The Five Demands

“Insoddisfacente” il bilancio dell’incontro a Stormont tra il Segretario di Stato Owen Paterson e la delegazione dei familiari delle vittime del massacro di Ballymurphy

Deludente, insoddisfacente. Sono gli aggettivi utilizzati dai protagonisti dell’incontro avvenuto quest’oggi con il Segretario di Stato Owen Paterson.
La delegazione dei familiari delle vittime del massacro di Ballymurphy sono state affiancate a Stormont dal leader dello Sinn Fein Gerry Adams, che si è dimostrato ‘molto insoddisfatto’ del riscontro ottenuto da Paterson che si è limitato ad invitare le famiglie a collaborare con l’Historical Enquiries Team.
“Il suo atteggiamento verso le famiglie non è appropriato.  Paterson non ha mostrato alcun senso di affinità con ciò che queste famiglie hanno passato”.
“Il Segretario di Stato britannico ha l’opportunità di definire il suo ruolo in modo positivo. Egli ha l’opportunità di liberare queste famiglie e molti altri prendendo la giusta decisone”.
Un nuovo incontro è stato programmato per il prossimo anno come confermato anche da John Teggart, padre di una delle vittime.
Alex Attwood (SDLP), anch’egli al seguito della delegazione dei familiari, ha voluto rispondere alle dichiarazione rilasciate da Paterson nel suo discorso alla Conservative Party Conference.
“Il governo britannico deve accettare che per le famiglie del massacro di Ballymurphy, e per molti altri, deve esserci un meccanismo completamente indipendente per le indagini sulle morti e le uccisioni nel passato.”
Il Segretario di Stato aveva invece sottolineato che non ci saranno più costose e pubbliche inchieste.

Disappunto dei familiari delle vittime del massacro di Ballymurphy (Video)

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Disappointment at Ballymurphy meeting (U TV)
Relatives of those killed by the British Army in Ballymurphy almost 40 years ago say they are “disappointed” at the outcome of their meeting with the Secretary of State.
The families met Owen Paterson at Stormont on Thursday and pressed him to set up an international investigation into the deaths of their loved ones and offer an apology on behalf of the British government.
But they failed to receive any commitment from Mr Paterson for an independent investigation.
Eleven people were killed over a three-day period in August 1971 in the wake of the introduction of internment.
A mother-of-eight and a local priest were among those shot dead by the same British Army Parachute Regiment that, six months later, would kill 13 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry.
British troops claimed they opened fire after being shot at by republicans.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, who accompanied the Ballymurphy Massacre Family delegation at Stormont, said the meeting with Mr Paterson was “very unsatisfactory.”
“His attitude to the families was not appropriate. Mr Paterson did not show any sense of affinity with what these families have been through.
“The case the family make is compelling. The British secretary of state has an opportunity to define his role in a positive way. He has an opportunity to liberate these families and many others by making the right decision.”
Briege Voyle, whose mother, Jean, was killed in 1971, says families are not looking for prosecutions.
“Forty years is a long time to wait to be told that our loved ones are innocent. We need the British Government to announce to the world that they are innocent”, she said.
The Secretary of State is to meet the families again in the New Year.
“We are disappointed,” said John Teggart, whose 44-year-old father Danny died after he was shot 14 times, leaving behind a family of 13 children.
“But we are a strong campaign group. We will go forward and have a further meeting planned for the New Year.”
Mr Paterson said he encouraged the Ballymurphy families to work with the Historical Enquiries Team as its investigation continues.
“The stories the families told were powerful and moving. I listened to them with Minister of State, Hugo Swire and we both have the most profound sympathy for their loss and grief”, he said after the meeting.
“I urged the families to co-operate with the investigation into these tragic deaths.”
But SDLP West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood, who also accompanied the families to the meeting, says the HET is “simply not the model that wins the confidence of many families, victims and survivors.”
“The British Government needs to accept that for the Ballymurphy Massacre Families, and for many others, there needs to be a mechanism for fully independent investigations into deaths and killings in the past.”
Earlier this week, Mr Paterson told the Conservative Party conference there will be “no more costly and open-ended public inquiries.”
He said the coalition Government will consult widely with victims’ groups and local politicians on how to deal with Northern Ireland’s “troubled past”.
“There is currently no consensus on how to deal with the past”, he said on Thursday.
“That does not mean that we will stop looking for a way to build one.”