Music ban on parades at Twaddell
The Orange Order has hit out at a Parades Commission ruling which prevents bands from playing music in an area they say is Protestant.
They said there is “anger and disbelief” in the local community over the conditions imposed by the watchdog on three evening marches due to take place in north Belfast next week.
Around six bands and up to 300 people are expected to join the parades on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday through the Woodvale Road and Twaddell Avenue areas.
However, in its determination, the Parades Commission said: “No music shall be played between the junction of Twaddell Avenue and Woodvale Drive and the dispersal point at the junction of Twaddell Avenue and the Crumlin Road.”
The Orange Order called the ruling “an act of unsurpassed stupidity and arrogance”.
It continued: “They have banned music from being played by Protestant bands in a Protestant community where the Protestant residents have made no complaints.
“The question must be asked – why? The determinations, unbelievably made on the eve of the Haass Talks, are clearly designed to provoke a reaction.
“This strategy dovetails into Sinn Fein’s unrelenting campaign to marginalise those involved in the peaceful protests as ‘dissident’ and ‘so called’ Loyalists.”
Orangemen are now seeking urgent talks with unionist political leaders.
Nigel Dodds from the DUP said: “The evening parades from Woodvale Road to Twaddell Avenue take place in an entirely Unionist area. They have been peaceful throughout and are a legitimate form of peaceful protest in support of the Ligoniel lodges and bands.
“What are we coming to, that the Parades Commission will not permit these lawful demonstrations within the Unionist community to take place without restriction?”
Protests have been held in the Twaddell area since 12 July when the Parades Commission ruled that marchers could not return home past the Ardoyne shop fronts.
There were violent scenes as loyalists clashed with police officers.
Supporters of the bands have set up a protest camp at Twaddell and say they will not leave until the return leg of the Twelfth parade is allowed to pass.
Meanwhile, members of the Orange Order met with Richard Haass – the US diplomat charged with chairing cross-community talks on dealing with contentious issues such as parades – on Thursday, and reiterated their calls for the Parades Commission to go.
