18 March 1999 Edition

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Belfast conference as Upper Springfield goes live

``The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience but where they stand in moments of challenge and controversy, the true neighbour will risk their position, their prestige and even their life for the welfare of others.''

The Upper Springfield Restorative Justice Group held a conference in Belfast on 8 March. The panel included Sinn Féin's spokesperson on policing Bairbre De Brún, International restorative justice expert Harry Mika, Brian Gormley from NIACRO, community youth activist Andrew Donnelly and Jim Auld, Mike Ritchie, Tommy Holland and Marty Morris from the CRJ group, the only notable absentee being the SDLP's Alex Attwood.

Mika, with over twenty years of experience in working on mediation programmes, said that CRJ could move from the negative reaction of a community taking the law into it's own hands, a process that only leads to more conflict, into a positive process that meets the needs of the injured party as well as attempting to get to grips with the actions of the offender. He added that where there was complete alienation from the state justice system it could provide a credible alternative to the RUC and the judicial system.

He said, ``CRJ is a way for communities to empower themselves and take back control that has been wrested from them by discredited state bodies.''

As the Upper Springfield CRJ scheme goes live, a central office is due officially open in Andersonstown before Easter. Already it is the most advanced CRJ pilot scheme, compared to the ones in the New Lodge and Poleglass in Belfast and the one in Derry, with 14 cases so far where the agreements reached between the parties are being adhered to.

One West Belfast community youth worker told An Phoblacht that it was essential to build community support as the peace process wasn't going to provide it. She added, ``it is the only way to keep our young people out the hands of the RUC. It is vital not only in recognising the real reasons behind the social problems facing our community but also for the cohesion of the community in maintaining the struggle.''

Tommy Holland the Upper Springfield CRJ coordinator added that the process of CRJ was continually developing, was firmly committed to non-violence as a way for negotiating agreements and was as inclusive and transparent as possible.

Holland said, ``this reaches right into the heart of relationships in local communities and instead of leaving arbitration of a grievance or hurt to external agencies, such as the RUC, it reinvests responsibility within the community to resolve it's own disputes. Success rests on maximising local involvement and participation.''

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness has also stated the Republican commitment ``to develop alternative approaches which will make punishment attacks a thing of the past.

``Sinn Féin is totally opposed to punishment attacks. Those of us who genuinely want punishment attacks to end are engaged in the development of real alternatives.''

An Phoblacht
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