|
The Equality Commission has been accused of trying to wipe
the face of Britishness from Northern Ireland.
The charge comes from the Orange Order’s senior officers,
speaking on behalf of the Institution generally.
In an open letter to newspapers in Northern Ireland they
have hit out at the Commission. And they have pledged that
the Orange Order will stand up and be counted over the issue.
Referring to the body as the “so-called Equality Commission”,
the Grand Lodge Officers accused the body of being determined
to ban use of the Union Flag in Northern Ireland.
“Last year the “Equality Commission” commissioned
consultants to prepare a Challenge Paper on embedding good
relations in Local Government.
The report made 14 key recommendations but the “Equality
Commission” focused on just five, one of which was that
“there is a need to legislate with regards to Flags and
Emblems”. In compiling the Challenge Paper Good Relations
Associates interviewed representatives of 26 organisations,
but significantly they did not interview representatives of
the Orange Order, the largest community group in Northern
Ireland,” the statement from the Officers said.
“The whole thrust of the Flags and Emblems section
of the Challenge Paper is towards the removal of the Union
Flag from Council property with quotes such as “Flags
function to communicate strong if sometimes ambivalent messages.
They are integral to sustaining sectarian violence in Northern
Ireland……” “Flags are associated with
allegiance, loyalty, territory and authority and can be used
to challenge another group, to assert dominance or to seek
a confrontation.”
“However, not content with banning the flying of the
Union Flag from Council premises in Northern Ireland, the
“Equality Commission” seems determined to ban its
use altogether. The Challenge Paper states (at page 35) that
“for example flying …. the Union Flag in the 12th
July Orange Parades are powerful symbolic messages of exclusion
and sustain bitter divisions and hostility between factions.”
We would have thought that it would have been appropriate
for Good Relations Associates to consult with the Orange Order
so that we could explain why we fly the Union Flag in our
Parades before penning such a partial comment in a written
report.
However, that comment is broadly typical of the general
thrust of the Challenge Paper and indeed the Policy of the
“Equality Commission”, which is aimed at wiping
the face of Britishness from Northern Ireland,” the officers
add.
The “Equality Commission” strategy of attacking
the flying of the Union Flag in Northern Ireland can sometimes
seem unstoppable. It has vast resources, and consults only
with those whom it believes will give it a favourable reply.
Its proposals and action plans are not advertised or open
to public consultation. It focuses on, highlights, denigrates
and attacks the symbols of Britishness in Local Government.
By contrast it ignores the bitterly divisive symbols of Irishness
such as the use of the Irish language which is used by some
Local Councils in Northern Ireland to mark out territory and
promote the culture, identity and tradition of one community
by the use of divisive symbolism.
The “Equality Commission” states that it “has
the vision of Northern Ireland as a shared, integrated and
inclusive place, a society where difference is respected and
valued, based on equality and fairness for the entire community.”
We ask how does its continuous partial attack on the symbols
of Britishness in Northern Ireland, whilst ignoring the use
of the divisive symbols of Irishness, meet this vision?
The letter went out in the names of the Grand Master, Grand
Secretary, Grand Treasurer, Grand Chaplain and Deputy Grand
Master.
It comes as unionists in Banbridge face the prospect of
political correctness demanding the removal of the Union Flag
from the council offices.
It comes as Sinn Fein IRA spearheads plans in Limavady to
remove items from inside and outside the local council in
order to create a supposedly more neutral environment.
The sectarian wish list includes a statue of William Massey,
former prime minister of New Zealand.
It appears he does not measure up in the equality agenda
because he was an Orangeman.
Of course the efforts of the Equality Commission and Sinn
Fein IRA are more subtle than straightforward burning of Orange
Halls, the response of some in the republican community to
a shared future.
But the aim is the same.
Attempts to dilute our identity, culture and faith must
be met robustly.
The recent protest at Hillsborough over non-activity in
providing adequate security for our Orange Halls brought 500
people out at short notice.
Government should note the temperature within the unionist
and Protestant community.
Failure to do so would fly in the face of the Prime Minister’s
profession in January 2006 that “It is time for the supporters
of the Union to stand up.”
|
