N. IRELAND: HARDLINE CANDIDATES ASSEMBLY ELECTION CAMPAIGNS скачать в хорошем качестве

N. IRELAND: HARDLINE CANDIDATES ASSEMBLY ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

(24 Jun 1998) English/Nat Hardline candidates for Northern Ireland's Assembly are digging in their heels as Thursday's historic election draws near. One of the fiercest battles is shaping up in North Antrim, the constitution of outspoken Democratic Unionist Party leader Reverend Ian Paisley. Paisley's rival is 78-year-old Sinn Fein candidate Joe Cahill, a former I-R-A gun runner and convicted murderer. UPSOUND: "This is Ian Paisley, I'm asking you to vote on Thursday" Ian Paisley is in typically defiant mood. The elderly parliamentarian and evangelist is best known for his criticism of Northern Ireland's peace accord. And as he works the campaign trail in Ballymoney, the D-U-P leader loses no time taking shots at both the peace deal and his rival for the Northern Ireland Assembly - Sinn Fein's Joe Cahill, convicted of murdering a Belfast police officer in 1973. SOUNDBITE (English) "All I can say is he should have been strung up years ago when he committed the murder and of course there's a poll on Thursday and my voters will string him up in that poll." SUPER CAPTION: Reverend Ian Paisley - Democratic Unionist Party leader 78-year-old Cahill is a former I-R-A chief of staff. Some believe he has thrown his hat into the ring just to be a thorn in the D-U-P's side. But Cahill denies this, saying he has a contribution to make to peace in Northern Ireland. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We hope to bring about social and economic change in this country which is badly needed, not only for nationalists but for unionists as well and I think a lot of Unionists are coming around to realising that." SUPER CAPTION: Sinn Fein candidate Joe Cahill You'd think in a farming community like Rasharkin, the candidates would be focused on agricultural issues or employment concerns Instead, talk in the run-up to Thursday's Assembly election is about the decommissioning of weapons. So far, no organisation has made concrete steps to hand over their arms. And Cahill doesn't believe the I-R-A will make a move to do so until it gets what it wants - a united Ireland. SOUNDBITE: (English) (Question: Do you think we will ever see the day when the I-R-A hands over its weapons?) "I think that day will be when this country is united, when there's an all Ireland government. I see no problem there." SUPER CAPTION: Sinn Fein candidate Joe Cahill That kind of talk infuriates Ian Paisley. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I'm not going to go in and talk to the I-R-A on their terms. I will go in and talk in this new Assembly with the I-R-A men will be present but I won't be negotiating with them about the Union. I'll be facing them up with their crimes and I'll be facing them up with their undemocratic acts, I'll be facing them up with what they've done to the people of Ulster but I will never negotiate the union with armed terrorists, but certainly not with the I-R-A or Gerry Adams, who's the Godfather of them." SUPER CAPTION: Reverend Ian Paisley - Democratic Unionist Party leader Paisley is hoping that a large Protestant majority on June 25 will make the peace deal unworkable. Once elected, Paisley says his first priority will be to disrupt the Assembly by ensuring that Sinn Fein leaders cannot be elected to represent the new 108-seat member body. SOUNDBITE: (English) SUPER CAPTION: Reverend Ian Paisley - Democratic Unionist Party leader SOUNDBITE: (English) "I just don't understand the man's logic. It's as simple as that." SUPER CAPTION: Sinn Fein candidate Joe Cahill Both Cahill and Paisley say they are confident of a win on Thursday. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...