The Lower Ormeau Concerned Community residents' group (LOCC) has met with the Parades
Commission to seek reassurance that the current political climate will
not affect the parades ban on certain Belfast routes.
Ballynafeigh District Orange Order had applied for permission
to put a feeder parade through the Lower Ormeau Road on Easter Monday,
but the Parades Commission have confirmed that the restrictions on
marching in that area will remain "this year". The spokesperson added
that each decision is taken on a "parade by parade" basis.
The marching season, which will officially begin on Monday,
comes earlier than usual this year with the early arrival of Easter.
However, LOCC spokesperson, Gerard Rice, says that for those
who live in South Belfast, the marching season "sees no beginning or
end".
He explained: "Some people have the perception that it starts
on Easter Monday and ends in November, but we've already seen parades
in 2005. They happen right through the year."
Mr Rice says the group was concerned about the Parades
Commission being influenced in their decisions by the unstable
political climate.
"We were worried because in the past, we've seen politics affect
decisions. The tendency of the Commission is to appease the unionist
community, and we were fearful that the Lower Ormeau Road might be
offered to the Apprentice Boys as a kind of olive branch."
Parades on the Lower Ormeau Road were restricted in April
1999 when the Commission announced a ban on the Protestant Apprentice
Boys parading along Lower Ormeau.
In that year, a group of marchers led by traditional flute
and drum bands paraded through central Belfast but stopped at the
Ormeau Bridge.
Mr Rice continued: "We met with the Commission to make clear
that a strong opposition to parades in the area continues to exist.
Nothing has happened in the intervening years since the ban to change
our position."
The LOCC spokesman commended the recent restraint of
nationalist residents in Belfast during times of parades. "It's quite
clear that certain members of the Orange Order thrive on confrontation.
Thankfully, though, our community showed great wisdom last year by
completely ignoring the provocation."
