Burnham urges calm in Northern Ireland amid tensions over Orange Order parade

LONDON, September 27 /ATSH-DPA/ — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for calm in Northern Ireland after tensions erupted over an Orange Order parade in a predominantly Catholic area, as the Albanian Telegraphic Agency ATSH reports, citing DPA.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Portadown to block the parade.

A court had decided overnight that the march could go ahead.

The parade, known as the “Drumcree Parade”, has been banned since 1998, after in the past it was accompanied by clashes and violence.

The Orange Order is a Protestant organization that traditionally organizes parades to mark Protestant history and identity.

Catholic residents of the area oppose the parade’s passage, considering the organization discriminatory toward Catholics.

Burnham said the progress achieved over the past 28 years in the peace process must not be allowed to be put at risk, and called on all sides to remain calm.

The British Secretary for Northern Ireland, Chris Bryant, went to Belfast to meet local leaders.

He called on people to cooperate with the police and said the aim is for the situation to pass without violence.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill opposed the parade going ahead and said the return of the Drumcree conflict puts the progress made in the peace process into question.

On the other hand, Gavin Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said the court’s decision must be respected.

According to him, 35 members of the Orange Order have the right to march in silence, in accordance with the legal decision.