Memorandum submitted by Firinne
The Management Committee of Firinne, in County
Fermanagh supporting and representing Victims of State Sponsored
Violence would like to ask if your proposed inquiry into possible
ways of dealing with Northern Ireland's past has any spirit of
generosity?
First and foremost, Victims of State sponsored
murder demand acknowledgement from the British Government as to
their brutal and oppressive role as major protagonists in this
conflict and demand the TRUTH from them as a necessary first step
in any process of reconciliation—the British Government
is not an independent referee in examining hurts of the past where
division and conflict have taken place, they simply cannot be
arbiter to any inquiry. An inquiry must at the very least be independent
and international to have the faith and confidence of all those
directly affected.
Is the Rt Hon Michael Mates engaging in a similar
process as the Secretary of State Paul Murphy?
With Paul Murphy's consultation absolutely no-one
has been consulted on "how to deal with the past".
Is this yet another cosmetic exercise on behalf
of the British Government in avoiding talking about the Truth?
It is obvious that when challenged with the
TRUTH the British response has always been denial, concealment
and cover up. Firinne, await a response.
Since the NI Affairs Committee press release
we have had to deal with innumerable phone calls and visits to
our offices by Victims of state terrorism in questioning what
this is all about? Perhaps you might furnish us with an answer?
30 November 2004
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