THE Orange Order in Belfast is continuing to discuss plans for a protest against the RUC's decision to reroute a parade away from the nationalist Lower Ormeau area on Sunday.
Ballynafeigh Orange Lodge met last night to debate its response to the ban. Lodge officials also met on Monday night, but reached no decision about what form of protest they should adopt.
The Order planned to march from Ballynafeigh, in the Upper Ormeau, to the Ulster Hall in the city centre for a widows' service. Nationalist residents protested that the parade was to pass through their area and the RUC rerouted it, saying there would a serious threat of public disorder if it went ahead.
Some loyalists, it is understood, are in favour of Orangemen from across the North converging on the Ormeau Road on Sunday for a Drumcree style siege. Loyalists were involved in a 16 hour stand off with police on the Ormeau Road on Easter Monday when an Apprentice Boys parade was rerouted.
The district secretary of the Ballynafeigh Lodge, Mr Noel Liggitt, has stressed, however, that any protest on Sunday must be "dignified and lawful" and should not develop into "a fracas" with the RUC.
A local priest, Canon Peter McCann of St Malachy's Church, appealed to the Order to accept an alternative route into the city centre. He also urged nationalist residents not to engage in provocative behaviour.
The Order's Grand Master, the Rev Martin Smyth, said his members felt frustrated. "They are seething, angry and discontented that those who flaunt the Tricolour can get away with it while apparently it is now an offence to walk on a main road to a place of worship," he said.
He predicted a Royal Black Institution march planned for Dunloy in the summer would also be banned. The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has written to Mr Smyth requesting a meeting to discuss measures which might lessen tension in the months ahead".
Mr Adams urged the Order to accept that "residents in the Lower Ormeau bear them no ill will but do withhold their consent for any Orange march through their area".
He said: "The unionist and Orange leaderships, like the rest of us, have a moral responsibility to give positive leadership to our people. We all have a responsibility to instil confidence and not fan the flames of division and hatred. I would urge members of the Orange Order to respect the rights of their neighbours on the Lower Ormeau and to voluntarily agree to reroute."