Archive for Our Scotland - www.our-scotland.org Scottish Politics Discussion Forum / Messageboard - Dedicated to online discussion about Scottish Politics and an Independent Scotland, as well as Scottish Society today. We also have a section dedicated to Banter, Sport and Recommended Sites.
|
SLG
|
An end to sectarian violence ‘is within our grasp’ | Quote: | An end to sectarian violence ‘is within our grasp’
TOM GORDON, Scottish Political Correspondent
THE sectarian violence which has scarred Scotland for years could be eradicated in a generation, Jack McConnell said yesterday.
The first minister's assessment came on the eve of an announcement by the Scottish Executive on its long battle against religious hatred.
Cathy Jamieson, the justice minister, is next week expected to announce the creation of a task group aimed at ensuring Sir John Orr's recent report on tackling the problems with parades is translated into action.
It is also expected to recommend initiatives for tackling sectarianism.
In a radio interview yesterday, Ms Jamieson said sectarian violence could end inside a generation.
Asked at his monthly press briefing if he agreed, Mr McConnell said recent progress on the problem meant it was "within our grasp".
"The progress we have made on a number of fronts has been significant. The younger generations of Scotland are less sectarian than their predecessors were.
"The projects that are being developed in individual schools, in groups of schools, is making a real difference to attitudes."
Mr McConnell said Ms Jamieson had been involved in discussions with many of the groups which organise marches, and would announce new arrangements for this summer on Tuesday.
"The fact that we are now engaging with marching organisations is another step forward. That is not an easy issue to tackle.
"Those events and those individual incidents damage the name and reputation of organisations and individuals who are involved in them for positive reasons of their own choice.
"They're not always reasons I would agree with, but . . . we are determined to work with them to improve the position with marches and parades starting this summer."
The executive has made tackling religious bigotry one of its keynote policies since 2004, when Mr McConnell described it as "Scotland's secret shame".
He appointed Sir John Orr, former chief constable of Strathclyde Police, as a "parades czar" and asked him to report on the best way of reducing violence around parades and giving more say to affected communities.
Most of Sir John's recommendations are now being incorporated into law through the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice Bill.
In future, councils will receive 28 days' notice of parades instead of seven; communities will be informed of planned routes and councils will be able to take more factors into account when considering march applications.
The executive has hailed the changes as a breakthrough.
However, hopes for more bans on parades have been stymied by human rights law guaranteeing people the right to assembly.
In addition, council sources in the west of Scotland told The Herald yesterday that the heightened focus on sectarianism had been "counter-productive".
A marching tradition which had been dying out in Lanarkshire had been given new life by publicity around parades, one claimed.
In Glasgow, attendance at a small Republican march had grown four-fold on the back of the organisers complaining about the new environment, another said. |
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/61006.html
|
|
|
|