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22 January 1998 Edition

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Scorn the Orange Card

By Laurence McKeown

David Adams of the UDP, speaking on the radio this morning, raised the possibility that perhaps people have been under-estimating the strength and breadth of organisation of the LVF.

This follows the killing of Larry Brennan on the Ormeau Road, Fergal McCusker in Maghera, Terry Enright in the city centre, Séamus Dillon in Dungannon and Ed Treanor in the Oldpark. Come on ahead David, who are you trying to kid? Everyone from Ronnie Flanagan to the dogs in the street knows the LVF is rural-based, primarily in mid-Ulster where they no doubt killed Seamus Dillon, with some members in South Down and North Antrim. The entire command of the LVF in Belfast could hold their meetings in a phone box. So it doesn't take a genius to work out who's behind these killings.

However, it doesn't do to say that because your party might have difficulty remaining in the talks. Not that I would like to see you put out of the talks; I think it better your party is there than left outside. And of course Mr Trimble will ensure that you do remain. After all, that is the unholy alliance that has been made, isn't it? Unless and until, of course, Mr Trimble can form an alternative arrangement with the SDLP. He's been trying for long enough and I'm sure was fairly optimistic before Christmas that Seamus Mallon was finally going to grant him this wish. I've no doubt that at that point he would have washed his hands of you, and your prisoners also.

Maybe you should ask Mr Trimble to detail his party's contribution to the debate on prisoner releases at Stormont as part of the confidence building measures? Seeing as how he feels so concerned for their welfare. I believe he spent most of his time attacking the proposals put forward by the other parties and had nothing to offer from his own party. (They left the rope at home.) I know that sort of conflicts with the image of the high-powered delegation from the UUP which visited the UDA/UFF prisoners in the Kesh - a delegation that would not have been out of place on the steps of Downing Street. But then, when has inconsistency bothered Mr Trimble?

But you see, David, alliances of convenience have a dreadful history of ultimately collapsing. On the other hand, the tactic of `no claim, no blame' has a shelf life. What then of the UDP? Personally, I sympathise with you if you have to conduct a political analysis of the way forward with those `whose thinking your party is said to have an insight into'. I thought the mural that Johnny Adair stood under for the cameras summed up their thoughts on the situation, as it was meant to, `Kill `em all, let God sort `em out'. That is their thinking after all, isn't it? You've got a handful on your plate there, David.

The problem is, and you should point this out to them (preferably from a distance, for your own safety), they can't kill us all. It's fantasy land. I know that at times like this there is fear in the nationalist community given the random nature of the killings. But there is also anger. More importantly, there is determination, clear thinking, political awareness of what is happening and why, and a conviction that it will not be allowed to succeed.

We're not living in the 60s now David, or even the 70s when the Orange Card being played meant the game was over, the takings collected. Now when its produced it's instantly recognised as an Orange Card, and that's no good if you're trying to call a bluff, or ill-prepared for what cards your opponents might hold.

There's too many have been playing the game for too long now to be put off by sleight of hand, or mock gestures, or threats. In fact, it has been played so clumsily this time it's almost embarrassing. If we were to avert our gaze for a moment would you retract it? Or should we just rip it up so it can't be played again?

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