[Sinn Fein]

11 July 1996

RUC DECISION SHOWS NATIONALISTS HAVE NO RIGHTS

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has described today's events on the Garvaghy Road as disgraceful. Mr Adams commended the residents of the Garvaghy Road for their ``courage and restraint in the face of a campaign of terror by the Orange Order''. Mr Adams also called for the utmost discipline by nationalists and republicans in the face of extreme provocation.

Mr Adams said:

``The hard reality is that as far as the Unionist leaderships are concerned, the people of the Garvaghy Road have no rights. Nationalists in the Six Counties have no rights. This has been reinforced by todays disgraceful events.

``The issue of unwelcome Orange marches has not been resolved by today's decision. The reality is that marches should not be permitted into areas which object to them.

``Instead of accepting this, Ian Paisley and David Trimble orchestrated a widespread campaign of mass intimidation. The British government rewarded them after a week which saw the murder of a Catholic, the evictions of Catholic families and the widespread destruction of Catholic property including churches and schools.

``For one entire year the orange order refused to talk to the residents of the Garvaghy road. Mr Trimble and Ian Paisley felt that they don't need to because the history of the northern state, and of the relationship between unionism and the British government is that the unionists believe that they will always get their own way.

``This is the lesson of the 17 months of the IRA cessation and of the unionist stance at the multi-party discussions at Stormont. Unionists behave like this because the British government lets them.

``The march on the lower Ormeau Road tomorrow should be re-routed. Today's events put a heavy onus on the Irish government.

``The vast majority of people on this island desire a lasting peace. Peace demands justice. That is not possible unless the British government faces up to its responsibilities.''

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