Please share widely and raise the profile of this issue. Lets find and help those affected, it could be you next !! Dear Minister As you will be aware it has been widely reported in todays press that the arrest of up to 20 veterans who were present at bloody Sunday is imminent. The Veterans Party would like to place on record our absolute disgust at this move by a republican controlled police force. It would be our contention that this is purely a political move by republicans following the arrest of one of the Hyde park bombers. Can I remind the minister that during the £180m enquiry into this issue Martin McGuiness refused to confirm or deny an IRA role on the day, stating there is a code of honour in the IRA and subsequently refusing to answer questions. On that basis the British government created a precedent which can now be used by any arrested veteran, given that we would contend there is more honour in the British army than in the republican movement. We would ask the minister to consider to consider the age of these veterans, who even if convicted will be subject to the terms of the good Friday agreement. On that basis any prosecution, which we believe would fail, would not be in the public Interest. It would be a further waste of tax payers money in an area of the UK which we already subsidise by 10 billion pa. Can the minister confirm that she will support any enquiries that are evidence based from the veterans party through the HET system? Can the minister confirm that any veteran arrested will be given full and free legal advice and representation free of charge? Given the age of these veterans, can the minister confirm that the appropriate level of emotional and physical care will be provided to not only the veteran but any spouse or family member? Veterans have stood back for 20 years watching the salami slicing of betrayal regarding Operation banner with silent anger. I can tell the minister that if this situation comes to fruition it will be the final betrayal of the men and women who served and the families that supported them. I would urge the minister to move to resolve this issue immediately, and issue a statement fully supporting and defending those who served on Operation Banner. Sean Ingram Chairman The Veterans Party
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 13:10:39 +0000
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