Orange Order stoke the flames
Plans for provocative loyalist marching season
By Mick Naughton
As the Orange Order raises the temperature with plans for an
increased number of parades through nationalist areas in the
event of another Drumcree stand-off, nationalist communities are
taking precautions to ensure basic supplies and services
continue.
Notices to march by the Orange Order have flooded in. Potential
flashpoints in the Belfast area include the Lower Ormeau and
Markets areas in South Belfast.
There are plans to parade from the loyalist Sandy Row to Cromac
Street on 7 and 10 July. Another is due to proceed from Carlisle
Circus to Bedford Street and the Ormeau Road where the Orangemen
plan to meet up with lodges from Ballynafeigh Orange Hall in the
Upper Ormeau Road.
Similarly in North Belfast there are notices to march on The Tour
of the North through nationalist areas from 6 July 6. This route
was abandoned for over 20 years until last year when hundreds of
nationalists were dragged off the Cliftonville Road by the RUC as
they attempted to block the Orangemen.
Last weekend, a number of Orange marches passed off relatively
peacefully in Keady, Mountfield, Bellaghy and Belfast.
Last Friday night in Newry an Orange march through the
nationalist town was abandoned after a bomb scare along its
intended route. This did not stop the RUC from attacking
nationalist protestors who were batoned, kicked and punched.
Hundreds of RUC with dozens of landrovers had sealed off a large
part of central Newry hours before the scheduled time for the
march, disrupting traffic in the town and preventing people from
attending a drama commemorating the Famine in the Town Hall.
Also on Friday night hundreds of nationalists in the Carrickhill
area of Belfast were imprisoned in their homes as a large Orange
march dominated Carlisle Circus at Clifton and Donegall Street.
British army vehicles using massive screens blocked off
residents. Local councillor Bobby Lavery said, ``Every year this
happens and people can't leave their homes. British soldiers and
the RUC are posted telling people to get back into their houses.
If this was happening in America civil liberties groups would be
able to mount a strong legal challenge. But due to the sectarian
nature of this Orange state nationalists in the Carrickhill
community are penned in like animals in Belfast zoo.''
In Mountfield, in Tyrone, a 100% nationalist village Orangemen
were halted from marching as nationalist residents lined across
the Orangemen's route. However as the Orangemen approached the
village the RUC blocked them; after carrying out a protest they
handed a letter to a senior RUC member then dispersed.
A spokesperson for the Mountfield Concerned Residents Committee
said the people of the village voted to block the Orangemen 24
hours before the march: ``The facts of the matter are that
Mountfield is completely nationalist and those who march through
the village every fourth Sunday in June do not live locally.''
A similar picture emerged in the South Armagh village of Keady
where during disturbances outside the local chapel last year a
local man lost an eye when he was hit by an RUC plastic bullet.
Last Friday the Keady Residents Association had been told
belatedly by the RUC that an Orange parade had been scheduled for
Sunday at 3pm, half an hour after Orangemen were also due to
march through Bellaghy, in South Derry.
Both towns saw a stand-off as the RUC set up lines separating the
villagers from outside Orange marchers. Nationalists were furious
at this tactic which effectively meant that their towns were
sealed off and partitioned.
``This is a form of apartheid,'' was how one local woman summed up
Bellaghy nationalist feelings. ``All we ask is that they sit down
with us and talk. Then we could reach an agreement of sorts. By
not talking they are treating this community with total
contempt.''
Residents were also angry at comments made by leading Orangeman
Bob Overend who issued a statement warning that he was unable to
give ``assurances'' about Drumcree on 6 July.
Striding ahead of around 200 Orangemen Overend read out the
statement before handing it to a senior RUC member.
``Our message is that the brethren of Bellaghy fully support the
brethren of Portadown,'' shouted the Deputy Grand Master of
Ireland.
The shadow of two years of sieges of the nationalist Garvaghy
Road in Portadown hangs over these weekly attempts by the Orange
Order to march where they are unwelcome and that situation took
another development this week when Garvaghy Road Residents
Coalition spokesperson and newly elected independent councillor
Breandan MaCionnaith accused Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble
of playing politics with the potential Drumcree crisis. He said
that the refusal to talk was the key problem. MaCionnaith also
revealed that for two years following Trimble and Paisley's
``Drumcree jig'' the Coalition have been waiting to talk, yet
Trimble, their MP, has not responded to any of their letters.
``We want to see him demonstrate his sincerity on this issue and
enter into dialogue with local residents. We have an agenda and
Mr Trimble has an agenda. We can put them on the table and talk,
that is what should happen,'' MacCionnaith said.
The Coalition also let it be known that last Friday 20 June they
wrote to the main political parties in the 26 counties asking
them to send observers to the district during the Drumcree march.
Last year outgoing Taoiseach John Bruton angered residents when
he refused to allow Fine Gael representatives to go to Portadown
as observers.
Meanwhile in Derry the Apprentice Boys have rejected advice from
the Parades Commission to hold talks with the Bogside Residents
over plans to march on August 12. Following a meeting between
residents spokesperson Donncha Mac Niallais and British Direct
Ruler Marjorie Mowlam the residents appealed for direct talks
with the Apprentice Boys organisation. Concern is also running
high in Derry with the news that ``a Protestant group'' is to stage
rallies on the City side of the Foyle each night between 6 and 12
July.
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