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British military amnesty: Boris Johnson's campaign promise

In full commemoration on November 11th, one month before the planned UK elections, Boris Johnson promised to end "vexatious lawsuits" against British soldiers.

Boris Johnson promised veterans his full support if he was re-elected on December 12. And that goes through the amendment of the Human Rights Act of 1998. This law allows families of victims of abuses to sue the British army in court. The Prime Minister wants to amend this law so that it is not retroactive and therefore does not apply to cases before 2000, the date of its entry into force.

The Northern Ireland Disorders in question

With this amendment, more prosecutions for alleged crimes committed during the war in Northern Ireland, "the Troubles". Very quickly, the British Secretary of State for Defense had to clarify things. It is not a question of amnesty, but simply to prevent the reopening of classified cases if no new evidence is advanced. According to the "Johnsonian" formula, the measure must protect our veterans from unfair trials.

Yet the troubles are over for a long time. The peace agreement was signed in 98, more than 20 years ago. But not everything is solved. Officially, moreover, Operation Banner ended in 2007, twelve years ago, that is to say yesterday on the scale of history.

At this moment, six veterans of the British army are liable to prosecution for their actions during the Troubles. Among the facts under investigation, the murders committed during the Bloody Sunday, during a pacifist republican march, in Derry in 1972, the British army opened fire and killed 14 people. The trial of one of these men, Private F, is scheduled to begin next year.

It is inevitably difficult to know the number of cases concerning the British army. The conflict archive center at the University of Ulster counts nearly 300 deaths attributable to Her Majesty's soldiers. All these deaths do not amount to abuses.

The Irish government opposes this promise

This campaign promise was greeted with great concern in Ireland. Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Monday, November 11 that the suggestion was simply contrary to the Good Friday agreement , which outlaws amnesty and prescription. According to Simon Coveneu, such a law would threaten the process of reconciliation ...

In the North, the main political parties on all sides are also indignant. " Unacceptable ", for the Sinn Féin, " electoralist ", for unionists of the UUP.

But ultimately, the promise Johnson did not make the headlines. Everyone keeps in mind that this is just a campaign promise. Moreover, Boris Johnson had already made this promise last summer, before becoming Prime Minister. And in fact, legally it will be very complicated for the British executive to pass such an amendment. Especially for the judicial processes already in progress.