Caoimhghín O Caoláin TD, Councillor Brian McKenna,Vice-Chairperson of Monaghan County Council, and newly elected Sinn Féin Cavan County Councillor Pauline Tully visited the Garvaghy Road in Portadown last week.

The delegation was greeted by Councillor Joe Duffy of the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition and met with many members of the local community as well as a number of human rights observers who have been monitoring the situation.

Councillor McKenna said that the Drumcree stand-off was ``by no means over'' and stated that the nationalist community there was still under siege. He told The Northern Standard:

``The people of the Garvaghy Road were very appreciative of the support they have received from people in Counties Cavan, Monaghan and throughout the country. We received a very warm welcome.

``The Garvaghy Road community is under enormous pressure with the threat of violence hanging over them all the time. Despite reports to the contrary which give the impression that the Orange Order has relented, the reality is that people there are still under siege. The Orange Order is insisting that it will march down Garvaghy Road where it is not welcome. It still refuses to meet the elected representatives of the residents.

``This current stand-off has lasted over a year now but people tend to forget that nationalists in Portadown have been under siege by the Orange Order for generations. They are determined that the days of siege must be ended for good.''

Deputy O Caoláin urged dialogue to end the siege:

``The Garvaghy Road issue can only be resolved by direct dialogue between the residents and the Orange Order. The continued refusal of the Order to meet residents shows that it is not sincere about finding a mutually acceptable resolution. I would urge all elected representatives to demand that the Orange Order accept its reponsibilities in this regard.

``Our delegation left the community on Garvaghy Road with a pledge of our continued support for their right to live, in the words of the Good Friday Agreement, ` free from sectarian harassment.''

MP and observer harassed in Portadown

The British Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, who was in Portadown as an observer during the Twelfth, has complained of being constantly harassed by the RUC.

Corbyn the MP for Islington North was in the town on Monday 12 July for a day long visit at the invitation of nationalist residents and complained that he and the international observer from South Africa, Heeten Kalan, were being stopped and questioned excessively at RUC checkpoints.

Corbyn, complained he had been stopped and questioned five times by mid-afternoon.

``On each occasion it has been very clear to me the police officers who've stopped me know exactly who I am and exactly why I am here.''

He added that while on a tour of the estate with members of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition he had been prevented from visiting St John the Baptist Catholic Church on the top of the road.

Kalan also claimed he had been singled out by British army personnel and subsequently questioned by the RUC three times over recent days.