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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Press Statements

Orange Order Warns Security Minister Over New Parading Powers

3 February 2005

Senior Orangemen, led by Grand Master Robert Saulters, this afternoon met Northern Ireland Security Minister Ian Pearson to express their concerns at reports that the legal powers of the Parades Commission are to be extended to include followers and supporters of Orange Order parades.

The proposed new powers follow a fatally flawed report requested by the Policing Board (and presently being analysed by a leading human rights organisation), following the violence orchestrated and carried out by republicans in Ardoyne area of North Belfast last year. According to the police one person from outside the Ardoyne area has since been charged with offences arising out of the violence, while 21 others were arrested and reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Commenting on this afternoon's meeting, a spokesman for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland said: "These new legal powers are designed to turn the 'No Parades' Commission into the 'No Prods' Commission.

"Although it's clear to everyone that neither the Orange Order nor its followers and supporters can be held in any way responsible for the acts of violence committed by nationalists, it has been suggested that this new legislation would apply to all followers and supporters of the Orange Order throughout Northern Ireland.

"We made it clear to Mr Pearson that these proposed new powers can only be perceived as a further attempt to discriminate against the law-abiding Protestant people of Northern Ireland as a whole, and will encourage and reward those who use violence to destroy the democratic rights of others and undermine democracy.

"We have warned the Minister of our fears that this will inevitably lead to widespread, legitimate opposition by those who see the proposed legislation as a further attack upon their rights as enjoyed by all other United Kingdom citizens.

"Consequently, we have urged Mr. Pearson to immediately reconsider the reported proposals. Instead of extending the Parades Commission's powers, the Government should be getting rid of it altogether.  

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