THE leadership of unionism was disgraced at Drumcree, Ms Brid Rodgers told the conference. The Orange Order and unionism had a victory of sorts but at a terrible cost she said on Saturday.
Ms Rodgers outlined details of the SDLP's submission to the North's Commission on Parades, which was unanimously adopted by the conference. The SDLP paper proposes the creation of a commission to assess parade applications, and urges inter community dialogue to try to prevent further trouble.
Ms Rodgers, from Lurgan, recalled that she cried "tears of anger and despair and frustration" on the Garvaghy Road in July. At the time the Orange Order and the unionist politicians involved could have chosen dialogue but instead they chose victory at all costs.
"The temporary elation of perceived victory will certainly by now have given way to a recognition of the fact that Drumcree was, in effect, a defeat for all the people of Northern Ireland, nationalist and unionist alike and grist to the mill of those who thrive on the destructive forces of sectarianism and distrust," Ms Rodgers added.
Mr Joe Byrne, from Omagh, criticised the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, who, even though he was MP for the Upper Bann constituency, only identified with one group at Drumcree.
In Derry, he said, Mr John Hume represented all the people in solving the Apprentice Boys' parade issue.
Former SDLP chairman Mr Mark Durkan said his party wanted to create a culture of mutual respect. "But if we cannot have a society that enjoys the full benefits of mutual respect, then we can at least exercise the responsibility of self restraint that was absent in so many people this summer," he said.
Mr Paul Hoban, from Newry, said the British army should have been used at Drumcree to ensure that the Orangemen did not force their way through Garvaghy Road.
The SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, said that at Drumcree unionism had challenged the authority of the state, and that state was unable to maintain its authority. It had also witnessed the most dangerous of emotions, populism, to which unionism "succumbed".
There was also evidence of nationalist populism, with some nationalists contriving to exploit the emotional situation and cause great damage.
Mr Mallon added: "We have to ask ourselves what turned middle class unionists into the insurrectionists of Drumcree, because it was not working class unionists that challenged the authority of the state, it was the middle class."
Also central to Drumcree was the policing issue, said Mr Mallon. If the question of trying to create an acceptable police force had been addressed in previous years, as urged by the SDLP, there might not have been a problem at Drumcree.
It was a question that was still fundamental and must be tackled. "There will come a stage where the nationalist community in its entirety will have to fully support a system of policing. And not just support it, but join it."
