Conflict continues for second week over Protestant march in Northern Ireland's Catholic area

(London = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Ji-yeon = As friction between unionist Protestant groups and Irish nationalist Catholic residents in Northern Ireland continued for two weeks, the British central government intervened.

According to the BBC on the 10th (local time), British Minister for Northern Ireland Chris Bryant banned the 'Drumcree March' after an agreement was not reached between the Orange Order, a Protestant group in Northern Ireland, and the Catholic residents of Gabahi Road, Portadown.

Minister Bryant explained that the decision was made following the advice of the Police Commissioner of Northern Ireland, who warned of the possibility of serious injuries occurring at the march and the possibility of disorder spreading throughout Northern Ireland.

The conflict surrounding the Drumcree March has recurred after 28 years and has continued for nearly two weeks.

The Orange Brotherhood, a Protestant organization, has held a street parade every summer to commemorate the defeat of the Catholic James II in the 17th century by the Protestant William III, known as the 'Duke of Orange'.

As this event is a strong celebration of Protestant roots and traditional relations with England, nationalist Catholic residents have protested that it is provocative for the march to pass in front of Gabahi Road, the main Catholic residential area.

From 1995 to 1998, a confrontation occurred when the police blocked a march in front of this road. Clashes spread throughout Northern Ireland, turning into riots and causing casualties.

As a result, the 'March Committee', a public organization that coordinates marches in Northern Ireland, was launched in 1998, and the committee banned marches through Gabahi Road every year.

The same decision was made regarding the march this summer, but the Belfast court accepted the request of Orange Brotherhood members last August and decided to cancel the committee's decision, and the committee allowed the march under limited conditions on the 27th of last month.

On the 27th of last month, members of the Orange Brotherhood Portadown went on a march from Drumcree Church, but Catholics counter-demonstrated and a confrontation broke out. Nationalist politicians, including Northern Ireland's head of government, Michelle O'Neill, also joined in.

Gabahi Road residents requested the court to overturn the committee's decision to allow the march and ban the march again, and also protested against it.

In an interview with the BBC, Minister Bryant said he had been trying to mediate negotiations between both sides, but had been unable to find an agreement.

He said there were concerns that this conflict could collapse Northern Ireland's power-decentralized self-government system according to the Northern Ireland Peace Agreement (Good Friday Agreement), but he said, "It seems that the Good Friday Agreement system is more resilient than people think."

Minister Bryant said, "We are listening to the concerns of all sides, but it is regrettable that we were unable to find a compromise," and urged restraint on both sides, saying, "There is no excuse for continuing to escalate tensions."