8th July 2003

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BBC Twelfth Coverage Challenged

Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew has called on the BBC to ensure that this years coverage of the Twelfth Parades is `for the first time balanced and impartial'.

Ms Gildernew said:

`` Each year the BBC spend the publics money presenting live coverage of the annual Twelfth parades. In this programme the parades are presented as some sort cultural festival. No mention is made of the political nature of the event and the paramilitary displays by the many of the bands present are conveniently ignored by the commentators.

`` The BBC need to get real. TV license money should not be spent promoting Orange parades in an unbalanced fashion. If they are going to present live coverage of the Twelfth this year then they should ensure that for the first time it is at least balanced and impartial.'' ENDS

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