County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast
10th October 2006
St. Andrew’s Letter
Dear Fellow Unionists
I write on behalf of the County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast to wish you well in the impending talks in Scotland. We earnestly pray that these discussions will contribute to a real and just settlement as we emerge from years of turmoil and terror. There are many issues that have pained the Unionist community during the so called peace and political processes; the dismantling of the RUC; UDR and RIR; the discrimination operated against Protestants seeking a career in the police; the inequality in the allocation of community and cultural resources; however the one element of the Government’s appeasement policy that has impacted most on the Orange family has been the establishment of the Parades Commission.
The Parades Commission has consistently interfered in parading issues causing mayhem and division through its illogical and punitive determinations. Belfast County seeks to support a shared future where there is civil and religious freedom for all with special privileges for none. However, we fully appreciate that some issues around sport and culture may arise that require an arbitrary process and we are willing to contribute to the formation of a new body to address the issues faced. The Parades Commission militates against the reality of establishing a shared future where toleration and accommodation replace intolerance and intransigence and recourse to a statutory body is minimised.
The Secretary of State in response to a recent open letter expressing concerns about the Parades Commission disappointingly stated; ‘While the long-tem approach progresses, the role of the Parades Commission remains central, ….’.
There can be no central, short-term or long-term role for the Commission; already law-abiding citizens have criminal records; street disorder has occurred and member’s employment affected because of their partisan approach. We cannot and will not stand for another year of institutionalised and legalised apartheid from this discredited quango.
