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]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)