Anderson speaks on 'truth' at legal conference in Paris
Foyle Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson has told a panel of international legal experts in Paris that any truth recovery process in the North must be entirely independent.
Ms Anderson made the remark when she spoke at a gathering of top lawyers at the Assembl Nationale in Paris recently.
The Foyle MLA said that all of those involved in the conflict here must be involved in a truth process if it is to have the confidence of the people.
"To be legitimate, any truth process must be fully independent, treat victims on all sides equally, involve the full co-operation of all parties, and expose violations by all parties. Moreover, one of the purposes of any future truth process must be to examine the causes, nature and extent of the conflict. This is not optional," she said.
Ms Anderson also said the Eames and Bradley led Consultative Group on the Past did not go far enough in its report.
"For its part, the Consultative Group on the Past has refused to recommend an independent international truth commission, on the basis that the British Government and unionists would never agree to it. Instead, they recommend a highly problematic 'Legacy Commission' that would not be independent from the British Government.
"The Consultative Group on the Past appears to have ignored the experience of international models that examine a fuller spectrum of human rights violations and take account of criminal justice agencies' involvement in patterns of abuse arising from the conflict.
"Sinn Fin fully supports the establishment of a truth process that complies with recognised international standards. Indeed, we have campaigned and negotiated for this, and will continue to do so," she said.
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