The following is a Statement issued by the Grand Orange Lodge
of Ireland at Portadown District's Mini Twelfth Parade on
Saturday, 12 June 1999.
It is now 344 days since Portadown District L.O.L. No.1 were
denied their civil right to walk home from Drumcree Parish
Church via their traditional route by the failed quango the
Parades Commission.
344 days during which the District supported by the wider
Institution has stood firm in the struggle to have their rights
and freedoms restored and we commend the District for their
stand.
This has been a period when the Institution has been vilified
and demonised. When we have been blamed for events that we
had no part in nor would ever condone. It has also however
been a time when, despite the best efforts of our detractors
we have remained constant in defence of civil and religious
liberty for all, when we have consistently sought accommodation
not segregation.
We have been demonised partly because it is now fashionable
to ridicule those who have principles. We have also however
been demonised through a concerted effort to break an organisation
committed to the Protestant faith and the Union of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland.
To our detractors let us simply reiterate a number of factors.
We abhor violence. It is morally wrong. In the Resolutions
of 12th July 1992 we stated "We repeat our condemnation
of all those, whatever their motivation, who murder, maim
and destroy". Surely that is a clear and precise message,
and it is unchanging.
We have been told that we have not entered into dialogue.
On the contrary we have spoken to Government, Political Parties,
Churchmen, Business Leaders, Community Groups, the list goes
on and on. It is true to say however that we are not prepared
to negotiate civil liberties that if lost for the Orange Institution
will in a short time be lost to the wider community.
The basic controlling principle is that together with all
other law abiding citizens Orangemen possess certain inalienable
rights. Among these is the right of free assembly and that
necessitates the right to proceed in a peaceable and orderly
manner to and from the place of assembly, whether it be a
church or other venue. There can be no question of one group
of free citizens having to ask permission from any self appointed
authority to walk the public highways of our land. No one
community owns the roads of Ulster.
It is irrefutable that Sinn Fein/I.R.A. is manipulating certain
"residents groups" with a view to preventing or
impeding Orangemen in the exercise of their civil rights.
This therefore prevents law-abiding Orangemen from talking
to such groups.
It is a matter of regret that very often when we have talked
to people they appear to have listened but not heard.
However unlike some who held the view that because we did
not reach the same conclusions as them that we did not consider
their opinions we will merely redouble our efforts to clarify
our position and principles. The Orange Institution has always
considered any view or opinion put to them and we have never
been so arrogant as to dismiss those views because they reach
a conclusion that differs from ours.
It is important for the authorities to take on board the
reality of the situation with regards to Portadown.
Unfortunately people appear to see the Garvaghy Road as a
parade in isolation in order to wring further concessions
from Portadown District.
They must take account of all the concessions already made
by the District and in doing so will realise that not only
is there a basic civil liberty being denied to them but that
in truth Portadown District have nothing more to give.
We remain committed to finding a just and lasting solution
to the situation. Our support for the great principles of
freedom of movement and freedom of assembly remain undiminished.
We accept the right of peaceful protest and would demand
from all those who support Portadown District and the Orange
Institution that we only involve ourselves in peaceful protest.
We do not subscribe to the theory that "might is right".
Rather we subscribe to the belief that:-
Democracy is right
Justice is right
Truth is right
We still stand shoulder to shoulder with the Brethren of
Portadown District L.O.L. No.1 and all other Brethren whose
rights have been denied and we again call for the restoration
of those rights.
All we are asking for is civil liberties for all special
privileges for none.
The following is a Statement issued by the Grand Orange Lodge
of Ireland at Portadown District's Mini Twelfth Parade on Saturday,
12 June 1999.
It is now 344 days since Portadown District L.O.L. No.1 were
denied their civil right to walk home from Drumcree Parish
Church via their traditional route by the failed quango the
Parades Commission.
344 days during which the District supported by the wider
Institution has stood firm in the struggle to have their rights
and freedoms restored and we commend the District for their
stand.
This has been a period when the Institution has been vilified
and demonised. When we have been blamed for events that we
had no part in nor would ever condone. It has also however
been a time when, despite the best efforts of our detractors
we have remained constant in defence of civil and religious
liberty for all, when we have consistently sought accommodation
not segregation.
We have been demonised partly because it is now fashionable
to ridicule those who have principles. We have also however
been demonised through a concerted effort to break an organisation
committed to the Protestant faith and the Union of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland.
To our detractors let us simply reiterate a number of factors.
We abhor violence. It is morally wrong. In the Resolutions
of 12th July 1992 we stated "We repeat our condemnation
of all those, whatever their motivation, who murder, maim
and destroy". Surely that is a clear and precise message,
and it is unchanging.
We have been told that we have not entered into dialogue.
On the contrary we have spoken to Government, Political Parties,
Churchmen, Business Leaders, Community Groups, the list goes
on and on. It is true to say however that we are not prepared
to negotiate civil liberties that if lost for the Orange Institution
will in a short time be lost to the wider community.
The basic controlling principle is that together with all
other law abiding citizens Orangemen possess certain inalienable
rights. Among these is the right of free assembly and that
necessitates the right to proceed in a peaceable and orderly
manner to and from the place of assembly, whether it be a
church or other venue. There can be no question of one group
of free citizens having to ask permission from any self appointed
authority to walk the public highways of our land. No one
community owns the roads of Ulster.
It is irrefutable that Sinn Fein/I.R.A. is manipulating certain
"residents groups" with a view to preventing or
impeding Orangemen in the exercise of their civil rights.
This therefore prevents law-abiding Orangemen from talking
to such groups.
It is a matter of regret that very often when we have talked
to people they appear to have listened but not heard.
However unlike some who held the view that because we did
not reach the same conclusions as them that we did not consider
their opinions we will merely redouble our efforts to clarify
our position and principles. The Orange Institution has always
considered any view or opinion put to them and we have never
been so arrogant as to dismiss those views because they reach
a conclusion that differs from ours.
It is important for the authorities to take on board the
reality of the situation with regards to Portadown.
Unfortunately people appear to see the Garvaghy Road as a
parade in isolation in order to wring further concessions
from Portadown District.
They must take account of all the concessions already made
by the District and in doing so will realise that not only
is there a basic civil liberty being denied to them but that
in truth Portadown District have nothing more to give.
We remain committed to finding a just and lasting solution
to the situation. Our support for the great principles of
freedom of movement and freedom of assembly remain undiminished.
We accept the right of peaceful protest and would demand
from all those who support Portadown District and the Orange
Institution that we only involve ourselves in peaceful protest.
We do not subscribe to the theory that "might is right".
Rather we subscribe to the belief that:-
Democracy is right
Justice is right
Truth is right
We still stand shoulder to shoulder with the Brethren of
Portadown District L.O.L. No.1 and all other Brethren whose
rights have been denied and we again call for the restoration
of those rights.
All we are asking for is civil liberties for all special
privileges for none.
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