9 September 1999 Edition
Garvaghy residents contradict Blair
Garvaghy Road Resident's Coalition (GRRC) spokesperson, Breandán Mac Cionnaith, has expressed dismay at a British government press release which claims that an agreed process involving the residents will begin next Monday.
The press release was issued on Wednesday, 8 September, after the residents had met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London . The GRRC spokesperson expressed concern that ``this statement seems to be an attempt to bounce us into a process over which we have no control and the design of which we had no part in''. Mac Cionnaith said that ``at no point during the meeting was it ever suggested that we had reached agreement on any of the main elements of a process, no format was agreed, participation was not agreed, nor was there any agreement on the scope of the process''.
He added, however, that although Blair ``failed'' to give any cast iron guarantees that no Orange parades would be forced through the area, the prime minister did concede that that such a course was not his intention.
Mac Cionnaith also called for a complete reappraisal of how Orange marches are treated and, citing the example of last month's RUC violence against nationalist protesters on the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast, said: ``It is clear there is a lack of understanding and comprehension of exactly what the Orange Order represents, not just now but historically.
``Hopefully there will be a recognition of what it represents and that the nationalist opposition to Orange marches will not be taken so much for granted in the future.
``They will not get away with the same situation occurring on the Garvaghy Road'', he warned.
``If [Blair] is sincere about implementing the Good Friday Agreement, he must ensure freedom from intimidation and harassment and the entitlement to equality under the law and an end to discrimination,'' he said.
While in London, the Garvaghy Residents also met with Tony Benn and other MPs in London, as well as with the Friends of the Garvaghy Road and the Wolfe Tone Society.
During the visit, MacCionnaith said that in the aftermath of the RUC brutality on the Ormeau Road it is time for the 26-County government to take a stronger stance on the rights of nationalists in the Six Counties and that it must assure them that no other community in the North will again be subjected to such violence and contempt.
He concluded by saying that it is ``very clear that unless the Orange Order have the consent of the people of the Garvaghy Road, then there will be no Orange marches through the area''.
The press release was issued on Wednesday, 8 September, after the residents had met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London . The GRRC spokesperson expressed concern that ``this statement seems to be an attempt to bounce us into a process over which we have no control and the design of which we had no part in''. Mac Cionnaith said that ``at no point during the meeting was it ever suggested that we had reached agreement on any of the main elements of a process, no format was agreed, participation was not agreed, nor was there any agreement on the scope of the process''.
He added, however, that although Blair ``failed'' to give any cast iron guarantees that no Orange parades would be forced through the area, the prime minister did concede that that such a course was not his intention.
Mac Cionnaith also called for a complete reappraisal of how Orange marches are treated and, citing the example of last month's RUC violence against nationalist protesters on the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast, said: ``It is clear there is a lack of understanding and comprehension of exactly what the Orange Order represents, not just now but historically.
``Hopefully there will be a recognition of what it represents and that the nationalist opposition to Orange marches will not be taken so much for granted in the future.
``They will not get away with the same situation occurring on the Garvaghy Road'', he warned.
``If [Blair] is sincere about implementing the Good Friday Agreement, he must ensure freedom from intimidation and harassment and the entitlement to equality under the law and an end to discrimination,'' he said.
While in London, the Garvaghy Residents also met with Tony Benn and other MPs in London, as well as with the Friends of the Garvaghy Road and the Wolfe Tone Society.
During the visit, MacCionnaith said that in the aftermath of the RUC brutality on the Ormeau Road it is time for the 26-County government to take a stronger stance on the rights of nationalists in the Six Counties and that it must assure them that no other community in the North will again be subjected to such violence and contempt.
He concluded by saying that it is ``very clear that unless the Orange Order have the consent of the people of the Garvaghy Road, then there will be no Orange marches through the area''.