Whiterock must begin process of peaceful parading: Young Alliance

5.26.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Jun 2006

The Alliance Party's youth wing has said the peaceful passing off of the Whiterock parade must not be a one-off, but rather an indicator of a peaceful future for parading. It warned, however, that Whiterock does not constitute the ideal model to achieve this.

Young Alliance East Antrim representative Pete Milner stated: "I welcome the fact that the Whiterock parade has passed off without the horrendous scenes we saw last year. This proves that peaceful parading is possible everywhere.

"It is, however, nonsense to praise people's 'restraint' when they do not riot over people walking or not walking down a 50-metre stretch of road! Peaceful agreement and peaceful protest must be a fact of life, not something to be specifically rewarded."

Youth wing Chair and North Down Councillor Ian James Parsley warned, however: "Our long-term objective is a parading culture which brings in the tourists rather than drives away locals. Whiterock is a good sign, but does not constitute a model to be applied everywhere.

"Such a parading culture can only come about in the event of agreement between those parading and local residents. Such agreements are currently being hindered by outside interference, not least from political parties who should be busying themselves governing the country rather than deliberately creating division.

"It is entirely inappropriate for this issue to remain a party-political football - local agreement must mean local agreement."

ENDS