Sinn Féin supporters today agreed to change the route of a march in protest at British army homecoming parade on Sunday in Belfast.
Their decision follows an announcement by the army’s General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland, Major General Chris Brown, to cancel an RAF flypast amid fears there could be trouble on the streets of Belfast. Major General Brown also said none of the troops who served in Afghanistan and Iraq would be carrying weapons.
Sinn Féin supporters had been due to protest just yards from the parade close to the front of City Hall, however, that initial assembly point was close to where loyalist supporters of the march were due to enter the city.
They have now agreed to assemble at another area of the city centre in order to avoid a potential flash point.
Dissident republicans are still planning to march on the city centre in protest at the event to mark the return of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Police are mounting a massive security operation amid fears the parade and protests will turn violent.
Chairman of the Policing Board Professor Sir Desmond Rea today called for the event to pass off peacefully. “This event has generated strong feelings right across the community and over the last week differing views have been expressed on the rights and wrongs of the parade and the planned protests," he said.
"Whilst speculation has been mounting over the likelihood of trouble at the event it is my sincere hope that things pass off peacefully and without incident; and I urge all those involved to do all within their power to ensure that this is the case."
In a statement today, the GOC said: “We have taken a number of measures to ensure that our Thanksgiving Parade does not increase the potential for friction. These measures include the fact that all on the parade will be unarmed and the musical repertoire will reflect the tri-service nature of this event, including regimental tunes, as well as the fact that it is happening on a Sunday.
“As a further measure I have decided there will be no flypast. This further underpins our appreciation of the sensitivities surrounding this element of the parade.”
Unionist politicians expressed disappointment at the GOC’s decision. Democratic Unionist Assembly member Ian Paisley jnr claimed the move would dilute the homecoming celebration.
“I think people will feel slightly cheated that the celebration and thanksgiving event is to be diluted in any way at all,” he said.
The North Antrim MLA said he did not question that the GOC believed he was acting for the right reasons but said it was still unfortunate that troops from Northern Ireland would be getting a different homecoming than soldiers in other part of the UK.
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy was more critical, accusing the army of bowing to Sinn Féin’s “bully boy” tactics.
“I suspect there’s political pressure behind this,” the Newry and Armagh representative said. “I feel the hands of the NIO or Whitehall simply trying to pander to elements that will never be satisfied.
“People who are opposed to this will always be opposed to this.”
Nationalist SDLP member Alex Attwood welcomed the move. “Over the last 48 hours the SDLP has been asking everybody, including Sinn Féin and the British Army, to step back and work out what words and actions could help defuse the tension around Sunday,” the West Belfast representative said.
“The announcement by the GOC this morning and the other measures being taking by the army that were leaked yesterday (not bearing arms during the event), go in the right direction towards helping ease anxieties.
“The SDLP acknowledge this, but believe more can still be done and will continue to work privately towards a better outcome.
“There are other people and organisations who plan to be on the streets of Belfast on Sunday, the SDLP continues to believe that they too can say and do things over the course of the next 48 hours that can help ease the situation.
“Everybody must stretch themselves further.”
Commenting on the planned parade and protest, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, said it was "extremely important" that the events passed off peacefully, "with full respect for the rights and sensitivities of all sections of the community".
"I welcome the fact that steps have been taken by those directly concerned to reduce friction and to facilitate a peaceful outcome. I welcome in particular the route changes announced earlier today in respect of the protest planned by Sinn Féin."
He continued: "I would urge all concerned to exercise restraint and to avoid any actions which would set back the new path on which the people of Northern Ireland are firmly embarked."
Tonight, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said families and friends of the soldiers should be allowed the opportunity to welcome them home.
But he also noted that the right to peaceful protest should be respected.
“Unfortunately, we remain aware that there are small unrepresentative factions within both communities who refuse to recognise how Northern Ireland has moved on from its past and would seek to disrupt either the armed forces thanksgiving parade or the protest,” he added.
“It is important at this time that everyone exercises all their influence to show that politics is winning in Northern Ireland and the divisions of the past remain just that.”
Additional reporting PA