The Five Demands

Inversione a U della Parades Commission che cedendo alle pressioni unioniste e lealiste, cancella con un colpo di spugna la decisione di tagliare drasticamente il percorso della parata annuale della Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors Flute Band

Jeffrey Donaldson può cantare vittoria, il suo allarmismo che suonava piuttosto come un ‘minaccioso avvertimento’, ha indotto la Parades Commission a riunirsi nuovamente e a decidere per un’inversione di marcia nella decisione di ridurre il percorso della parata di venerdì a Rasharkin.
La commissione ha giustificato il proprio dietro front asserendo la venuta a meno di ragioni significanti che richiedano restrizioni al tragitto.
Il nuovo percorso si snoderà attraverso Main Street, per poi procede con il ritorno in Moneyleck Road, Bann Road e Glebe Road fino al punto di adunata.
La decisione è stata accolta con ovvia soddisfazione dal DUP: “Il buon senso ha prevalso”, ha dichiarato Mervyn Storey.
“La determinazione originaria della Parades Commission è stata la determinazione più irrealizzabile e  meno praticabile a cui io abbia mai assistito”.
“Era stata premiata la violenza e penalizzati quelli che rispettano la legge.
“Questa è una decisione matura, che dovrebbe essere lodata”.
Il Sinn Fein e Rasharkin Residents’ Association non sembrano d’altro canto intenzionati ad assistere inermi al ‘cambio di direzione’ convocando già per la serata di oggi 18 agosto una consultazione in merito alla nuova presa di posizione della Parades Commission. “La Rasharkin Residents’ Association si riunirà stasera per discutere dell’inversione a U della Commissione Parate e per esaminare anche delle alternative accettabili dalla popolazione locale, da proporre nella giornata di domani alla Commissione Parate.”
Il nuovo percorso disegnato dalla Commissione darà accesso ad alcune aree di Rasharkin in cui mai prima d’ora hanno marciato le 40 bande che parteciperanno alla parata di venerdì 20 agosto.

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Loyalist flute band Rasharkin return parade permitted (BBC News Northern Ireland)

The Parades Commission has accepted a revised application from a loyalist band for its parade through Rasharkin on Friday evening.
Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors Flute Band will still only parade through the village once but is now permitted to return by another route.
The commission said there was now less potential for significant stoppages and “no restrictions are necessary”.
The decision has been welcomed by the DUP but rejected by Sinn Fein.
There was minor trouble at the parade last year when some golf balls were thrown at the marchers. Residents also blew whistles and horns.
The new route for the parade is down Main Street in the village before returning by Moneyleck Road, Bann Road and Glebe Road to its originally assembly point.
A statement released by the band said that it was still disgusted by its treatment by the Parades Commission.
The band had originally wanted to parade back via its outward route.
It said: “This seemingly independent body has rewarded violence, and punished those adhering to the law.
“The route as it now stands will create a further and deepening divide in our already damaged community.”
The band appealed to troublemakers to stay away from the parade.
“The band, in no uncertain terms, do not wish for any trouble. We will conduct our parade the same way we always have, with dignity and discipline.”
DUP North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey said that “commonsense has prevailed”.
“The original determination by the Parades Commission was the most unworkable and impractical determination I have ever witnessed.
“It rewarded violence and penalised those who kept the law.
“This is a mature decision which should be praised.”
However his Sinn Fein counterpart, Daithi McKay, said that his party and the Rasharkin Residents’ Association were angry that they had not been consulted about the new application.
He said that they would be requesting another review.
“The route that the Parades Commission has allowed is a two-way parade and will take in parts of the village that have never been marched through by these 40 bands before.
“The Residents’ Association will be meeting in the village tonight to discuss the Parades Commission’s u-turn and will also look at putting alternatives to the Parades Commission tomorrow that are acceptable to the local people.”