Troubles Amnesty

From the BBC:

"Security force 'amnesty could breach human rights law'"

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has advised the government a ban on prosecuting soldiers and police officers suspected of crimes during the Troubles would amount to an amnesty. The move may also breach international human rights law, it has said. The government has decided to ask the public about the so-called statute of limitations as part of a consultation it plans for early in the New Year. Both Sinn Féin and the Irish government have objected to the move.  Some Conservative backbenchers and DUP politicians have backed the statute of limitations although the DUP leader Arlene Foster told the BBC that she was concerned it could lead to a wider amnesty.  In its advice to the government, the Human Rights Commission says that if the statute of limitations "were held to excuse acts constituting gross human rights violations and abuses (including the right to life and the prohibition on torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment) this would be incompatible with human rights law". The advice was supplied to the government in June and published on the commission's website in August, but has not received wider publicity until now.   The Human Rights Commission gave its view on a number of options canvassed by Westminster's defence select committee.  It opposed a suggestion that Troubles investigations into former security force personnel could be halted.  The commission advised this approach would "put the UK government in breach of its international human rights obligations to conduct an effective official investigation under the right to life and prohibition of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment". The commission approved pressing ahead with the creation of a new Historical Investigations Unit as set out in the Stormont House Agreement.   It also backed a suggested review of the terms of the law which provided for the release of paramilitary prisoners after the Good Friday Agreement.  Under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, paramilitaries were eligible for release after serving two years. The commission says the law did not explicitly rule out this early release scheme being applied to soldiers or police officers.  However it notes that "such circumstances do not appear to have been specifically considered in the context in which the legislation was brought forward". The commission says that given the uncertainty surrounding the 1998 law, it recommends "a review, and if necessary amendment, to ensure the legislation is applied equally and fairly to all perpetrators of conflict-related offences".

^ Not sure why anyone (British, Northern Irish Catholic, Northern Irish Protestant, Irish, military or civilian) with any common sense would think an amnesty law for soldiers - or anyone - for suspected or convicted crimes committed would be a good idea. If you didn't commit the crime then you should want to voice your innocence. If you committed the crime and are sorry then you should take your sentence. It's only those people that committed the crime and aren't sorry that would want amnesty. This proposed amnesty would be the worst thing the British Government could do. It would say to the victims that they don't matter and allow for the continued cover-up of the crimes and the criminals and could lead to a new era of The Troubles. The guilty on any side should be brought to justice. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-42135039