<HTML><PRE>Subj:	Fwd: News 01/04/98 2041 CST - Loyalist Prisoners End Backing Peace Pr
Date:	98-01-05 01:44:11 EST
From:	Buni1957
To:	DeeMcA, RedAxe66, Love irela, Connemara7
To:	FenianBoyo, JustaLocal
CC:	St Frank1


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Forwarded Message: 
Subj:	 News 01/04/98 2041 CST - Loyalist Prisoners End Backing Peace Pr
Date:	98-01-04 21:45:34 EST
From:	jdooling@worldnet.att.net (Jay Dooling)
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Reply-to:	jdooling@worldnet.att.net
To:	jdooling@worldnet.att.net (Ireland News)


News from the Wire Services Re: Ireland & the Irish

RT 01/04/98 20:05 Protestant Prisoners Oppose N.Irish Talks - BBC
PA 01/04/98 17:47 Loyalist Prisoners End Backing For Peace Process

                 ******************************

		Protestant Prisoners Oppose N.Irish Talks - BBC

RTw  01/04/98 20:05   

Copyright 1998 Reuters Ltd
 
    BELFAST, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Jailed guerrillas belonging to 
Protestant extremist groups were reported on Sunday to have declared 
their opposition to the Anglo-Irish sponsored peace talks in Northern 
Ireland.

    The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that a two-
thirds majority of 130 inmates belonging to two pro-British rule 
"Loyalist" groups, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Ulster 
Freedom Fighters (UFF), had voted that they had "no faith" in the 
talks process.

     Loyalist sources emphasised the prisoners were not suggesting 
that a three-year UDA and UFF truce should end, the BBC said.

    The decision was seen by political analysts, however, as another 
setback for the peace process, which has already been rocked by three 
murders by rival guerrilla groups in the past week.

    The process has been under pressure for many months, with 
Protestant politicians accusing Britain of giving Irish republicans a 
string of concessions.

     The UDA, UFF and the Ulster Volunteer Force jointly called a 
ceasefire in October 1994 after guerrillas gave their backing for it.

     The Loyalist groups had previously launched attacks against 
hundreds of Roman Catholic nationalists in a bid to thwart a militant 
campaign by the Catholic-backed Irish Republican Army (IRA) and other 
groups opposed to rule from London.

     The IRA declared a ceasefire last July but the Irish National 
Liberation Army (INLA), a small republican group, has continued to 
oppose the peace process.

     Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam is to hold 
separate meetings with pro-British and pro-Irish parties in an effort 
to speed up progress in the peace talks. The peace process was set up 
in the wake of the ceasefires by mainstream Protestant and Catholic 
guerrilla groups.

     Tension has risen in the province since the murder of a Loyalist 
leader and the revenge killings of two Catholic nationalists.

     British soldiers, who were sent back to barracks several weeks 
ago, have returned to the streets to reinforce stepped up police 
patrols in potential flashpoint areas.

     The killings have sparked fears of a return to the sectarian 
bloodletting that scarred the province during many years of conflict 
between rival guerrilla forces.

     Political leaders in London, Dublin and Belfast have appealed for 
calm. REUTERS

                 ******************************

		Loyalist Prisoners End Backing For Peace Process

PA   01/04/98 17:47   

Copyright 1998 PA News

  By Deric Henderson, PA News

   Loyalist UDA and UFF prisoners at the top security Maze prison in 
Belfast have voted to withhold their support for the peace process in 
Northern Ireland, it was disclosed tonight.

   But political representatives of the paramilitaries insisted the 
loyalist ceasefire of October 1994 is still intact.

   It is understood 60% of the 130 UDA and UFF men at the top security 
jail voted to withhold their support because of their anger over 
Government handling of the peace process.

   The vote was disclosed as Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam 
prepares for a series of meetings in Belfast tomorrow to discuss the 
deepening security crisis with representatives of all the main 
political parties.

   Gary McMichael, leader of the Ulster Democratic Party, the 
political wing of the UDA and UFF, will be among those attending the 
discussions at Stormont tomorrow.

   But he said the vote inside the Maze was a clear signal to the 
Government of growing loyalist unease.

   He told PA News tonight: "It is indicative of the growing 
frustration within the Unionist community as a whole about the 
direction of the process and the lop-sided policy employed by our 
Government.

   "It is clearly causing serious difficulties." The talks are being 
held after the loyalist killings of two Catholics in the wake of the 
INLA murder of LVF leader Billy Wright at the Maze and before the 
scheduled resumption of all party talks on Northern Ireland's future. 
These get under way again at Stormont on January 12.

   Although it is expected the Progressive Unionist Party, the 
political wing of the UVF, will not attend, Mr McMichael said tonight 
he would be there.

   He said: "This is a vote of no faith in the peace process. It is 
not a vote against a ceasefire."

   The prisoners indicated before Christmas that they would reassess 
their position.

   Mr McMichael said: "Their position will be factored into our 
analysis. At this moment in time we intent to be at the talks to make 
sure the unionist voice is heard. At the same time we do believe there 
are serious flaws in the process which need to be remedied.

   "The Government's partisan attitude towards republicans is 
something that must be rectified."
 
-------
Jay Dooling (jdooling@worldnet.att.net)
Irish Aires - 90.1FM KPFT in Houston
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Irish_Aires/homepage.htm
Dooling & Mabe, CPA 
http://www.doolingmabe-cpa.com/
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