Parades Update: Crisis in North Belfast Deepens

Parades Crisis UPDATE:  Parades to be forced through neighborhoods; PSNI and British army to occupy several No. Belfast communities; Republican Marshals may not participate in keeping order this year
           

Gerry Adams called North Belfast "a tinder box" and warned that people could be killed amid tensions over contentious July 12 marches.

The Orange Order has been given the green light to parade through nationalist/republican Ardoyne area on July 12 against the wishes of local residents in the most controversial parade of the marching season thus far.

The British army and PSNI are about to occupy the area to force the parade through.

Last year's violence would have been worse if it were not for the intervention of republicans, including Sean Kelly.  Even the lives of British paratroopers were said to have been saved because of the actions of republican stewards.

Many former IRA prisoners who helped keep order last year have threatened not to assist this Twelfth, due to the jailing of Sean Kelly who had worked to maintain calm during previous Orange parades in the area.

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams told a Belfast press conference earlier this week that an extremely volatile situation had been created as a result of rulings on marches through nationalist areas.

Mr Adams also said that following the return to prison of Sean Kelly, he would not be putting pressure on any former prisoners to act as parade marshals.  "Some former prisoners may well still step forward and I appreciate that, but I can understand why no-one released on license would want to risk incarceration," he said.

Sinn Fein is now seeking a formal review of the Parade Commission's decision to allow the parade through Ardoyne and is investigating the possibility of a legal challenge.

Mr Adams said, "I understand, support and appreciate the right of the Orange Order to march. However, they need to engage in real and meaningful dialogue with local residents."  He said there was a need to think ahead in dealing with parades,  "People could be killed in the middle of all of this and indeed sectarian tensions are already inflamed."

Meanwhile, Orange Order 'Grand Master' Robert Saulters has said the organization's policy is still to refuse to talk to groups "fronted by IRA/Sinn Fein" -- but it could change when the
order's leadership meets after the marching season in September.

He also denied he had set out last week to criticize Orange Order members who had been involved in local discussions with residents and others in west Belfast and in Derry.

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness challenged the remarks, "There is a tide of opinion within the Protestant community advising the Orange Order to get sense and to recognize that they should be talking to people," he said.
 

New Contact Information:

 

 It seems to be easiest to get an email through to Tony Blair at: <www.direct.gov.uk >  or <www://pmo.uk/output/Page821.asp>

 

Bertie Ahern seems to be best accessed through the Irish government's web site [although it's a bit of a hassle]:  www.taoiseach.gov.ie/index.asp