‘Truth telling’ important for post-conflict resolution

‘Truth telling’ processes can play an important role in post-conflict resolutionaccording to new University of Ulster research.

Dr Patricia Lundy from the School of Applied Social Studies at UU and Dr Mark McGovern from Edge Hill College, Ormskirk, have been investigating attitudes towards post conflict truth and justice issues.

Using a case study of a local community-based truth telling process undertaken by the Ardoyne Commemoration Project (ACP), they examined whether such work does any good for the individuals and families involved or on a wider social/political plane.

Key findings included:

• Truth telling processes are an important tool for providing a space for the individual’s story and of having previously marginalized voices recorded;
• Issues of healing and closure are closely inter-related to issues of justice and accountability;
• The truth telling process played an important role in intra-community conflict resolution;
• Truth telling processes help make inroads into the prevailing ‘culture of silence’ on previously taboo subject;
• Key to the project’s success was inclusiveness, community participation, local ownership and control.

However, the researchers warned of the dangers of truth telling initiatives being seen as solely a nationalist agenda. The report found that unionists, in general, entered into truth telling processes with a great deal of suspicion and/or trepidation.

Dr Lundy said: “It is clear from the research there is a need and desire to deal with our past. Community-based initiatives have an important role to play and contribution to make. People and particularly relatives of victims need to feel they have ownership and control of any such process whether state-led or community-based.”

The research was funded by Community Relations Council under the Peace II programme.

(MB/SP)