Open Letter to Secretary of State
Dear Secretary of State
The discredited Parades Commission have barred the playing of music by bands accompanying East Belfast Royal Black Preceptories going to and coming from their annual ‘Last Saturday’ Demonstration today. This draconian measure relates to the stretch of road from Susan Street on the Newtownards Road to the Bridge End, - the Parades Commission excuse for this punitive action is that in 2005 the bands played during a funeral mass.
In 2005 the Royal Black Chapter were informed by the PSNI that if they hurried they could be past St. Matthew’s Roman Catholic Chapel before a funeral took place. They were not ordered to refrain from playing as claimed. The Loyal Orders and Bands have always paid due respect when they were aware that a funeral coincided with their parade, regardless of the deceased’s religion, denomination or ethnic origin.
We would contend that our parades and music are not intended to cause offence to anyone, but sadly there are those from a Nationalist tradition who simply use parades as an opportunity to foster division and perpetuate sectarianism. The Protestant community who reside along the Newtownards Road have a right to enjoy their culture as manifested in the parading tradition. Amazingly this community was not consulted about this decision. This vindictive action by the Parades Commission in cahoots with the PSNI, Strandtown does nothing to progress matters; indeed it hinders and stops progress.
The Parades Commission has indicated that there will be no parades next year if talking does not occur, surely even the Commission despite their proven inability to understand logic and display common sense must realise – forced engagement will not lead to meaningful relations. We as a society cannot afford to go into 2007 with the Parades Commission still functioning; their sell by date has long since passed. There is no place in Northern Ireland for a body with a track record as biased, incompetent and insensitive as the Commission. We need to establish fair and equitable ways in dealing with all expressions of culture. However, if the Parades Commission remains in place their presence will prevent political progress and pollute the opportunities for developing what a shared future means to all residents in this part of the United Kingdom.
Signed by
No 4 District RBDC No 6 District LOL
No 6 District RAPC No 2 District WLOL
No 3 District JLOL East Belfast Apprentice Boys Clubs
East Belfast Bands Newtownards Road Residents Group
Peter Robinson MP MLA Sir Reg Empey MLA
David Ervine MLA Robin Newton ML
Michael Copeland MLA
