Trimble's leadership faces challenge

By Thomas Abraham

LONDON, MARCH. 24. Northern Ireland faced a fresh political crisis after Mr. David Trimble, leader of the province's largest Protestant party, the Ulster Unionists, faced a challenge to his leadership from a hardline opponent of the peace agreement.

Mr. Martin Smyth, an Ulster Unionist M.P., who had voted against the Good Friday peace agreement, announced that he would challenge Mr. Trimble's leadership at a meeting of the party's ruling council on Saturday.

Mr. Smyth's challenge was sparked by a recent statement by Mr. Trimble that he would be willing to work in a government with Sinn Fein provided there was a firm indication from the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on when it would begin to lay down arms.

Hardliners within the Ulster Unionist party interpreted this as going back on the party's policy to insist on IRA disarmament before Sinn Fein, the IRA's political wing could be allowed into government.

Mr. Smyth, who is backed by several anti-agreement M.P.s in the party, is likely to pose a strong challenge to Mr. Trimble and the results of the ballot are expected to be close.

Mr. Trimble, however, was backed by the party deputy leader, Mr. John Taylor, who said the leadership challenge was ``ill- advised.'' Mr. Taylor, who is an influential figure, said Mr. Trimble was a ``very able personality who had devoted time and energy to a difficult job.'' Mr. Smyth, 68, can count on the support of the Protestant Orange Order which he headed for several years.

He can also expect support from not only those against the peace agreement but those unhapppy with Mr. Trimble's leadership style. Mr. William Thompson, an M.P. who opposes the peace agreement, predicted that ``Martin Smyth will have very signfiicant support and I believe that he will give David Trimble a run for his money.''

Despite the opposition he faces, Mr. Trimble is expected to hold on to his position but the danger is that in the event of a close vote, his room for manoeuvring afterwards will be limited.

The peace process ground to a halt after the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended after the Ulster Unionists said they could no longer work with Sinn Fein until the IRA laid down its weapons.

The suspension of the Assembly in turn triggered a walkout by IRA representatives from the international body set up to oversee disarmament by the various paramilitaries.

The British and the Irish Governments have since met the various political parties to get the process restarted but with little success so far.

If Mr. Trimble is defeated by the Ulster Unionists in tomorrow's vote and replaced by a hardline, anti-agreement leader then there will be little chance of rescuing the peace agreement.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Musharraf to visit Malaysia from March 27
Next     : People's pressure forced Lee out, says China