Alliance issues demands (From Gazette & Herald)

Alliance issues demands

THE Countryside Alliance has outlined five demands to the Government as it prepares for what it hopes will be a massive march in London.

The alliance this week confirmed that it will stage a 'Liberty and Livelihood' march in London on September 22.

A similar show of strength was cancelled last year because of the foot and mouth epidemic.

Alliance chief executive Richard Burge, who is hoping for a huge turnout, said: "Our reasons for staging the original march are regrettably even more apt than a year ago.

"Although this march will not just be about hunting, the outrage at the prospect of a ban has lit the fuse. This march is about rural liberty and livelihoods. Lest anyone misunderstand its purpose we have set down a five point charter.

"Anyone who does not subscribe to all five principles of our march - and these crucially include the right for people to decide for themselves whether they may hunt - will not be welcome on it."

Mr Burge added: "This time our march will be to call upon the Government, rather than upon Parliament, to help rural minorities. Since the postponement of our march last year, it has become even clearer that most MPs are intent on doing things to the countryside rather than for it."

The last march through London in 2000 attracted hundreds of thousands of protesters from the countryside.

But Derek Watson, who is chairman of the York and County branch of the NFU, says plans this year to exclude people who do not support hunting will alienate many people.

"The march was very successful in 2000 because people from all sorts of rural backgrounds were there," said Mr Watson.

"There were people who supported hunting marching alongside people who didn't, but who were still concerned about rural issues. If they are excluding people who do not support hunting my personal opinion is that there will be a significantly lower number of people on the march.

"The organisers will be disappointed."

However, a spokesman from the Countryside Alliance denied the rules on marching would alienate people from rural areas.

"Hunting is a symbol of the countryside's way of life and the actions the Government is taking are an attack on that," he said.

"There is overwhelming support for hunting with dogs in the countryside and this year's march will be very successful."

The alliance outlined its five principles as follows: "We demand that the Government:

Defends the right of rural people to live their lives responsibly in the way they choose;

Safeguards rural people from prejudiced attacks on hunting with dogs and all other field sports;

Respects the values and customs of rural communities;

Ensures any laws directed at rural people have their consent;

Addresses the real problems of the countryside which are destroying its communities, its culture, and its children's future."

Updated: 11:19 Thursday, April 25, 2002