By Dave Riley
On May 22, the Belfast agreement, which sets up a new power-sharing assembly in the Six Counties, won overwhelming endorsement from the people of Ireland. In the north, 71.1% backed the agreement, while in the south, constitutional changes mandated by the deal won an overwhelming 94.5% support.
A total of 951,845 people voted in the north, representing over 80% of the electorate — a record turnout. It is thought that the unionist vote was equally split for and against.
As most of the no vote is credited to unionist intransigents, hard-core conservatives like the Reverend Ian Paisley have read the negative vote as an endorsement for a wrecking campaign he and his co-thinkers will undertake after being elected to the 108-seat assembly.
Elections to this body take place on June 25, and seats will be determined by a system of proportional representation. The two nationalist parties — Sinn Féin and the Social Democratic and Labour Party — are expected to take about 40 of the 108 seats, while unionists are set to win up to 60. Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble is likely to become the new first minister of the Six-County statelet.
Overtures by Sinn Féin to the SDLP to form an electoral alliance have been rejected, which could result in the unionist majority in the assembly being boosted.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams challenged Trimble, who also campaigned for a yes vote, to end his refusal to talk with him.
"That's what the people voted for. People voted for dialogue and equality and inclusiveness, a partnership", Adams said. "Not to talk to us is to say that those who vote for us are second class citizens, and we will never allow that. Let's all go forward as first class citizens."
Since the poll, Trimble has demanded that Sinn Féin deliver on the Good Friday agreement on Northern Ireland by persuading the Irish Republican Army to give up its weapons. In response, Adams has called on Trimble to persuade loyalist marchers to avoid the nationalist Garvaghy Road during the annual Drumcree demonstration on July 5.
The march — in Trimble's Upper Bann constituency — has become a focal point of the tensions between the two communities since violence broke out there in 1995. But Orange Order grand secretary John McCrea has held out little prospect of re-routing parades, sparking fears of an explosive confrontation.
Adams has stressed the importance of the marching issue to republicans, linking it to progress on the decommissioning of IRA arms. It would be "no big deal" for the Orange Order to re-route the parade to avoid nationalist areas where they were unwelcome, he said.
"It is such a small gesture that is so important to the people who live there. It can only come from David Trimble. It can only come from the Orange Order", Adams said.