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Labour rejects Peter Hain's call for Troubles amnesty Labour rejects Peter Hain's call for Troubles amnesty
(35 minutes later)
Labour has sought to distance itself from the former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain's suggestion that there should be an amnesty for all Troubles-related crimes. Labour has sought to distance itself from former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain's suggestion that there should be an amnesty for all Troubles-related crimes.
Ivan Lewis, the shadow secretary of state, called on the British, Irish and US governments to re-engage with the parties in Northern Ireland to help rebuild relationships after the arrest of Gerry Adams over the 1972 murder of Jean McConville.Ivan Lewis, the shadow secretary of state, called on the British, Irish and US governments to re-engage with the parties in Northern Ireland to help rebuild relationships after the arrest of Gerry Adams over the 1972 murder of Jean McConville.
In April, before Adams' arrest, Hain said a de facto amnesty was needed to allow Northern Ireland to put the past behind it. "Peter Hain's comments on these issues does not reflect Labour party policy," Lewis told the Guardian during a visit to Belfast. "Our position is absolutely clear – we are totally opposed to the concept of a blanket amnesty because a significant amount of victims want truth and justice, and many cases they want both. If we deny victims the notion of justice then we will not be creating a victims-centred new system to deal with the past. In April, before Adams' arrest, Hain said a de facto amnesty was needed to allow Northern Ireland to put the past behind it. "Peter Hain's comments on these issues does not reflect Labour party policy," Lewis told the Guardian during a visit to Belfast. "Our position is absolutely clear – we are totally opposed to the concept of a blanket amnesty because a significant amount of victims want truth and justice, and in many cases they want both. If we deny victims the notion of justice then we will not be creating a victims-centred new system to deal with the past.
"If you went for a blanket amnesty, I think that would damage the peace process because it would be saying to too many victims: we are not listening to you. We also want to be clear that we must not rewrite history as 90% of murders in the Troubles were committed by paramilitary organisations. Although the 10% committee by agents of the state have to be investigated properly as well," Lewis said."If you went for a blanket amnesty, I think that would damage the peace process because it would be saying to too many victims: we are not listening to you. We also want to be clear that we must not rewrite history as 90% of murders in the Troubles were committed by paramilitary organisations. Although the 10% committee by agents of the state have to be investigated properly as well," Lewis said.
He said Labour supported a proposal from the US diplomat Dr Richard Haas to establish a new policing unit wholly independent from the Police Service of Northern Ireland that would have stronger investigative powers to look into unsolved Troubles crimes. Haas has also proposed a truth recovery agency that Lewis said could offer "some very limited form of immunity" for perpetrators who spoke frankly about crimes they committed during the Troubles. He said Labour supported a proposal from the US diplomat Richard Haas to establish a new policing unit wholly independent from the Police Service of Northern Ireland that would have stronger investigative powers to look into unsolved Troubles crimes. Haas has also proposed a truth recovery agency that Lewis said could offer "some very limited form of immunity" for perpetrators who spoke frankly about crimes they committed during the Troubles.
Lewis said there would be no secret deals between an Ed Miliband-led government and republicans like that struck by Tony Blair's government giving immunity to fugitive IRA "on the runs".Lewis said there would be no secret deals between an Ed Miliband-led government and republicans like that struck by Tony Blair's government giving immunity to fugitive IRA "on the runs".
"I am not prepared to unpick the peace process and I am not prepared to criticise those that made sure we crossed the line, because 15 years on we are in a much better place and as a consequence lives have been saved. However, in a very different climate, where we devolved power for police and security, there would therefore there have to be maximum transparency in any future agreements reached," he said. "I am not prepared to unpick the peace process and I am not prepared to criticise those that made sure we crossed the line, because, 15 years on, we are in a much better place and, as a consequence, lives have been saved. However, in a very different climate, where we devolved power for police and security, there would therefore have to be maximum transparency in any future agreements reached," he said.
Asked about the PSNI's arrest of Adams, Lewis said: "Clearly the PSNI had the right to follow the evidence and ensure that due process occurs and that has to be applied equally to all citizens." Adams was released without charge and has denied any involvement in McConville's murder.Asked about the PSNI's arrest of Adams, Lewis said: "Clearly the PSNI had the right to follow the evidence and ensure that due process occurs and that has to be applied equally to all citizens." Adams was released without charge and has denied any involvement in McConville's murder.
Lewis said he was concerned that disillusionment with conventional politics and issues like youth unemployment in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland was driving young people into the arms of extremists like the dissident republican terror groups. Lewis said he was concerned that disillusionment with conventional politics and issues like youth unemployment in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland were driving young people into the arms of extremists like the dissident republican terror groups.
"The threat from dissident republicanism is very real and that is why we should not take our eye off the security situation. Alongside that you have loyalist working class alienation which manifests itself around flags and parades, although it is a much broader problem. People need to see benefit in their everyday lives here.""The threat from dissident republicanism is very real and that is why we should not take our eye off the security situation. Alongside that you have loyalist working class alienation which manifests itself around flags and parades, although it is a much broader problem. People need to see benefit in their everyday lives here."
He added: "There has been a sense of disengagement with the UK government of late. Of course I will acknowledge that David Cameron for instance brought the G8 summit to Northern Ireland last year, but I am talking about the day-to-day engagement that keeps the political process on track. There is a sense or fear that the UK government has puts this place in a box marked 'NI is sorted'. Now that would be a big, big error and I hope the government does not make it, because if you allow for a vacuum to continue you eventually go backwards and this fuels instability."He added: "There has been a sense of disengagement with the UK government of late. Of course I will acknowledge that David Cameron for instance brought the G8 summit to Northern Ireland last year, but I am talking about the day-to-day engagement that keeps the political process on track. There is a sense or fear that the UK government has puts this place in a box marked 'NI is sorted'. Now that would be a big, big error and I hope the government does not make it, because if you allow for a vacuum to continue you eventually go backwards and this fuels instability."