GARVAGHY ROAD RESIDENTS COALITION
Portadown
Co. Armagh, Ireland
Phone/Fax: Int.Code +44 (0)1762 392898
E-Mail Garvaghy @ aol.com
09:30 Local Time
The residents of the Garvaghy Road are increasingly disturbed by the fact that the governments and the press are leaving them on their own to deal with the worsening situation. Despite the fact that the Parades Commission made the ruling against the Orange March, press continue to portray the residents as being in a standoff, rather than the Orange Order being in a standoff and defying the law. Just this morning, RTE said on national radio that "both sides are resolutely set against any solution." In truth, and as has been said many times, the residents have always been willing to talk. The governments, who in the beginning insisted that the rule of law and the equality of the Nationalist residents would be upheld, are increasingly silent and have slowly stopped advocating for the residents.
It is the Orange Order that has rejected out of hand the Residents' offer of a five point resolution to the situation. It is not the insistence of the residents that they be able to have equality and that justice will be upheld, it is the direct order of the Parades Commission's report. The residents publicly asked the Orange Order to abide by the decision and if they did so, that would be considered a reciprocation for the gesture the residents made in 1995. That year, they conceded to the march, only to witness David Trimble and Ian Paisley do a triumphalist dance at its conclusion.
Breandan Mac Cionnaith said earlier in the week that "for the first time since Partition, the two governments have the opportunity to prove to the nationalist community in Portadown that they are going to be treated with equality under the law." But so far, that equality still seems a distant hope, as residents fear and prepare for the worst, recalling the familiar feeling of betrayal.
Meanwhile, here in Portadown, police and army continue to allow crowds of loyalists to gather at the barricades and intimidate residents. This morning at 7.40 a resident was allowed through only to be attacked by loyalists. The army would not intervene, but eventually the RUC pulled him back through the barbed wire. People are now afraid to leave for work, because the chances of getting back in are becoming fewer and fewer. Food and supplies were brought in yesterday morning, but a convoy from Armagh meant to arrive last night was blocked by loyalist mobs and unable to reach the residents. Bread and milk are in short supply, as daily deliveries are impeded or halted altogether.
Residents are keeping informed by the radio station that has been set up within the perimeter. It operates 24 hours and notifies residents of incident reports and goings on in the community, gives warnings about which routes to avoid, and whether there is any access in or out of the area. It also broadcasts words of encouragement and solidarity that come in from outside organizations and people and the international community. The radio, like the community workers, tries to maintain the sense for the residents that the world is still concerned for their welfare, and that they are not alone.