Republican News · Thursday 17 June 1999

[An Phoblacht]

Springfield Road Residents call for support

By Roisín Cox

John McGivern of the Springfield Road Residents Action Group has criticised Orangemen for refusing to enter into dialogue and discuss their parade through the mainly nationalist Springfield Road area on June 26. ``Their refusal to meet can only heighten tension and further inflame the situation in the build up to the scheduled Orange Parade which has consistently led to trouble,'' says McGivern.

Due to the strength of local opposition to the parade, repeated attempts to initiate dialogue have been made by the Action Group. For the past 18 months, weekly overtures for dialogue have been made to the Orange Order, who have neither acknowledged nor accepted the invitation for face to face talks.

``This is indicative of the Orange Order's attitude to the Springfield Road Residents. The Orange Order has clearly demonstrated that the are not interested in the views, fears or concerns of the residents'', said group spokesperson John McGivern.

In recent years the Springfield Residents have met with numerous groups in an attempt to both manifest their opposition to the parade and to highlight public awareness of the issue.

John McGivern stresses, ``our door is always open for dialogue. We want to resolve the situation and that problem can only be solved through face to face dialogue''.

d although the Springfield Residents have in the past met with the Apprentice Boys, a meeting described by both parties as ``worthwhile'', the Orange Order are adamantly refusing to engage in ``vital dialogue at this time'', added McGivern.

Springfield Road Residents Action Group is now calling for community support for a series of pickets they have scheduled for June 21 to 25 to show their opposition to the parade. ``We want the local community to give their maximum support,'' said McGivern.

The residents argue that a viable alternative route exists and that the parade doesn't have to pass through the predominantly nationalist Springfield Road and they have appealed to the Orange Order to voluntarily reroute the parade.


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