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04/08/2004
MLA hits out at US envoy marching comments
An Ulster Unionist MLA has hit out at alleged comments made by US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss concerning Loyal Order parades in Northern Ireland.
Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Mid-Ulster, Billy Armstrong claims that Mr Reiss, in a letter to Irish American lobbyist Father Sean McManus, said that “Contentious loyal order parades are designed to provoke, intimidate and champion superiority".
Mr Armstrong said: “What Mr Reiss is advocating is that Northern Ireland’s citizens should not be afforded the same rights enshrined within the US Constitution, namely, the 1st Amendment; “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
“Mr Reiss offers no insight into why parades are “contentious”," he added.
Mr Armstrong said he regretted that the US special envoy had "aligned himself with the Brits-out lobby".
“I am publicly requesting that the US Special envoy to Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss retracts his comments, which are grossly mis-informed, potentially sectarian and deeply damaging at a time when the Northern Ireland political progress remains ‘fragile’, to say the least," he concluded.
(MB)
Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Mid-Ulster, Billy Armstrong claims that Mr Reiss, in a letter to Irish American lobbyist Father Sean McManus, said that “Contentious loyal order parades are designed to provoke, intimidate and champion superiority".
Mr Armstrong said: “What Mr Reiss is advocating is that Northern Ireland’s citizens should not be afforded the same rights enshrined within the US Constitution, namely, the 1st Amendment; “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
“Mr Reiss offers no insight into why parades are “contentious”," he added.
Mr Armstrong said he regretted that the US special envoy had "aligned himself with the Brits-out lobby".
“I am publicly requesting that the US Special envoy to Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss retracts his comments, which are grossly mis-informed, potentially sectarian and deeply damaging at a time when the Northern Ireland political progress remains ‘fragile’, to say the least," he concluded.
(MB)
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