UNIONISTS and Orangemen must transmit the message that the parades issue is about civil and religious liberties "for all", the Ulster Unionist Party conference was told on Saturday.
The London based unionist and public relations consultant, Mr David Burnside, was one of several speakers who blamed the IRA and Sinn Fein for provoking the disturbances during and after the Drumcree standoff in July.
"It was provoked by the Provisional IRA, and will be provoked again," he said.
Delegates debated the issue shortly after they learned that the Apprentice Boys in Derry had paraded the city's walls. The news prompted tumultuous applause.
Mr Burnside, while welcoming the Derry outcome, also warned that there would be further trouble during next year's marching season because that is the tactic of Provisional IRA".
"The message that we have to send out is that this is about civil and religious liberty. At the same time as we expect to have civil rights to walk the walls of Derry, would like to send the same message that as Orangemen, as Blackmen, as Apprentice Boys, as unionists, we believe in civil and religious liberty for all," he added.
Mr Burnside said "15 to 20 per cent of Catholics are pure rebels who can never be dealt with and must be defeated." Others were "constitutional nationalists"
while about a quarter believed in the Union.
Mr Don Mackay from west Tyrone said he was "sick and tired" of unionists being blamed for the disturbances surrounding Drumcree. The trouble was deliberately provoked by "Sinn Fein/IRA" he charged.
The Rev Martin Smyth, South Belfast MP and Grand Master of the Orange Order, said life would be much easier" if the media would "stop hyping Drumcree.
It was a theme taken up by several speakers. The RUC and the British government were also criticised. Mr Mark Neale from Portadown said the RUC Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Annesley, should have resigned after Drumcree.
Mr Wilfred Breen from west Belfast accused the British government of acting to "restrict the freedom of the law abiding citizens of the United Kingdom". Mr Nelson Wharton from South Down said republicans and nationalists were trying to demonise Protestants over the parades issue.
"To ask for consent is to surrender freedom," he said.
The conference unanimously passed a motion from the Newry and Armagh UUP association demanding to be allowed "to proceed peacefully along the queen's highway without let or hindrance".