RESIDENTS of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Co Armagh, are not hopeful that the Orange march from Drumcree Church on Sunday will be rerouted. They will most likely stage a sit-down protest on the road if the parade is allowed to go ahead.
However, loyalist sources said last night they believed the British government was deliberately giving the impression that the march would go ahead, but that it would be banned at the last minute. They were suspicious that the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, is not announcing her decision until tomorrow. "That doesn't look good for us," said one Orangeman.
Another Orangeman said the British government was operating a double- bluff strategy, and that British soldiers would be moved to roadblocks across the North on Sunday to prevent thousands of Orangemen from other places assembling at Drumcree.
Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, of the Garvaghy Residents' Coalition, said he did not trust the British government's intentions; the RUC's decision not to close Garvaghy Road on Sunday to allow a nationalist community festival most probably meant that the Orange march would not be banned.
"There seems to be a desire on behalf of the authorities to keep the Garvaghy Road open, which can only mean that the march is to be permitted," he said.
Mr Mac Cionnaith said that such a decision would cause immense concern and anger in the nationalist community and could have serious consequences for the peace process.
"If the march is let through, the British government will have caved in because of the threat of violence from Orangemen and loyalists. The message that violence pays will go out to nationalists across the North," he said.
It is believed that Dr Mowlam plans to visit the Garvaghy Road on Saturday to deliver her message personally to local people. Some residents said she would receive a hostile reception if she decided in favour of the Orange Order.
Residents held an hour-long picket on the Garvaghy Road last night. About 30 women sat overnight in a "Women's Justice Camp" on the road.
One of those taking part, Ms Evelyn White, said: "The Orange Order tries to portray us as IRA but we are here to show we are just ordinary women who don't want these marches in our area."
Around 50 observers are expected to monitor events, including Mr Trevor Sargent TD, Ms Patricia McKenna MEP and Mr Eamon O Cuiv TD.
The nationalist community festival will go ahead but following an RUC statement it will be held on the grass verge and not on the road.