The Grand Orange Lodge totally abhors and condemns the violence
of the past days.
Grand Lodge calls for restraint from those who wish to support
the Orange Order at Drumcree and across the province. Peaceful
protest is the only way forward for those who truly wish to
support this Institution. We alone cannot accept responsibility
for those who use our protests as a cover for wanton destruction
within the community or as an excuse to attack the security
forces.We are not a law enforcement agency, we have no paramilitary
wing or resources to deal with violence. Those responsibilities
lie wth the Government.
Unlike those who adjudicate on parades we inhabit the real
world and as such we understand the frustration and anger
in our community. We also appreciate the perception of some
that violence pays. Regretfully that perception has actually
been fuelled by Government and by various Parades Commission
determinations which have denied traditional parades because
of the threat of violence from others.
To those within our community who see those who have perpetrated
violence over the past 30 odd years being rewarded whilst
the victims are ignored it is tempting to believe that violence
is the way forward. The Grand Lodge cannot share this view.
We should not stoop to the ways of our enemies. With the might
of the Goverment resources available to be used against us,
continued violence will ultimately prove futile and will lead
to deaths and injury to our own people, destruction of our
own communities and the ruining of many of our peoples lives
through state oppression and the use of the justice system.
It is also frustrating that Government have ignored the many
serious attempts by the Orange Institution over a number of
years to find a just and lasting solution to this problem.
We recognise that Portadown District L.O.L. No.1 has full
autonomy to deal with the situation at Drumcree, working within
the policies of the Grand Lodge and we fully support all peaceful
efforts to have their basic human rights restored.
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