JOANNA VALLELY
The Evening News
9 August 2005
FURIOUS campaigners are to stage a massive protest at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo after learning that the man they blame for ditching Scotland's historic regiments has been invited to be guest of honour.
The leaders of Save the Scottish Regiments campaign are angry that General Sir Mike Jackson, head of the Army, has been asked to take the salute at the event. And the lobby group was set to meet today to finalise plans to give "a hot reception" to the man behind the decision to disband the regiments.
They were due to finalise arrangements for how they will attempt to disrupt the sell-out event, one of the most popular Festival attractions.
But Tattoo producer Mel Jameson said he would not tolerate any attempt to cause mayhem at the Tattoo.
Edinburgh-based regiment the Royal Scots faces the axe under the plans, which would see it merged with the King's Own Scottish Borderers into one battalion.
It would then be merged with the remaining four regiments to form the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
This year's Tattoo sees all six Scottish regiments performing at the event together for what is set to be the last time.
General Jackson is believed to be planning to attend the Tattoo on August 23, although organisers would not confirm the date for "security reasons".
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Allan Hendry, co-ordinator of Save the Scottish Regiments, said it was an insult that the "main architect" of plans to axe one regiment and amalgamate five others was being honoured in this way.
He said: "He ordered the Scottish Council of Colonels to cut the Scottish regiments from the order of battle and he has been arrogant regarding plans for the Army."
Mr Hendry said he expected a huge turnout at the protest after thousands attended a rally in Edinburgh in December and in London in April against the plans.
There is still no final date for the merger and military insiders say it could be delayed until 2007. Mr Hendry said campaign supporters would be coming from all over the world to register their protest at the demise of the regiments.
He said the merger of the Royal Scots, the first Scottish regiment formed in 1633, would be a huge loss for Scottish military heritage.
"This could be the last Tattoo with all the battalions intact."
Brigadier Mel Jameson, the Tattoo's chief executive and producer, said: "I will not countenance any disruption of the Tattoo."
He said that last year's protest by the Free Tibet group against a Chinese band's participation in the Tattoo had been snuffed out quickly and peacefully by the police outside the arena.
An Army spokeswoman said protesters were entitled to demonstrate peacefully, but added: "Unless they got tickets back in March for the exact night General Jackson is going to be there - and I don't think he had even been invited then - they have no chance of getting into the arena."
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