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Unionists have the abolition of the Parades Commission, and
the adoption of a realistic and fair system high among their
priority list for action by the Government.
In a meeting the DUP had with Prime Minister Tony Blair they
handed him with a list of urgent items requiring action. The
parading item was high on the list, and it was made clear
that there needs to be an end to the annual attacks by republicans
on Orange parades.
Those demands will be welcomed by all Orangemen, fed up with
the discrimination and the targeting of many of their parades
which has been a feature of republican policy for 20 years.
There has to be an end to the cynical and dangerous policy
of Sinn Fein-IRA in marking out certain traditional Orange
parades - including church parades - for attention.
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey also stressed the point
recently, when he said Northern Ireland cannot afford this
yearly uproar and tension created by the republican strategy
of singling out Orange parades for attacks and protests.
Protestants need proof that Sinn Fein-IRA really does respect
their culture and traditions, and they certainly need to be
convinced that this attitude exists as far as their Orange
parades are concerned.
The Sinn Fein-IRA strategy was launched in the mid-1980s
when the Obins Street outward parade to Drumcree Parish Church
was selected for 'attention'.
That resulted in serious rioting in Portadown, and the decision
of the Government to yield to republican violence and ban
the Obins Street route encouraged Sinn Fein-IRA to step up
their campaign.
Garvaghy Road was the next major target, and even though
an assurance had been given by the authorities that Orangemen
would not be forced to abandon this longest-established Orange
church parade - it goes back to 1807 - that promise was eventually
broken after years of republican agitation. Their success
at Garvaghy Road encouraged republicans to spread their net.
Since then there have been many other instances of bigotry
towards Orange parades, including Dunloy, Ardoyne in North
Belfast and most recently Whiterock - and the insatiable demands
of Sinn Fein-IRA have not been satisfied.
Now, we are assured, it is the start of a fine new era for
Northern Ireland, in which parties from completely diverse
political allegiances, are envisaged as sharing power at Stormont.
It is time for a reality check, and both Unionist parties
have made it clear that Orange parades will be the litmus
test for republicans to prove they are willing to show tolerance
towards traditional parades.
There will be many more problems and items to be settled
before there is the proper atmosphere for a new devolved Assembly
to get off the ground.
Orangemen and Orangewomen, and their families and supporters,
constitute a substantial proportion of the Northern Ireland
population.
They are entitled to expect fair play towards their parades,
and there is no doubt at all that this is not happening today.
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