PROSPECTS for defusing tension during the potentially explosive marching season in the North this summer may have improved following a victory by moderates over militants in the Orange Order.
After a seven hour meeting in Benburb, Co Tyrone, which ended in the early hours of yesterday morning, the Co Tyrone Grand Orange Lodge upheld an agreement between local Orangemen and nationalist residents of Dromore over a July 12th parade through the village.
Members of the militant "Spirit of Drumcree" group, which sought to have the parade agreement overturned, were heavily defeated. It is understood there were 68 votes to uphold the agreement and nine against.
In a separate development, the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, announced that two new regulations governing the conduct of proposed parades would come into effect today. The period of notice required from parade organisers is increased from, 7 to 21 days and the police have new powers to confiscate alcohol from parade participants.
Dr Mowlam said these were "small, but significant steps forward in line with the recommendations in the North Report earlier this year". The longer notice period, she said, would allow for greater consultation on proposed routes.
"I want to see people engage in frank and constructive dialogue, through intermediaries if necessary, to try and reach local agreement. That is the best way forward," Dr Mowlam said in a statement.
The spokesman for the Spirit of Drumcree group, Mr Joel Patton, said the Dromore decision was a betrayal. He feared it would cause serious division within the Orange Order.
However, the Grand Master of the order, Mr Robert Saulters, said: "I think this is an example really that you can sit down and talk with your neighbour. I know we have a ruling within the books that we don't talk to groups who are fronts for Sinn Fein/IRA but in this case the meeting was called by the parish priest and the local Church of Ireland rector and I don't think that we could say that was a front."
On residents' groups in general, Mr Saulters said: "I don't think they're all fronts for Sinn Fein at all. We're coming to the old scenario that used to be in America that under every bed there was a red. Now we're beginning to see little green men under every bed."
The endorsement of the Dromore agreement was also welcomed by a spokesman for the nationalist community in the village, Mr Liam McQuaid, who chaired the meeting at which the original accommodation was reached.