or are you just expressing amazement that the real world's arrangement is somewhat at odds with your notion of how it ought to be?
Yes exactly
Those families (or representative) are one of the parties interested in the investigation process like are AF Airbus and others that can be added
They are also partie of the trial to come like AF Airbus and others that can be added ..
All but the representative of families have the right to be observers
Something unfair in The Convention on International Civil Aviation
If the representative of the families had the right to sign the convention .. be sure he will
Seems it's denied to them ...
And for the release of documents to public by BEA:
The FDR listing was never released (so far)