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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Press Statements

Boyne Anniversary Parades

30 June 1998

The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland on the eve of the historic first meeting of the new Northern Ireland Assembly wish to announce its determination to ensure that our traditional parades over the July period occur unhindered and without fear of physical attack. The Assembly brings renewed hope for the return of democracy for the people of our Province and we affirm that accommodation, not segregation, is the way ahead if permanent peace and stability is to be achieved.

The Grand Lodge Officers have consulted widely within the Institution and have taken soundings from the wider community as to the mood and the public's wishes with regard to our parades. The conclusion reached is that we have a unified and determined Orange and Unionist family who believe that their culture and identity have been the target of a vicious and well-organised and ongoing Sinn Fein/I.R.A. campaign.

As an organisation we have taken on board genuine concerns and comments of those within the nationalist community who are not controlled or influenced by terrorists. There has been improved marshalling of our parades and self regulation in respect of music, and those who accompany local Orangemen on parade. We have talked widely, both locally and regionally, to interested parties from a wide spectrum of political and denominational perspectives. We will be engaging many of these groups again in dialogue, along with others in the days ahead, to canvass their opinions and outline our case in the hope of better understanding and tolerance of our position.

We will be adhering to our policy of not engaging with residents' groups influenced by terrorist organisations nor with the Parades Commission, a discredited Government quango clearly susceptible to political interference. The policy of not engaging with republican terrorists is mirrored by that adopted by the unionist political parties. Nationalists speak of managed change, as we enter a new era. But the ongoing banning and re-routing of our parades would lead the Orange family to believe, that this means republicans decide the change and the Parades Commission manage it.

This Orange Institution cancelled four of its Twelfth anniversary parades last year in the interests of peace and stability in this country. This was a sacrifice recognised by many ordinary people, both nationalist and unionist. However, no effort was made by those in power and with influence to reciprocate or acknowledge the importance of those meaningful, highly positive decisions.

We should not be required to make such sacrifice this year nor will we. We condemn yesterdays decision and those recently taken by the Parades Commission which interfere with our parades and infringe our civil rights. As an Institution we will render whatever support necessary to local Brethren to ensure all our Boyne anniversary parades proceed along their traditional routes.

There is a determined effort by republicans to close main arterial routes to one tradition; roads which have been shared by all communities down the years. This attempt at sectarian ghettoisation is wrong. Small narrow-minded groups within local communities should not be permitted to control who travels along such roads. Such segregation did not work in South Africa, nor did it work in the southern states of America. Such cultural apartheid cannot be allowed to work in Northern Ireland. Our community has resisted such tyranny, whether it be the Nazis in the Second World War or from the physical force Irish republicanism of the past 30 years. We will not allow the principles of civil and religious liberty for all to be infringed. This is a principal which applies to all members of society regardless of race, creed, denomination or sex.

We fully recognise that with such rights also comes responsibility. We have exercised responsibility in our willingness to take on the concerns of those who would not sympathise with the aims and ideals of our Institution. Our responsibility is visible by our orderly and peaceful parades and protests which are frequently complimented by the R.U.C. and others.

Members of the Orange Institution simply want to celebrate their culture and identity in a traditional and peaceful manner. There is no agenda of coat trailing; no triumphalism. We do not intend to offend anyone and we will take into account all reasonable suggestions on the public manifestation of our traditions. However, there are clearly those who will go to any lengths to be offended and who are not prepared to accommodate the views of others. Quite simply, these people are against everything that is Orange, British and Protestant. As a community dedicated to peace and stability in Northern Ireland we must not allow such people to dictate and force their views on others.

We ask for the support of the wider Unionist family over the coming weeks, when through peaceful means only, we will seek to ensure that our heritage and our integrity is protected and upheld. We do not want to be associated with those who would use violence: a stone thrown by an Ulster loyalist is surely a victory for our republican enemies. We will win through by using the truth and by engaging in peaceful united protest. We sincerely hope and pray common-sense and justice will ultimately prevail.

We would appeal to the nationalist community to show the same accommodation and toleration of Orange traditions that we give to Gaelic and Roman Catholic culture. If there is to be any hope for the future in Northern Ireland, accommodation not segregation is the way ahead.


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