BELFAST, September 9 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – A spokesman for the Orange Order of Ireland, Northern Ireland’s biggest loyalist, protestant organization, told RIA Novosti Tuesday he backs calls by his counterparts in Scotland to parade “with dignity” during a major anti-Scottish independence march that will take place in Glasgow next weekend.
“The parade organizer, being the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, has called upon participants to parade with ‘dignity’. We are fully supportive of this stance and the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland would urge spectators attending the event to conduct themselves in a similar manner,” Bryan Gray said after being asked about possible violence that may erupt during the march.
Around 2,000 members of the Orange Order in Northern Ireland are expected to travel to Scotland to join 10,000 of their “Scottish brethren” in Glasgow for an event described by organizers as an “expression of Britishness”.
Violence has traditionally marred marches and events organized by the Orange Order in Scotland with organizers blaming followers and Orange supporters.
In 2000, the General Secretary of the Orange Order in Scotland, Jack Ramsay, threatened his organization, which claims to have 50,000 members, would become a “paramilitary force” if Scotland became independent.
Ramsay told a reporter for the Sunday Herald newspaper that the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) was a “threat to Scotland and Britain,” before adding that “the Orange Lodge would become a paramilitary force, if you like. It obviously implies a recourse to arms ... we'd have a group of people who would be pro-union.”
Ramsay’s subsequently resigned his position following criticism from Scottish politicians, claiming his comments had been “taken out of context”.
“The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland would not subscribe to such a viewpoint,” Gray told RIA Novosti in response to Ramsay’s comments suggesting the Orange Order might become a paramilitary force in Scotland.
Local police confirmed that they are ready to make sure the parade will be peaceful and nobody will be hurt.
“Our priority is to make sure the parade is peaceful with the safety of those taking part, the general public and officers, being paramount,” Police Chief Superintendent Andy Bates said.
“I recognize that it is not the people taking part in the parade who cause trouble but an unwelcome minority who turn up and use the event as an excuse to drink, cause offence and behave in a manner which cannot be tolerated in our communities. It is these people that my officers will focus on, targeting violence, disorder and anti-social behavior,” Bates added.
The parade comes ahead of the vote, which many Scots waited for years. Scots go to the polls on 18th September and will be asked one question, “Should Scotland become an independent country?”
