Few would argue with the view that this has been one of the
most peaceful, most enjoyable and most successful marching
seasons of the last decade. With a revived sense of purpose
and strong community spirit, brethren were welcomed right
across the province by family and friends all, who fervently
believe in the principles and freedoms that we hold so dear.
Rather than the gloomy headlines and politically fuelled
protests that we have almost come to expect, we experienced
something quite different this year. Whether at the Workman
Avenue gates on the Springfield Road or around Derry's walls,
those who previously relied upon disorder and mayhem to make
their feelings known stood silently as the parades passed
by. And while they may still resent our presence or envy our
resolve, we must acknowledge the positive shift in approach
and try to consolidate this year's success for next years
parading season and those that follow.
In doing so, we must calmly reflect on what has been achieved,
pinpoint the reasons for success and isolate the precipitants
of failure. There is no question that a lack of controversy
was borne out of painstaking initiatives that where developed
and nurtured by community and public representatives. And
in some instances, even where no direct dialogue took place,
there was a level of understanding and respect that recognised
a peaceful outcome was an attractive reason to find a solution.
The key was finding local solutions to local problems. And
that calls into question the whole purpose and benefit of
the Parades Commission. While the Chairman of the Parades
Commission, Roger Poole has been happy to claim the credit
for a peaceful summer, he actually had little or no positive
involvement at all. In fact, while others were achieving progress,
the Parades Commission continued to make decisions that have
caused an unimaginable setback to local community relations
at flashpoints around Ulster.
Rather than solve disputes, the Parades Commission have taken
decisions that have raised both tensions and barriers to progress.
In East Belfast for example, the Parades Commission decided
to make a determination and place restrictions upon a RBP
parade on the Last Saturday. There had never been controversy
surrounding this parade in the past, but in keeping with an
ongoing vendetta against the local Orange District and on
the advice of the PSNI, not it has to be said, local republicans,
the Parades Commission took action.
And that is why a root and branch review of the Parades Commission
will not go far enough. Whether in relation to Orange parades,
or those of our fraternal colleagues, the Parades Commission
has become the problem, not the solution and it needs completely
removed.
There can be no place in the Governments 'shared future'
for a body that has acted in such a blatantly bias manner
or become so tarnished by their inappropriate decisions of
the past.
While we should both welcome and accept the current review
that is underway, we should not relent or expect that a satisfactory
outcome will result. There is an onus on everyone who has
a vested interest in parades and Orange culture, or even those
who just want to see mutual level of respect and understanding
for the stakeholders in our society, to lobby and ensure that
what ever replaces the Parades Commission, it is fair, impartial,
capable of solving disputes and above all, enjoys the confidence
of the wider Unionist and Orange family.
Gavin Robinson
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