mr Magee said he would not be surprised if Protestant "business types" who tried to dissuade him from helping broker the loyalist ceasefire over 18 months ago were involved in this current "clandestine" attempt to destabilise the loyalist ceasefire.
The UDP leader, Mr Gary McMichael, who has reaffirmed that the loyalist ceasefire is solid, said he was aware of the continuing "black propaganda" campaign aimed at undermining confidence in the loyalist political strategy. "It appears to me that these people, who are mostly middle class, some of whom are also involved in politics, are uncomfortable with the leadership we have given the loyalist people," he added.
"They suggest that we are foolish and are being duped into united Ireland. This seems to be based upon a reluctance to accept that loyalism has an intelligent agenda and is prepared to advance that agenda, and is not merely an instrument to be used again by middle class unionism, those who have been furthest from the conflict," said Mr McMichael.
Mr David Ervine, who in contrast to the UDP has warned of the instability of the loyalist ceasefire, said he was also aware of the propaganda campaign against the fringe loyalists.
The campaign involves the distribution of literature and of a "professional" video alleging that these parties, some clerics such as Mr Magee and certain mainstream unionists are "selling out" the union.
"These people have been attempting to undermine loyalism, but with no success," said Mr Ervine.
Increasing demands from "pan nationalists" were posing a greater threat to the ceasefire, Mr Ervine repeated. This was causing great dissatisfaction within the UVF, he said.
The "unionist middle class" propaganda campaign has been a classic operation of "divide and conquer according to loyalist sources.
Up to now it has not succeeded, but recently chinks have been exposed in the central loyalist armour. The collapse of the IRA ceasefire has added to the tensions.
The greatest pressure is coming to bear on the UVF grassroots, particularly those in hard line rural areas.
The most graphic example of this pressure was in early March when a new breakaway loyalist group emerged, threatening to start "executing republicans".
The group, understood to be the creation of a leading UVF figure in mid Ulster, dismissed the peace process as a "farce" in which unionists were being "humiliated". So far there is no indication that this paramilitary, a potential focus for disaffected loyalists, has been brought to book.
