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Monday, 02 November 2009

Libya redress talks 'positive'

Politicians lobbying for compensation from the Libyan Government for victims of IRA terrorism have said that their meeting with Libyan officials was a "positive first direct engagement".

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The delegation to the north African state has said that Libya should make a substantial investment in Northern Ireland's economy to make amends for arming the IRA.

The aid would boost peace and reconciliation for all those affected by decades of republican violence, the Westminster parliamentary group added.

Victims have sought compensation from Tripoli after it boosted the IRA with tonnes of the explosive Semtex as well as thousands of rifles, small arms and flame throwers.

DUP MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds said they were welcomed with great courtesy.

"This has been a constructive and positive first direct engagement with the Libyan authorities," they said.

"It constitutes a major milestone in our campaign on behalf of all those who have suffered because of Libyan involvement in helping IRA terrorism."

They met Abdulati al-Obidi, Secretary for European Affairs, Ali Shamekh, Secretary of the General People's Congress and Tripoli mayor Dr Ali Reeh among others.

The team presented a proposal that Libya participate in a humanitarian programme for peace and reconciliation for the benefit of all affected in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland, including:

substantial business and infrastructure investment
wide-ranging community development projects
bringing closure for those who have suffered in the past, including resolution of existing claims by UK citizens involving Libya.

Mr Donaldson and Mr Dodds added: "We emphasised the great importance of the proposal as a new and innovative means of giving such closure to the past and providing a firm foundation for future progress in Northern Ireland."

The Libyan authorities are ready to consider further details of the proposals, which we will be sending to them this week, they added.

"We have come a long way so far but this remains a work in progress and we do not expect an immediate result."

Explosives

Semtex explosives supplied by Libya were one of the IRA's most lethal weapons in its decades-long terror campaign.

Links between the IRA and Colonel Muammar Gaddafi are thought to stretch back as far as 1972, and Libya is understood to have supplied the republican group with Czech-made Semtex in the 1980s.

Although members of the victims' families were not invited on the trip, the fact that the trip was taking place was welcomed as a sign of progress in the long-running campaign.

In a statement, their lawyers said: "The victims view this as a significant step forward, as well as recognition by both countries that their plight will not be overlooked as Anglo-Libyan relations develop.

"They sincerely hope that, following the parliamentarian team's visit, Libya will review its position towards them and appreciate that they wish to visit Libya in the spirit of peace and reconciliation."

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7 Comments

At 22:55 on 04 November 2009, seamas wrote:

RUCWidow. How does seeking compensation and in consequence recognition for one small group of victims make everyone feel equal? Even within the policing community there are relatives of officers killed by weapons bought in the US who won’t be included. Now the Libyans are talking about contributions to community schemes instead of compensation. Experience shows that such money channelled into loyalist communities often goes to criminal paramilitary groups and not to the people who really need it. I would never personalise a discussion or deliberately offend someone but I believe that victims here both from within my family and community and the protestant unionist one , including your late husband, died in a conflict which has its roots in the corrupt nature of the state.

At 12:29 on 04 November 2009, ruc widow wrote:

Seamus, The bloody sunday inquiry has had more more spent on it than any of the victims of the IRA has received. What conclusion have they come to ? that the soldiers who were there opened fire when there was fear that the IRA was operating at the march. I am with you in this. No unarmed person should be killed. The world knows about bloody sunday but not of my husband, who has never taken a life. Another thing the Americans bombed Libya and killed yet the America was able to sue Libya and get compensation for America victims. We are all asked to move forward for peace but until a honest approach is given to ALL victims and none are made to feel second class and not worthy.

At 22:02 on 03 November 2009, seamas wrote:

RUCWidow. I agree with you. I want to see all murderers brought to justice. But when the government cover it up we need a public enquiry. The Bloody Sunday relatives want truth and justice just as you do.

At 17:09 on 03 November 2009, RUCwidow wrote:

My husband was murdered by the semtex supplied by libya. I do not want compensation from the British government who has had to pay out tax payer's money to keep the majority safe now with one inquiry after another and still nationalists are not happy but they keep on paying. The group who murdered my husband had help from Libya and if they do not compensate then I ask no other. I ask for nothing less than the people who took my husband's life should be made accountable for his death and I do not believe we will see a penny. All this talk is only adding to my hurt .thank you.

At 23:23 on 02 November 2009, Liambo wrote:

The Talks Were A Complete Utter failure Just Admit It Jeffery Stop Trying To Pull Wool Over People's Eye's With Your Fake Statements..

At 22:33 on 02 November 2009, Michael wrote:

What about the innocent victims of the American bombings of Libya, are they not entitled to compensation from Britain as the yank bombers took off from England to bomb innocent civilians

At 23:30 on 01 November 2009, Gerard wrote:

Its up to Libya if they want to give compensation to the victims of the IRA, but my only concern is that the voice of victims of loyalist paramilitaries is not being heard and politicians from the likes of the SDLP and Sinn Fein are not saying anything about the South African government funding them and supplying them with weapons, so in my opinion the victims of loyalist paramilitaries shoud be comprensated by the South African government