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In a statement issued today the Church and Government Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland noted General De Chastelain's comments on proposed decommissioning of IRA weapons. However, the Committee said that the statement from General De Chastelain would only be "significant provided it leads to action."
Following an extensive review of the current political process, members of the Church and Government Committee also said that the suspension of the current Assembly would "not be to the advantage of the people of Northern Ireland." Condemning widespread loyalist and republican violence over recent weeks, the Committee noted "the increasing sense of uncertainty" which contrasted sharply with the hopefulness following the Belfast Agreement.
The Presbyterian Church and Government Committee further took opportunity to condemn the killing of Gavin Brett , murdered by loyalists in a gun attack last week, as an "outrageous act."
With respect to a suggested 'amnesty' for paramilitaries, the Committee concluded:
"The two governments state that the supporters of paramilitary organisations, now on ceasefire, against whom there are outstanding prosecutions, and in some cases extradition proceedings, will not be pursued. This contrasts sharply with the proposals that enquiries into alleged misdemeanours by the police are to be extended and intensified. While we fully recognise the pain and loss suffered by the relatives of those who ought never to have been killed, if the books are closed for some, they should be closed for all, so that we can concentrate on shaping a new future."
The Full Statement reads:
In the middle of current political difficulties we should not lose sight of the necessity of creating a society in which people from different parts of the community can participate and feel at home.
The Committee notes with concern the increasing sense of uncertainty in the community which contrasts sharply with the confidence and hopefulness which followed from the Belfast Agreement.
The Committee believes that if the Northern Ireland Assembly ceases to function it will not be to the advantage of the people of Northern Ireland who would be deprived of representation by locally elected people at this level, as well as knowledgeable and accessible locally appointed ministers.
The Committee is gratified that the Drumcree/Garvaghy Road dispute, while unresolved, passed with little trouble, as did the celebrations on the 12th July, with the particular exception of Ardoyne in Belfast, which interface has seen trouble on a number of occasions over the summer.
Local communities have experienced rioting and attacks at a number of interfaces in Belfast, emanating from both sides and resulting in anxiety, suspicion and anger. Many of these communities feel that their grievances are not being heard and this is helping to fuel the unrest.
The Committee condemns the widespread petrol and pipe bomb attacks on Catholic homes carried out by people associated with loyalist paramilitary groups.
The killing of Gavin Brett, murdered by loyalists, in a gun attack on a group of young people in Glengormley, was an outrageous act.
The statement issued today by General de Chastelain saying that he believes the proposal put forward by the IRA will initiate a process that will put their arms completely and verifiably beyond use, is only significant if it leads immediately to action.
The paragraph on decommissioning in the proposals of the two governments is brief but it importantly reiterates the governments' belief that it is an indispensable part of implementing the Belfast Agreement. The question remains about what the two governments intend to do if no satisfaction is given to the International Commission on Decommissioning. This issue is of concern to people in both parts of Ireland. The Committee reiterates its belief that the decommissioning of weapons by all paramilitary groups is a moral and political necessity.
In their statement the two governments state that the supporters of paramilitary organisations, now on ceasefire, against whom there are outstanding prosecutions, and in some cases extradition proceedings, will not be pursued. This contrasts sharply with the proposals that enquiries into alleged misdemeanours by the police are to be extended and intensified. While we fully recognise the pain and loss suffered by the relatives of those who ought never to have been killed, if the books are closed for some, they should be closed for all, so that we can concentrate on shaping a new future.
Issued by Martin McNeely, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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