British `Gameplan' Fear
BY LAURA FRIEL
The suspicion that the British government and the NIO may be preparing to
storm the Orange Order down the Garvaghy Road this July has caused alarm
within nationalist communities across the North. Gerry McConville of the
community group based Belfast Friends of Garvaghy Road said the prospect of
a replay of the notorious `gameplan' of Drumcree 1997 had been rekindled
recently.
In 1997, the British government violently forced the Orange Order along the
Garvaghy Road in the early hours of the morning to avoid the international
PR nightmare of media images of baton-wielding RUC men attacking peaceful
demonstrators. ``It is almost incredible that the British government would
even contemplate forcing a Orange march down the Garvaghy Road'', said
McConville. ``Almost incredible , that is, because the same British Labour
government used the same stealth and storm tactics in July 1997.''
Earlier this week, Breandán Mac Cionnaith of the Garvaghy Road Residents
Coalition, expressed his concern that the British government's preferred
option is to get Orange feet on the Garvaghy Road. On Tuesday Councillor
Mac Cionnaith and Councillor Joe Duffy met with community workers
throughout Belfast to discuss the ongoing siege of the Garvaghy Road.
``Every person who cherishes human rights must now demonstrate solidarity
with the besieged community of the Garvaghy Road'' said McConville. The
difference between 1997 and 1999 ``is that Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern have
since become guarantors of an Agreement which enshrines ``the right to
freedom from sectarian harassment''.
Meanwhile, Lower Ormeau residents are urging nationalists to attend a rally
on Wednesday 23 June on the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast at 7.30pm. Calls
have also be made for nationalists to come and support the residents of the
Springfield Road during a contentious Orange march on Saturday 26 June.
A mural illustrating events that have taken place this past year will be
unveiled on Wednesday evening on the Ormeau Road and speakers, including
Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition spokesperson Breandán Mac Cionnaith and
Gerard Rice will address the gathering.
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