Fragile "peace" during this year's Northern Ireland marching season.

[greatauntoftriplets]

Static Ulster peace process faces a test
Marching season nears a climax

By Tom Hundley
Tribune foreign correspondent
Published July 10, 2003

LONDON -- David Trimble this week survived another attempt by Protestant hard-liners to oust him as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, a sign that Northern Ireland's paralyzed peace process has a faint pulse.

That peace will again be tested this weekend, the climax of the summer marching season, when members of the Orange Order don their bowlers, white gloves and sashes in what has become an annual rite of mutual provocation between Protestant unionists and Roman Catholic republicans.

The marches commemorate the victory of Protestant King William III over Catholic King James II in 1690. So far this year, the usual violence has been avoided. There was a collective sigh of relief Sunday when the parade at Drumcree, an occasion for serious clashes in recent years, came off peacefully.

"Both parties are doing their level best to keep the peace over the summer period," said Martin McGuinness, chief negotiator for Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republic Army.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0307100368jul10,1,3613583.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

[JohnKleeb]

1. I didnt know Trimble had problems with the hardliners within the protestan

ts
He's not the worst they got I really hate Reverend Ian Paisley aka NI's Robertson he actually spoke at Bob Jones in the 60's. He really hates Catholics bad. I hope for peace and I am a firm nationalist.