ONLY DISARMAMENT CAN ALLAY FEARS OF VICTIMS
Only disarmament can allay fears of victims says support group
Continuing uncertainty in the peace process is only serving to heighten people's fears, a West Tyrone victims support group said.
Project co-ordinator of West Tyrone Voice (WTV), Dr Hazlett Lynch said the group was concerned that no numerical value had been placed on what constituted significant decommissioning.
Although the Ulster Unionist Party had set a deadline of February 2000 for progress to made on disarming of illegal weapons, no target had been put in place for how much would be enough, he said.
In his report to a meeting of WTV, which supports victims of terrorist violence, Dr Lynch outlined plans to expand the service by setting up a Welfare Committee and recruiting volunteers to care for those who could no longer care for themselves.
And he said that during the momentous events of recent days, the office phone had been "red-hot" with people ringing in to register their fears and concerns.
Dr Lynch stressed the importance of the Ulster Unionists standing by their vow to withdraw from the newly set up Executive if decommissioning was not underway by that date.
He said: "We are looking to Mr Trimble to keep his word in the event that Sinn Fein/IRA do not do the right thing and decommission their illegal armouries.
"The searchlight is now pointed directly at them. If they fail again to disarm, they, and no one else, will be held responsible for wrecking any potential there was in these current political developments.
"We are concerned that no numerical value seems to have been placed on what constitutes significant decommissioning - therefore, we will not know when enough has been done by February.
"Because politicians have betrayed people in the past, they do not want to be betrayed again," Dr Lynch said.
The project co-ordinator told the meeting that people living in remote rural areas along the border were deeply worried about the political situation at the moment, and many had phoned the office or called in to talk over their fears.
Dr Lynch said that of particular concern was the recent security alert issued to police forces across the UK, in response to the threat of "the very organisation that murdered 29 innocent people and injured more than 400 others on August 15, 1998, here in Omagh".
He said: "People are losing faith in society, in the justice system, in law and order, in the political process, even in the commonly accepted standards of decency and morality."
Dr Lynch said a peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland could only be attained when all illegal arms in the hands of private armies, whether loyalist or republican, were removed, the "terror machines" dismantled and an apology given to those terrorised.
"In a democratic society, only democrats ought to govern," he said.
The project co-ordinator stressed the non-party political nature of WTV, but said that because the terrorist threat was a political matter, the group had been forced to work within a political context.
He said: "We have been involved in politics already we had to, to get our funding, our premises, this hall for tonight, press statements, meeting with Victims Liaison Unit and soon with the NIHRC [Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission].
"We have lobbied various political parties at Stormont. That is the kind of politics we are involved in. But WTV is not, nor will it be, the vehicle for any political party to pursue its own agendas," he said.
Dr Lynch said the group took a twin-track approach to its work. It aimed to help members cope with their hurt, and would thus be setting up a Welfare Committee.
The group also sought to influence those who had responsibility to make decisions that would affect it in the future.
Dr Lynch said: "The executive committee met over Friday night and Saturday night to draw up plans that will help us provide welfare for our members. If this is important to you, then we invite you to come on board with us, and give us your help."
Professor Brice Dickson told the meeting about the role of the newly formed NIHRC, and its responsibility to victims of terrorist violence.
Continuing uncertainty in the peace process is only serving to heighten people's fears, a West Tyrone victims support group said.
Project co-ordinator of West Tyrone Voice (WTV), Dr Hazlett Lynch said the group was concerned that no numerical value had been placed on what constituted significant decommissioning.
Although the Ulster Unionist Party had set a deadline of February 2000 for progress to made on disarming of illegal weapons, no target had been put in place for how much would be enough, he said.
In his report to a meeting of WTV, which supports victims of terrorist violence, Dr Lynch outlined plans to expand the service by setting up a Welfare Committee and recruiting volunteers to care for those who could no longer care for themselves.
And he said that during the momentous events of recent days, the office phone had been "red-hot" with people ringing in to register their fears and concerns.
Dr Lynch stressed the importance of the Ulster Unionists standing by their vow to withdraw from the newly set up Executive if decommissioning was not underway by that date.
He said: "We are looking to Mr Trimble to keep his word in the event that Sinn Fein/IRA do not do the right thing and decommission their illegal armouries.
"The searchlight is now pointed directly at them. If they fail again to disarm, they, and no one else, will be held responsible for wrecking any potential there was in these current political developments.
"We are concerned that no numerical value seems to have been placed on what constitutes significant decommissioning - therefore, we will not know when enough has been done by February.
"Because politicians have betrayed people in the past, they do not want to be betrayed again," Dr Lynch said.
The project co-ordinator told the meeting that people living in remote rural areas along the border were deeply worried about the political situation at the moment, and many had phoned the office or called in to talk over their fears.
Dr Lynch said that of particular concern was the recent security alert issued to police forces across the UK, in response to the threat of "the very organisation that murdered 29 innocent people and injured more than 400 others on August 15, 1998, here in Omagh".
He said: "People are losing faith in society, in the justice system, in law and order, in the political process, even in the commonly accepted standards of decency and morality."
Dr Lynch said a peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland could only be attained when all illegal arms in the hands of private armies, whether loyalist or republican, were removed, the "terror machines" dismantled and an apology given to those terrorised.
"In a democratic society, only democrats ought to govern," he said.
The project co-ordinator stressed the non-party political nature of WTV, but said that because the terrorist threat was a political matter, the group had been forced to work within a political context.
He said: "We have been involved in politics already we had to, to get our funding, our premises, this hall for tonight, press statements, meeting with Victims Liaison Unit and soon with the NIHRC [Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission].
"We have lobbied various political parties at Stormont. That is the kind of politics we are involved in. But WTV is not, nor will it be, the vehicle for any political party to pursue its own agendas," he said.
Dr Lynch said the group took a twin-track approach to its work. It aimed to help members cope with their hurt, and would thus be setting up a Welfare Committee.
The group also sought to influence those who had responsibility to make decisions that would affect it in the future.
Dr Lynch said: "The executive committee met over Friday night and Saturday night to draw up plans that will help us provide welfare for our members. If this is important to you, then we invite you to come on board with us, and give us your help."
Professor Brice Dickson told the meeting about the role of the newly formed NIHRC, and its responsibility to victims of terrorist violence.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1419
Published Date: 09-Dec-99
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