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TWENTY TWO leading Belfast politicians from all three Unionist
parties - three MPs, nine MLAs, and ten councillors - have
signed a declaration demanding action against the Parades
Commission decision to ban tomorrow's Orange Order parade
along the Springfield Road.
South Belfast MP Martin Smyth, Nigel Dodds, MP for North
Belfast, and East Belfast MP Peter Robinson are among the
signatories to the 'Whiterock Declaration' which will appear
as an advertisement in tomorrow's Belfast Telegraph, Irish
News and the News Letter.
The declaration, which has also been signed by the senior
officers and nine district masters of the Orange Order in
Belfast, calls for the Parades Commission to be disbanded
and replaced by a new body that will oversee parity of esteem
with regard to cultural expression.
The signatories also express their view that the future prosperity
and peace of Northern Ireland depends on the acceptance and
mutual respect of differing traditions and urge Sinn Fein/IRA
"to call a halt to this 'cultural war' that is poisoning
the potential for meaningful community relations".
Copy of 'Whiterock Declaration' and list of signatories
follows:
WHITEROCK DECLARATION
Enough is enough!
We, the undersigned, condemn the decision by the discredited
Parades Commission to ban the annual No 9 District LOL Whiterock
Parade from its traditional route. We view this decision as
an attack on the Unionist community and undertake to make
it a priority to work by all peaceful means to ensure this
cultural apartheid stops now and tolerance and equality are
promoted.
In pursuit of these aims we seek:
- the disbandment of the Parades Commission
- an independent inquiry into how Parades Commission files
got into the possession of Sinn Fein/IRA
- the introduction of legislation and a Commission that
ensures parity of esteem re cultural expression
- funding structures that ensure proportionate distribution
of cultural resources to all communities
The future prosperity and peace of Northern Ireland depends
on the acceptance and mutual respect of differing traditions.
We call on Sinn Fein/IRA to call a halt to the 'cultural war'
that is poisoning the potential for meaningful community relations.
Civil and Religious Liberty for All - Special
Privileges for none
Signed:
Cllr Wallace Browne (DUP)
Cllr Jim Clarke (UUP)
Cllr Margaret Clarke (UUP)
Fred Cobain MLA (UUP)
Michael Copeland MLA (UUP)
Cllr Ian Crozier (DUP)
Diane Dodds MLA (DUP)
Cllr Nigel Dodds OBE, MLA, MP (DUP)
Cllr Sir Reg Empey OBE MLA (UUP)
Cllr David Ervine MLA (PUP)
Cllr Nelson McCausland MLA (DUP)
Cllr Frank McCoubrey (Ind U)
Cllr Chris McGimpsey (UUP)
Cllr Elaine McMillen (DUP)
Cllr Robin Newton MLA (DUP)
Cllr Ruth Patterson (DUP)
Mark Robinson MLA (DUP)
Peter Robinson MLA MP (DUP)
Cllr Hugh Smyth OBE (PUP)
Rev Martin Smyth MP (UUP)
Cllr Harry Toan (DUP)
Cllr Sammy Wilson MLA (DUP)
W. Bro D Bailie, County Grand Master, Belfast
W. Bro T Haire, Deputy Grand Master
W. Bro T Wright, Secretary
W. Bro M Bishop, Treasurer
W. Bro Rev V Ryan, Chaplain
W. Bro Rev M Gibson, Deputy Chaplain
W. Bro Rev W Hoey, Deputy Chaplain
W. Bro Rev W Malcolmson, Deputy Chaplain
W. Bro G Quinn, Dist Master LOL 1
W. Bro W Welsh, Dist Master LOL 2
W. Bro S McWhirter, Dist Master LOL 3
W. Bro C Shaw, Dist Master LOL 4
W. Bro W Finlay, Dist Master LOL 5
W. Bro R Speers, Dist Master LOL 6
W. Bro J Moore, Dist Master LOL 7/8
W. Bro W Mawhinney, Dist Master LOL 9
W. Bro N Liggett, Dist Master LOL 10
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