It goes without saying that the Protestant and Unionist community has no respect whatever for the Parades Commission, and its determination in relation to two return parades in Rasharkin on the Twelfth evening it is a reminder that the Commission is a big part of the problem and needs to go.
Both Ballymaconnelly LOL 360 and Rasharkin Chosen Few LOL 694 have been told that they cannot parade through Sunnyside Drive on their return from the Cloughmills demonstration as, according to the Parades Commission, it would damage community relations.
I am not sure what world the Parades Commission lives in, but it is not the real one. Community relations in Rasharkin are in tatters simply because an number of the Republican population of the village have decided that they will show no tolerance or respect for their Protestant neighbours. How can there be meaningful community relations when Protestant houses and Orange Halls are attacked? Two posters which have appeared in the village confirm that Republicans want “No Orange Parades”.
The vast majority of people living in Rasharkin just want to live in peace with their neighbours both Roman Catholics and protestants and allow each other to have their tradition.
Sadly there is an small group now divided in two who don’t want an prod about the place.
Sunnyside Drive is an mixed estate with and good number of protestant families living there, but the Commission has decided to deny these people their civil rights by bowing, yet again, to the demands and threats of Republicans.
The Commission criticises the Orange lodges for not entering into communication with the residents of the area, but the intransigence and bigotry of Republicans renders any such communication pointless. The Commission really does need to learn that giving in to Republican intransigence is not the way to resolve the marching issue or to promote community relations.
ENDS.
