UK: N.IRELAND: PROTESTANT MARCH BANNED

Описание: (3 Jul 2000) English/Nat
XFA
A bitterly divisive Protestant march through a Catholic neighbourhood has been banned again this year by Northern Ireland's Parades Commission.

The ban was announced on Monday, following a day after clashes between police and protesters over the same route.

Although it has blocked Sunday's parade, the commission said it might permit a march along the Garvaghy Road at a later date - if members of the Orange Order stopped protesting and agreed to consult with Catholics in Portadown.

The annual march, which commemorates the Battle of the Somme in World War I, always provokes violence, whether or not police have permitted the Orangemen to parade.

The announcement banning the Orange Order march from entering the Garvaghy Road was made at a news conference on Monday in Belfast

It followed Sunday's clashes between Protestants and police near the Drumcree Anglican church, where another Orange march was stopped from going down the Garvaghy Road.

Seven police officers suffered minor injuries.

Tens of thousands of Orangemen march each July, often to celebrate 17th-century military victories over Catholics.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"In respect of the parade, the parade is prohibited from proceeding beyond Drumcree Parish church, Drumcree road or entering that part of the notified route which includes the entire length of the Garvaghy road including Park Mount and Victoria terrace. The return parade shall therefore retrace the outward route as detailed. Alternatively parade participants shall disperse no later than 2.30pm from Drumcree Parish Church."
SUPER CAPTION:Tony Holland, Chairman of Parades Commission

The Parades Commission said the march could be allowed in three to eight months if the Orange Order complied with the decision, stopped protests at Drumcree and opened talks with Catholic residents.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"So starting with Portadown district we see it as necessary for them first to comply with the terms of our determination, to introduce and immediate moratorium on Drumcree related protest parades and demonstration. To avoid any actions that could easily be perceived as an incitement to break the law or intentionally designed to raise intercommunal tension and to engage with representatives of the Garvaghy residents, both in the current initiative and in any civic forum that may be established in these circumstances. We believe the limited parade could take place along the Garvaghy Rd in a peaceful atmosphere, ideally we would like to see this in the next three to eight months."
SUPER CAPTION:Tony Holland, Chairman of Parades Commission

The initial reaction from Drumcree Orange Order was not promising.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"At this point in time it would seem unlikely that we comply with them because its against the certain area we have been starting for all along but as I say we'll be taking a closer look and providing a full written response to it. But after a couple of readings...the overall document we find insulting and it is a monster that Tony Blair has created."
SUPER CAPTION: David Jones, Portadown Orange lodge

The Orange Order, a hard-line fraternal group founded near Portadown in the 1790s, remains influential today, particularly in its opposition to Northern Ireland's 2-year-old peace accord.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: David Jones, Portadown Orange Lodge

But Brendan McKenna, who is the voice for residents on Garvaghy Road said it was the right decision.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Brendan McKenna, Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition


SOUNDBITE: (English)


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