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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Press Statements

22 MPs, MLAs & Councillors Call For Parades Commission To Be Disbanded

25 June 2004

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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