The issue of victims is very much in vogue these days. It is a tentative and disconcerting matter that evokes much pain, anguish and blame. The diversity of victim’s groups in existence testifies to the variety of interpretations of who is victim and why. This issue goes right to the core of the conflict and most likely will never go away. Every day (and night) there are new victims. Someone once said that victims are not liked; they challenge our allegiances and our consciences. Despite the period of relative peace and the blood, sweat and tears of individuals, groups and governments there will always be the threat of violence and thus the potential for more victims.

If there is one thing that we have learned from the faltering implementation of the peace process it is that we cannot legislate peace. Genuine and lasting peace can and will only be brought about when we commit ourselves to frank and honest dialogue and face up to the issues which have divided the two communities here for centuries.

We must look to other countries and learn from their example to resolve the serious dilemmas that are at the heart of the conflict. The relative peace has allowed some of the sediment to settle and hopefully we can begin to focus more clearly on the difficult tasks that lie ahead.

The issue of victims is being addressed by various government and voluntary agencies. Kenneth Bloomfield has proposed a monument to all the victims of the 'Troubles'. What type of monument does he envisage? There are inherent dangers in monuments and how people read into and interpret them. Hundreds of monuments erected to commemorate the fallen of two world wars derive homage from only one section of the community.

A detailed report 'All Truth is Bitter' from Dr Alex Boraine, Deputy Chairman of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, on the issue of victims here has recently been published. It deals with almost every aspect of the victim dilemma. We can learn much from it. Who are the victims … all of us? This could be debated and discussed until the next Millennium but is there really one answer. Who are perpetrators … all of us? Are we all not victims of circumstance and of history? Are those killed at Loughgall any less 'victim' than those killed at Loughinisland? Is Bobby Sands M.P. any more ‘victim’ than Airey Neave, M.P? There are many facets to the victim question. We can all fall back on the 'blame game' or the 'what aboutery'. Republicans blame the creation of an artificial statelet, decades of structural endemic bigotry and discrimination. Loyalists fear a change in the status quo will ultimately lead to a diminution of their perceived privileged status. They fear that a united Ireland would herald an end to their distinct cultural, religious or 'ethnic' identities. The fears of both communities and the issues that go to the heart of the conflict are laid bare on a mile of road called Garvaghy every summer. There are bitter truths we must acknowledge and come to terms with before we can progress.

We must acknowledge that the 'Troubles', in whatever era, primarily impacted on the working class communities. There has always been that class dimension. There must be a salient lesson in this salient fact for everyone whose concern is for lasting peace and reconciliation. We only have to look at the class make-up of the thousands who went through the gaols. Not from Malone, Cherry Valley or the 'barrister belt' on the County Down coast.

Despite the relative peace and relative violence we know that things are changing …big time. Old arguments are losing validity in this fast changing globalised society. Loyalists are uniquely looking at and even challenging the issue of their allegiance and identity. Goals espoused by Republicans have been diluted to aspirations. Stormont has not been 'torn down stone by stone' and those who advocated it by bullet or ballot are now part of its fabric. We have entered the realms of realpolitik. Some of us have faltered out of our entrenched doctrinaire corners to get a better look at our rivals.