Orange belligerence when accommodation needed
by Pádraig MacDabhaid.
Gerard Rice of the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community (LOCC) has urged
the Parades Commission to order the rerouting of forthcoming parades
by the Apprentice Boys and the Orange Order away from the Lower
Ormeau Road.
The LOCC spokesperson was speaking as the community awaits the
Parades Commission's decision about one of the largest Apprentice
Boys parades due to take place in Belfast in recent years. Loyalists
are threatening a Drumcree type standoff on the Ormeau Road if the
parade is rerouted away from the Lower Ormeau.
Mr Rice said, ``last April the Parades Commission said that the loyal
orders would need to invest `considerable time and effort' if the
conditions were to be created for parades to take place in the
future. Since that time the loyal orders have made absolutely no
attempt to meet the concerns of local residents''.
This clearly illustrates the reasons for the common belief in the
area that the conditions do not yet exist for planned parades along
along the Lower Ormeau Road to take place in the foreseeable future.
Rice reaffirmed that the LOCC remains ready to meet the loyal orders,
but added that: ``By their intransigence, the loyal orders have
ensured that another year will pass without any sign of agreement on
this issue''.
Speaking about the awaited decision, Mr Rice said he believes the
Parades Commission must take into account the impact of the ongoing
Drumcree protest on local feelings, with local people being disgusted
at the intimidation and violence suffered by the Garvaghy Road
residents.
Members of the LOCC intend to go to Dublin this week to meet with
members of the Dublin government in order to enlist their support for
the Lower Ormeau people's right to be free from sectarian harassment,
as enshrined in the Agreement.
Meanwhile it is believed that the Orange Order in an ``unprecedented''
move planning to hold its ``Tour of the North'' parade for the second
year running.
This is being viewed by nationalists as a unionist attempt to try to
destroy the agreement by sending a message that no matter how many
votes nationalists receive they will always have to bow down when the
unionists say so.
The march which normally takes place every two years, is this year to
take place despite the fact that it went ahead last year also.
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