Belfast 32CSM wishes to extend our support to nationalist residents in north Belfast in relation to these unwanted sectarian parades through our area. As we have witnessed over the course of the last number of months loyalists from all quarters have been using the parading issue to stir up tension, which has resulted in our community once again being treated like second class citizens and subjected to heavy handed political policing from the RUC/PSNI, once again proving that little has changed with this British police force.
Loyalist paramilitaries have been involved and directed much of the unrest although unionist politicians at Stormont would much rather turn a blind eye or direct the blame towards their nationalist neighbours.
Whatever the agenda of the :- Orange Order, Black Preceptory, RUC/PSNI, Loyalist Paramilitaries or Unionist Politicians, it is our community who is being forced to accept these conditions in 2012 and being subjected to attacks, sectarian abuse and political policing.
The clear bias of the RUC/PSNI in relation to these contentious parades was evident for all to see outside St Patrick’s chapel when they allowed members of the loyal orders who had been banned to parade past playing music, breaking the parade commissions ruling and by baton charging nationalist protesters, effectively trampling over the rights of our community once again.
It is clear that the RUC/PSNI are unable or unwilling to deal with loyalist parades in a manner that ensures our community’s civil rights are respected and adhered to, Belfast 32csm believe that in 2012 nationalist residents should no longer be subject to sectarian unwanted parades and coat trailing exercises and call for all loyalist parades to be re-routed away from our areas. These parades are no more welcome in north Belfast than they are in Garvaghy road or Ormeau road.
