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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Press Statements

Orange Order Urges Government To
Wage War On"Backyard" Terrorism

31 March 2003

The Orange Order today called on the British Government to wage its war on terrorism at home as well as abroad.

The Order's ruling body, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, has written to Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy asking for a public enquiry into the intelligence gathering activities of the IRA exposed by the so-called "Stormontgate" affair. The Order has also expressed its deep concern at the republican arms find in South Belfast on 22 March.

The Order says both Stormontgate and the arms find make a mockery of Sinn Fein's attempt to portray republicans as being fully committed to the peace process. "Gathering detailed information on opponents and stockpiling weapons, ammunition and timer devices shows that their cynical 'Armalite and ballot box' policy is still firmly in place," said a Grand Lodge spokesman.

"Ulster men and women - including a number of Orangemen - are currently fighting in the war against Iraq because the British Government regards Saddam Hussein as a key supporter and sponsor of anti-Western terrorism. But while those service personnel are risking their lives in the Gulf, here - in their own backyard - the government continues to negotiate with and appease the political supporters of Irish republican terrorists.

"Tony Blair and his cabinet colleagues have repeatedly accused those who oppose the war with Iraq of naivety for believing that Saddam Hussein doesn't pose a threat to the United Kingdom. The IRA has terrorised the people of Northern Ireland and Britain for more than 30 years and still refuses to renounce violence and disarm. The question now is when will the British Government stop applying double standards and start opposing the IRA and its supporters as resolutely as it opposes the Iraqi regime and al-Qaeda".

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