THE organisers of an anti-internment parade banned form marching through Belfast city centre have asked the Parades Commission to review its decision.
The request came as former republican internees spanning six decades gathered with other ex-prisoners in west Belfast on Monday to support Sunday’s planned parade.
Up to 5,000 people and four bands are expected to take part in the Anti-Internment League (AIL) march organised to mark the 45th anniversary of the introduction of internment in 1971, which saw hundreds of nationalists jailed without charge.
The parade is also intended to highlight claims that republicans have been interned by remand in recent years.
Organisers had planned to make their way from Andersonstown in west Belfast along the Falls Road to Castle Street.
From there they had intended to travel onto Donegal Place for a rally at Belfast city hall, which was due to end at 1.30pm.
However, last week the Parades Commission ordered the march not to go beyond the junction of Barrack Street and Divis Street.
Republicans claim the AIL parade is being treated differently from loyalist parades which have recently been given permission to march through the city centre.
Some loyalists had indicated they would hold protests at Belfast City Hall, although they had not sought permission from the Parades Commission.
The commission says its decision was reached after traders voiced concerns and violence broke out at a similar event in north Belfast last year.
Those backing the parade include veteran republicans Francie McGuigan and Kevin Hannaway, both members of the group known as the ‘Hooded Men’, who say they were tortured by members of the security forces after the introduction of internment in 1971.
Former senior Belfast republican Ivor Bell, who was interned during the 1950s, has also backed the parade.
Mr Bell (79) is currently charged with two counts of soliciting the murder of Jean McConville who was abducted and killed by the IRA in 1972.
High profile Tyrone republican David Jordan also attended Monday’s event.
Former female prisoners include Nuala Perry, Mairead Taggart and Sharon Rafferty were also in attendance.
Speaking to the Irish News Francie McGuigan said he remains opposed to the “idea of internment and the fact it’s being used in Ireland”.
“In 1803 Anne Devlin was the first case and it has been used in Ireland ever since, today they are using it but they have charged the name of it,” he said.
AIL spokesman Gerard Fitzpatrick said the parade was due to start at 11am in order to avoid an impact on city centre trade.
“The route is non-contentious, it passes no Protestant places of worship and no interfaces and there is no reason to block us going to the city centre,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the Parades Commission confirmed it has received a request to review its decision.
It has defended its decision saying there was a “lack of assurances” from the organisers about the proposed march and a “refusal to engage with the commission.”
“The commission has addressed in its decision the disproportionate, serious and prolonged impacts the parade had upon the human rights of others.
“It has reflected the adverse impacts of the parade upon community relations and community life, and the extremely high risks of public disorder.”
