Parades issue needs to be resolved

Editorial Department • Published 28 Jun 2012 13:00 0 Comments

Dear Sir, - Newtownbutler Area Resident's Association (NARA) feels it is necessary to issue a statement prior to this year's parading in the village.

There have again been applications for five parades in the overwhelming Nationalist majority village in as many weeks this summer. In fact there will be three parades in six days, on the 6th, 8th and 12th of July.

As usual, there will inevitably be claims that Newtownbutler is a 'cold-house' for Unionists. Surely the number of parades in such a short space of time dispenses this myth however.

In fact, the majority of these parades do not cause major problems to the residents of the village, with the clear exception of the Newtownbutler Border Defender's parade, which will take place on Friday night, July 6.

This event has been likened to a 'mini-twelfth', in that it takes place for several hours and brings in visiting bands from all across the North and their supporters. This year, the Border Defender's wish to take in 20-25 loyalist bands, comprising 500 members, along with another 500 supporters. This is unacceptable to the residents of the village.

NARA publically want to call on the Newtownbutler Border Defender's to respect the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Newtownbutler residents and cancel this parade.

Failing this, the Association would like to call on the Parades Commission, as the only body which can take action against this parade to act justly and limit and restrict this offensive parade outside the village.

As a last resort, NARA will organise a peaceful protest against such a clear provocative and offensive parade and calls on all support. It is not the wish of the Association for this to happen however and hope this will be avoided. Another statement will be released at a later time, with an update of events.

Yours faithfully,

Committee of NARA

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This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 28 Jun 12

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