Hall attacks 'are ethnic cleansing'
Republican attacks on Orange Halls in west Tyrone are a blatant assault on Protestant heritage and cultural identity, according to unionist representatives in the area.
Within the past week there have been four such attacks in this part of the province.
"Many of these premises have seen their gallant members murdered by IRA republicans over the years and now it appears they are continuing their ethnic cleansing programme in another way," said West Tyrone DUP MLA Tom Buchanan.
In a joint statement, Strabane councillors Jim Emery, Thomas Kerrigan and Derek Hussey rejected the claims by Sinn Fein's Barry McElduff that the attacks had been carried out by loyalists involved in an internal feud in Castlederg.
It read "We call on Mr McElduff and Sinn Fein to revisit their assertion, withdraw their allegation and condemn these blatant sectarian attacks on property used by the Orange Order and other bodies to further the cultural heritage of our community.
"We welcome an assurance from the local police chief that officers will be directed to be extra vigilant where local halls are concerned and would encourage anyone with information in regard to any of these incidents to the police.
"We urge the unionist community not to be drawn into retaliatory attacks by the actions of republicans." News Letter 10th January 2005
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