Nationalists demand a true mediation process
The third of a series of conferences aimed at challenging sectarianism
and loyal order parades was held in Lisnaskea last weekend.
``From what I have seen, there has not been any mediation process.'' The
words of Maria Volpe, lecturer at the John Jay College in New York and
expert in conflict resolution, summed up the conclusions of the third
of a series of conferences organised by various concerned residents
groups.
Saturday's conference, attended by over 70 people from over 10
counties, was placed under the banner ``Resolving the marching conflict
- between conflict resolution and political expediency''.
Her comments clearly referred to the so-called mediation attempt the
British government has been involved in, particularly in regard to the
situation in Portadown. Audrey O'Carroll, from mediation Ireland,
echoed her comments. ``The third party involved in a mediation has to
have no vested power or interests in the process and must not
therefore pre-empt its outcome,'' she said. It could not be left to the
British government, who fire plastic bullet at nationalist residents,
to try and mediate the dispute.
Maria Volpe also said that one of the pillars of a good mediation was
an engagement with the other party ``in good faith''. ``Conflicts are
often born within a given context and not in a vacuum, she added.
Confronted with a problem, certain groups can adopt tactics that range
from avoidance to annihilation and confrontation. In the latter case,
this can lead to intimidation, anxiety and can even result in injury.''
Clearly, the Orange and loyal Orders have worked all tactics.
Robbie McVeigh, speaking from a personal perspective, said that the
problem is that so-called cultural traditions such as that of the
Orange Order can be reinvented to make them acceptable. ``But a culture
of Kill all Taigs, Kill all Catholics is not a cultural tradition, but
a political culture, just like genocide is.''
Robbie added that in the case of the so-called mediation attempts, the
British government has been engaged in a pacification and
``containment'' exercise rather than a genuine effort based on
reconciliation, equality and justice.
Gerard Rice from the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community added that his
group had been involved in a genuine exercise of dialogue and good
faith that backfired. The Parades Commission was described as a body
set-up to facilitate sectarian and racist parades. ``We were pressing
for dialogue against closed door. But the worse thing is that when the
door finally opens, we find that there are major imbalances in
representation''.
The situation has only worsened with the establishment of a local
government. A Unionist Orange First minister, flanked by a security
minister who was once a member of a junior Orange Lodge in Scotland,
and a civil service composed of senior Orange Order members and
involved in the drafting of plans to force the parade in Portadown.
Add to that the weight of the British government, the RUC and the
Parades Commission. More than ever, the residents groups find
themselves isolated and marginalised. Fears are rising that it is only
a matter of time before a march is forced down the Garvaghy Road.
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