The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's cross-community party
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The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland's cross-community party |
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| The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland | <alliance@allianceparty.org> |
'On-The-Run' law must include Victims Commission: Bell12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 15th Oct 2005 Alliance Deputy Leader Eileen Bell has said that a Victims Commission is an essential part of any legislation concerning the return home of 'on-the-runs'. The North Down MLA stated: "For too long the entire political process has focused on those who caused suffering rather than those who were victims of it. Although we accept that the issue of those who have not faced trial for terrorist offences has to be dealt with, the emphasis must be on those who suffered from those offences. "As we have seen in the last week, it is somewhat hypocritical of other parties to jump on this band-waggon as a means of political opportunism. This is not a party political issue, it is an issue of common human decency. "As part of any package concerning 'on-the-runs' and 'exiles', we would expect to see rigorous consultation on the establishment of a wholly independent Victims Commission. We wish to see an end to tribal trade-offs that simply remove confidence in this process, and a beginning of a genuine process of reconciliation for everyone." ENDS
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Related News Stories:Tue 31st Jan 2006: Alliance Party will support Victims' Commission's remit - Bell. Tue 24th Jan 2006: Challenge to Victims' Commissioner was inevitable - Bell. Wed 11th Jan 2006: Ignoring democratic parties and victims must not be a precedent - Bell. Wed 21st Dec 2005: Victims and exiles being treated abominably - Bell. Wed 2nd Nov 2005: Focus must be on victims, not terrorists - Bell. Tue 1st Nov 2005: Money must be spent on victims, not administration - Bell. Mon 24th Oct 2005: Bell slams Government for making victims 'a sectarian hand-out'. Sun 4th Sep 2005: Needs of victims must come first in 'on-the-run' legislation - Bell. Wed 31st Aug 2005: No group has monopoly on victims - Bell. Mon 24th Jan 2005: Premiers must lay down the law: Bell. Tue 21st Sep 2004: Criminal assets can help victims: Bell. Fri 17th Sep 2004: Need to deal with victims: Bell. Wed 16th Jun 2004: Northern Ireland needs Commissioner for Victims: Bell. Wed 3rd Mar 2004: Government betraying victims of violence: Bell. Wed 30th Oct 2002: Published and promoted by The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, 88 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE. The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider. |
