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Ulster plan to help heal wounds

Gaby Hinsliff and
Henry MacDonald

Belfast to draw on South Africa's experience in dealing with post-violence situation

LONDON/BELFAST: The suffering of the victims of Irish terrorism is to be recognised by the creation of a Victims' Commissioner to help heal the wounds of three decades of bloodshed.

Peter Hain, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said in an interview this weekend that the perpetrators of terrorist acts on both sides must acknowledge the pain they caused to victims' families and survivors. New hopes have been raised over the search for "the disappeared" — people abducted and murdered by the IRA.

New strategy

Sinn Fein is understood to have given assurances of fresh co-operation to identify their unmarked graves, allowing their families to lay them to rest. In addition, the British and Irish Governments are working with forensic archaeologists in the search for bodies, thought to be buried mainly south of the border. The Government has been consulting on a new strategy for victims, their carers and children who may have grown up traumatised by what happened.

Mr. Hain said this plan would draw on experience in South Africa, where a Truth and Reconciliation Commission collected testimony from victims and confessions from perpetrators, who were granted amnesty.

Pope hails decision

Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday hailed the IRA's decision to disarm as ``beautiful news'' and urged all to work for lasting peace.

Pope Benedict expressed ``satisfaction and hope'' after the IRA met international demands to declare its 1997 cease-fire permanent and to renounce violence. —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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