Friday 27thOctober, 2013
NI Conservatives’ submission to chairman Richard Haass
Introduction
It is the key to any successful society that it strives to be inclusive and create a sense of interdependence between its people. Those who have been tasked with creating that environment on this island have often failed miserably, with tragic consequences for many people.
In 1998 a majority in both parts of the island voted for the Good Friday Agreement. This was a clear signal that they wanted to move away from the flawed ideologies which fed the conflicts of the past, causing, in particular, the period of our history now known as the “Troubles”. The Agreement created a basis for politicians to pursue their favoured constitutional outcomes through a battle for hearts and minds, rather than through violence or promoting division.
The Agreement’s purpose was to make parties work for the common good of all people in Northern Ireland, with an eye to persuading voters that either preferred constitutional position did not pose a threat to anyone’s culture or economic prosperity.
Much has been achieved in the last 15 years. However our political parties have largely failed to grasp the opportunity to deal with our future in a constructive way. They continue to press the old divisive buttons instead, rather than working to create an environment in which we might deal with the tragic consequences of the past.
Nationalist politicians argued, as a pre-condition to any settlement, that any political settlement had to be inclusive and involve considerable moral and legal compromises, including the early release of prisoners.
It also meant the involvement in government of those who carried out crimes or promoted ideologies that inspired others to do so. So how do you pursue truth and justice and avoid undermining the political process? The reality is that our society has a choice to make. Do we deal with the past thoroughly, through the legal system, no matter what the consequences, or do we look at other mechanisms to help address the hurt of victims, which could lead to a suspension of investigations into past offences, either through civil, criminal or the use of inquiries, and a period devoted to building genuine relationships?
That is the first decision the political parties have to take. They must be prepared to work collectively with each other, whichever path is chosen. They also have to commit to a constructive shared future which will include a clear agreement that those who acted outside the law in the past were wrong and their actions were unjustified.
Three points which could be agreed
None of the issues around symbols, parades or the past are insoluble. They’ve been tackled successfully on a smaller scale, by community groups, sporting bodies and 100s of ordinary people, who were determined to enjoy a better relationship with their neighbours. These are three outcomes which NI Conservatives believe the talks could and should deliver
1) On flags. Flags should be flown respectfully and appropriately, reflecting Northern Ireland’s constitutional position, and they should not be used to aggressively assert the identity of one part of the community in Northern Ireland. Their place is on private property or public buildings, not on street furniture, gable walls or lamp-posts. NI Conservatives believe that the Union Flag should fly on government buildings and council headquarters on a list of designated days, including all major UK-wide designated days and some days specific to Northern Ireland, right across the province.
2) Parades. Any alternative to the parades commission must centre on the rule of law. We believe that respect for the rule of law and an insistence on upholding the rule of law is a crucial responsibility for everyone involved in marches, whether they’re taking part in them, or protesting against them. There is a clear need for a neutral body to consider all the facts, provide mediation if necessary and make determinations on parades. Whether this is the Parades Commission, or another organisation, its rulings should always be adhered to and respected.
3) The past. A ‘statement of wrongs’ should be drafted, acknowledging that anyone who acted outside the law during Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’ was wrong and their actions were unjustified, whether they were republicans, loyalists or members of the security forces. We can only build a hopeful, harmonious future if we understand the mistakes of the past and refuse to glorify people or organisations who committed murder and caused misery. NI Conservatives call for a public archive, developing the book Lost Lives, to be established, documenting the stories and facts about the 1,000s of families whose lives were devastated by political violence in Northern Ireland.
These are just three ideas, across three of the main strands which the talks will have to address. There are more things which can be achieved to increase shared housing and education, encourage an inclusive Northern Irish identity and make our streets more peaceful. However we feel these objectives are achievable and provide a useful starting point.
Civic back-up
We believe that it should be possible to establish a broad-based civic society group to provide an impetus for ‘shared future’ initiatives on the ground. We envisage this acting as a ‘critical friend’ to the political aspect of the process, with towns and villages establishing local groups to examine ‘how we can share our area better?’.