Sinn Féin support work of Victims umbrella group

[Hildy]

SF Press Release (http://www.sinnfeinassembly.com/en/press-centre/entry/1882)
January 14, 2008


Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has paid tribute the contribution of an umbrella group representing over 1,100 victims of the conflict in working to find a way forward in dealing with the issue of truth and the past.

The consortium of groups represent the families of over 1,100 victims of the conflict across Ireland and include The Pat Finucane Centre, Relatives for Justice, Justice for the Forgotten, Ardoyne Commemoration Project, An Fhirinne, and Firinne Fermanagh.

Mr Adams said:

"Sinn Fein welcomes this important contribution made by the victims group today on the issue of truth recovery. The groups that have come together are to be commended for their dedication and commitment to the victims cause over the decades and in the enormous work on this particular statement calling for the establishment of an independent, international commission to deal with the past.

"Sinn Fein is committed to finding a way forward on this issue. We accept that dealing with legacy issues is an onerous task. However, it is critically important that the past is dealt with and a mechanism found which treats all victims equally and allows families of victims an avenue to acknowledgement, apology and truth. We are keen to assist such a process.

"We believe the formation of this mechanism is the duty and responsibility of all political parties and wider civic society. Political posturing and political self-interest cannot be allowed to be an obstacle to moving this situation forward. All of us have a responsibility to create the circumstances through which the needs of all victims are met.

"The victims groups in their recent statement have provided a guide to this task. There is a responsibility on all who are interested in the victims issue to respond positively to this work and properly discuss and lay out a template to deal with the legacy of the conflict."
Bloody Sunday Inquiry (http://www.bloody-sunday-inquiry.org/)
Bloody Sunday Trust (http://www.bloodysundaytrust.org/)
Committee on the Administration of Justice (http://www.caj.org.uk/)
Eddie Fullerton Justice Committee (http://www.eddiefullertonjusticecommittee.com/)
Justice for the Forgotten (http://www.dublinmonaghanbombings.org/)
Loughall Martyrs 20th Anniversary Commemorative Website (http://www.loughgall20.com/lmcw_home.html)
Pat Finucane Centre (http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/)
Relatives for Justice (http://www.relativesforjustice.com/)
Rosemary Nelson Inquiry (http://www.rosemarynelsoninquiry.org/)
Sinn Féin (http://www.sinnfein.ie/)


My best goes out to all who helps us NEVER to forget!

[Hildy]

Along this vein, here is another article that is pertinent to this thread.

Belfast Telegraph (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article3336915.ece)
Troubles victims' groups want independent probe
Monday, January 14, 2008

By Chris Thornton

Groups claiming to represent more than 1,000 victims of the Troubles called today for a fully independent truth commission into the past.

The six groups, representing mainly nationalist families, said current " investigatory, prosecutorial and judicial arrangements offer no realistic prospect of truth recovery for bereaved families".

"We believe that the only way to bring truth to the greatest number of families is through an international independent truth commission," the groups said in a statement.

The groups - the Pat Finucane Centre, Relatives for Justice, Justice for the Forgotten, Ardoyne Commemoration Project, An Fhirinne, and Firinne Fermanagh - have been discussing the issue among themselves for the past year.

Their intervention comes as the Eames-Bradley group, which the Government has asked to make recommendations on dealing with the past, is conducting public meetings.

The joint statement said the commissioner "should be available as a mechanism for all victims who wish to have their cases investigated thoroughly".

"The focus of such a commission should be on truth and acknowledgement rather than prosecutions," it said.

"The criminal justice system has frustrated rather than facilitated access to the truth."

The organisations said "all combatant groups, British, republican and loyalist should cooperate in good faith and have a moral duty to do so."

They said a commission should "establish the causes, context and consequences of the conflict", and also the policies and actions of the British and Irish governments should be examined.

"We believe that an independent international truth commission provides the best opportunity for truth recovery for the greatest number of those affected by the conflict," their statement said.

"We believe this will contribute to individual and societal healing and recovery, dealing with the legacy of the past in a positive way and building a better future for everyone."

Sources close to the Eames-Bradley group say only "small numbers" of the groups they have met so far have argued for a full truth commission.

But one source said a presentation by Relatives for Justice had made a " powerful" argument for a full truth commission.

[duggie-89]

the work these groups do is often very good!!!!

[robertemmett]

here why have marty and ian not created a Victims Commissioner yet?

[East Tyrone]

here why have marty and ian not created a Victims Commissioner yet?

Why don't you call their offices and ask them?

[robertemmett]

dunno the number.. do you?

[East Tyrone]

dunno the number.. do you?

Nope, but I'm sure you could get it if you were really that interested. There's probably an exchange number on the Stormont website.

[robertemmett]

still none of the sf aplogists on here feel fit to comment of the evident inaction of a leader within their party.

[belfast rep]

still none of the sf aplogists on here feel fit to comment of the evident inaction of a leader within their party.

have you not been offered assistance on how to get your queried answered. i could make some inqueries but i won't, because someone is trying to give you the means to do that your self.
and whoever you support has done what for victims

[duggie-89]

still none of the sf aplogists on here feel fit to comment of the evident inaction of a leader within their party.

well if you want my opinion its because they cant agree on one yet.

now did you need me to spell that out for you??? i always thought you needed help in your political observations

[robertemmett]

psf can laud the work of victims groups, yet one of their leaders has failed to appoint victims commissoner. and suddenly all the sf people here, who are so knowledgeable about so much that sf do in stormont, know bugger all about this issue.

do psfer here know what martin chuckle's job really is.. that is, apart from smiling for the cameras.

[Jim]

Wouldnt it have been better for gerry to say nothing about the umbrella gropu on the basis that it would give frazer and co nothing to chew on?

[Hildy]

Well Jim, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't, wouldn't you agree?

[Jim]

Well Jim, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't, wouldn't you agree?

Not really,i personally wouldnt criticise him if he didnt say anything in relation to the victims groups as opponents of the victims groups would claim they are a proxy group of the provos,as frazer has done in the past.

[TomClarke]

i see that sinn fein's martin mc guinness and his boss have copped out on appointing a victims commissioner, and only gone and appointed 4 of them. and they will be getting £65,000 each. another 1/4 million that could have been spent on hospitals etc.

wel as socialist spin £ein would say "it coming off a broad back"