Most of the recent arson attacks have
been concentrated in Co Armagh, in
unionist heartlands where the population
is overwhelmingly Protestant, and it is
clear that the strategy is to heighten tension
and create community division.
Orange Order leaders, incensed at the
assaults on their property, are very unhappy
at the police failure to halt the continuing
catalogue of incidents and they have a
genuine complaint over bureaucratic procedures
that have to be overcome for damage
compensation claims to be paid.
PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde
has to sign off an official certificate
accepting that the damage to Orange halls
was caused by a terror group before compensation
money can be paid and unnecessary
difficulties are being experienced
in processing these claims.
The fact that 28 Orange halls were damaged
in arson attacks in 2007 should be
enough motivation for PSNI commanders
to put the matter at the top of their policing
priorities.
The loyal orders have shown great
restraint in the face of violent provocation,
but there is a likelihood that if
attacks continue and the PSNI is unable
to apprehend the culprits, Orangemen
may be compelled to guard their halls.
The Orange hall attacks are being
blamed on dissident republicans, but this
should not absolve Sinn Fein totally, particularly
as that party engaged in a vicious
campaign which sought to demonise the
Orange Institution.
The republican movement rose to power
at Stormont demonstrating open hostility
towards the Protestant, unionist and
Orange traditions and, undoubtedly, there
are those within that circle who would
know the identity of the dissidents
engaged in this sectarian orgy.
Sinn Fein politicians have recently been
condemning the targeting of Orange
halls, but they must go further and cooperate
fully with the police in a crosscommunity
zero-tolerance approach that
will bring an end to these attacks.