Martin McGuinness commander of Óglaigh na hÉireann

Master and commander wrote: »

they were the instigators of the violence, so they can't claim to have brought peace when they gave up their antics. They just can't. They have successfully deluded themselves on that one but they don't fool anyone else. No matter what they do or say they cannot change their past. They did what they did. And so macgiuness thus can't be called a peacemaker if he was the one that waged terrosm for so long.

COYW wrote: »

Do you seriously think that McGuinness would welcome this future King and Queen of England, William and Kate, to this country for example?

Master and commander wrote: »

maybe if they were not such a pain in the arse in the first place, the state would not have had to discriminate agaisnt them. They created their own trouble. If they just got on with it and avoided friction. It'd all have been hunky dory.

Tabnabs wrote: »

This is an interesting topic OP, any chance you could stick to your own request and let the relevant people answer your original question?

Sinn Féin Backs Independent International Truth Commission

September 28, 2008

In an article in this week's An Phoblacht Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams MP MLA has revealed that following a process of consultation and discussion, particularly with victims and victims groups, Sinn Féin has concluded that the best way forward on this issue is through the establishment of an Independent International Truth Commission.

The Sinn Féin President said:

"In the last few years these families have come together to organise and campaign for the truth. Campaigning groups like Relatives for Justice, Justice for the Forgotten and the Pat Finucane centre, are making similar demands. Also across this island and in Britain there are other families involved in campaigns. Some of these are victims of republican actions who are also seeking truth.

The issue of state killings and of collusion - which was an administrative practice and part of the British government's strategy - must also be dealt with.

There is understandable concern about the British governments commitment to a truth recovery process. Their actions in refusing to co-operate with the Barron Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings; their refusal to hand over files in relation to the killing of Pat Finucane and others; and their wilful stalling and obstruction of the Saville Inquiry, are all evidence of an unwillingness on the part of the British government, and its military and intelligence establishment, to end the cover ups and to take responsibility for their actions during the conflict.

Brushing it under the carpet, revising our history to exorcise the role of the British state in fomenting and prolonging conflict in our country, is in no ones interest - especially the families.

Republicans have clearly acknowledged many times the hurt they inflicted during the conflict. I have expressed my personal and sincere regret and apologised for that hurt. The IRA has also acknowledged what it has done. That is the right and proper thing to do. The IRA has apologised to all those non-combatants it killed or injured and their families.

For our part Sinn Féin is very mindful of all of the difficulties involved in truth recovery, particularly for victims and their families. But we believe that as society seeks to leave conflict behind and to move forward there is a requirement that all of us address the tragic human consequences of the past.

Sinn Féin supports all of the families in their efforts to achieve truth. In 2003 Sinn Féin published a discussion document on "Truth". Its purpose was to set out our view of the timing and purpose of a truth recovery process and the nature and form of such
a process.

In this spirit Sinn Fein has put forward principles which we believe should underpin any effective truth recovery process. The principles we identified are:

All processes should be victim-centred and deal with victims on an all-Ireland basis;
Full co-operation by all relevant parties is essential to the success of any commission;
There should be no hierarchy of victims;
All processes should be politically neutral;
Any future panel should be international and independent;
One of the purposes of any future panel/commission should be to examine the 'causes, nature and extent' of the conflict;
An objective of any process should be healing - both for direct victims and for society in general;
A common aim should be to enable society to build the peace;
Reconciliation should be the core aim of any truth process; and Respect and generosity should inform the parties seeking to reach agreement.

Those of us charged with political responsibility must agree and deliver a process that is meaningful and substantive. There is an onus on all political leaders to promote this. This includes the Irish government which has a constitutional, legal and moral responsibility to actively promote this course of action.


That means thinking beyond any sectarian, sectional, party political or self interest. So, a truth process to deal with the war in Ireland must be victim centred and inform future generations of the lessons from our conflict.

It must be a process that can deliver the truth to bereaved families as a result of independent investigation.

And it must analyse the policies and practices that sustained and fuelled the conflict.

Being victim centred means that it must embrace all the victims, all the protagonists, whether they live in Ireland or England or elsewhere.

A truth process must reach out to these people.

One way of achieving an independent process is to have an international inquiry. The United Nations or another reputable agency could be involved. In Ireland many of the victims groups have been looking at the possibility of establishing an Independent
International Truth Commission.

Sinn Fein has now met many of these groups and we have concluded that the establishment of an Independent International Truth Commission is the best way of taking this issue forward.

Key to the success of such a Commission is the full co-operation by all relevant parties. And clearly the willingness of individuals to voluntarily participate will be greatly enhanced if the Commission is seen to be independent, have an international dimension and be fair and equitable.

Of course, it won't be easy. There are vested groups who will not want the truth; and who will oppose the creation of a meaningful truth recovery process. So this is going to be an immensely difficult and painful process and experience. It must therefore be
conducted in a sensitive and generous way.

Building a united harmonious society demands that these difficult issues are dealt with in an inclusive way as a necessary part of putting the past behind us. Looking after victims and victims' families and survivors is a significant and important part of this." ENDS