Response by BHG to IRA Declaration, August 2005.

The Belfast Humanist Group welcomes the declaration by the IRA that it is renouncing violence and laying down its arms, with the intention of pursuing an entirely democratic path to its political objectives.

All law-abiding citizens who desire to see real democracy in N Ireland, free from the baleful effects of bombings, murders, maimings and intimidation, welcome any reduction in such anti-democratic practices.

The IRA declaration represents one small, belated step towards the creation of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic society here.

However, we are disappointed that the IRA makes no apology for the murders and maimings that it has committed in the name of Irish unity. The IRA needs to recognise that its actions have deepened sectarian divisions, polarised politics and set back the prospect of Irish unity for generations.

We call on all Loyalist organisations to match the IRA declaration. People who claim to be defending N Ireland should be committed to the creation of a peaceful, democratic society, free from all paramilitary activity.

We also call on the Government to increase policing in line with the reduction of army presence. The Government must recognise that, although society is slowly returning to normal, there is still a high level of criminality here, due to paramilitary lawlessness over past decades.

From a Humanist point of view, the conflict here is based on religious tribalism. Sectarian attitudes contaminate much of social life and cause divisions in sport, housing, public celebrations and education. We think that education plays a key role and hope that the expensive, divisive folly of segregated schools will soon be addressed.

N Ireland is regularly described in the media as if the entire population are either Protestant or Catholic. But in fact there are thousands of people here who profess no religion and the percentage is increasing steadily. Therefore we look forward to a N Ireland which is less sectarian and backward-looking, and more secular and tolerant. A more humane and a more Humanist society.

L Reid

Belfast Humanist Group

(see Talkback message forum, BBC NI, August 2005, for some discussion of this statement)