First the Truth....

As Richard Cairns points out on the Young Unionists’ Blog, 2009 will be a year where “the Eames-Bradley consultative group on the past will be the one to watch”. I share his scepticism at how the “Truth and Reconciliation Process” will further develop; for it to have any benefit whatsoever regarding the dealing with the pain and trauma of the past, then all parties to the conflict would need to be completely open about their roles. For purely propaganda reasons, at least one of those main players, the Sinn Fein Politburo, are never going to do that and for purely real-politik reasons that state of affairs currently suits both the British government and SF's current coalition partners at Stormont.

Now, that’s definitely not to say on an informal, “non-quangoised” basis we should stop trying to shine the light on the dark, diseased corners of the past, but we should recognise that we are fighting not just an accomplished and efficient lying PR machine, but also the studied apathy of those who should, theoretically, be on the side of genuine “truth and reconciliation”.

Bearing that caveat in mind, read this petition on the 10 Downing Street Site regarding the Birmingham Pub Bombings and if you’re one of those genuine about wanting to find out the real truth (and ultimately the reconciliation which must follow), then please sign it.