12th July 1999

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Maskey appeals for `calm and restraint'

Statement from West Belfast Assembly member, Alec Maskey, appealing for ``calm and restraint in the face of enormous provocation from the Orange Order.''

Mr. Maskey said:

``The decision to allow the Orange Order to march and congregate in the Ormeau Park was wrong. It is an act of sectarian harassment and intimidation directed at the nationalist people on the Ormeau Road.

``I would appeal for calm and for restraint in the face of enormous provocation. I would also urge people to br careful this evening and tonight as marchers return home.

Mr Maskey continued:

``Today in Washington Matrin McGuinness will meet senior officials in the White House. He will outline Sinn Fein's very real concerns at the manner in which the British government has blatantly switched to a pro-unionist agenda. On a daily basis the British Prime Minister has been demanding that republicans, who have moved significantly to assist the peace process, must move further, while he panders to unionists who blocked progress for over one year.

Specifically the British government later today will publish its exclusion legislation which is a clear sop to unionism and is outside the terms of the Good Friday agreement.''

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