Mowlam's insult to nationalists
THE decision by Mo Mowlam to appoint an Apprentice Boy
and a former leading member of the UDA to the Parades
Commission has exposed the notion that Britain is a
neutral arbitrator in the conflict in the Six Counties.
When she came to the Six Counties last May, Mowlam
presented herself as an advocator of debate and
openess, a politician of the people.
Some even welcomed her as a breath of fresh air in
comparison to the direct rulers who preceded her.
However, her handling of the marching crisis in July
exploded any false hopes that some harboured for her.
She cynically decided on a strategy of building up the
hopes of nationalist residents while she had already
decided to allow Orange marches. And she sanctioned the
use of RUC brutality to facilitate those marches.
Glen Barr played a key role in the downfall of the
Sunningdale power sharing arrengements. He will be
joined by leading Apprentice Boy Tommy Cheevers who has
consistently refused to discuss contentious loyalists
parades with concerned residents.
Two other appointments - which Mowlam claims will give
balance to the Commission - are a Catholic barrister,
Rose-Anne McCormick, a former member of the Police
Authority, and Aidan Canavan, a solicitor for the
Police Federation.
Is Mowlam serious? Who does she think will accept that
these appointments will contribute to a balanced
Parades Commission?
The body was always likely to be a Unionist Commission
for marches, leaving nationalists under no illusion
about the British government's respect for their
rights. These appointments only confirm that the New
Labour administration has once again caved in to
Unionists - and loyalist - pressure.
Nationalists have never been in the habit of expecting
much from the British government, and in the midst of a
peace process many have wondered in recent months just
how genuine the British are about tackling injustice.
They still have not accepted that there can be no
peace, no settlement, no agreement without equality. If
they can't accept that with regards to the blatantly
triumphalist, sectarian Orange Order, what hope for
other areas?
But nationalists are resolved as a community to put up
with injustice and inequality no longer. We will not be
walked over.
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