Campaign for US Congressional Hearing on Policing
Date: 9th Sept '02
Name: RM Irish news article
Campaign for US Congressional Hearing on Policing
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The following urgent call for a US Congressional Hearing on
Policing in the north of Ireland is from the Irish Northern
Aid Committee.
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BACKGROUND
The Good Friday Agreement promised a new policing service that
would be:
* Representative of the community it polices
* Democratically accountable for its actions
* Free from partisan political control
* Infused with a human rights culture
* Culturally neutral in respect of its flag, badge, symbols,
working environment, etc.
Since the launch of the new, so called Policing Service Northern
Ireland towards the end of 2001, events have proved that the
sectarian Royal Ulster Constabulary is still in place in
practical reality, the same British securocrat/intelligence
establishment and Special Branch operatives are pulling the
strings as before, and the promises of the Good Friday Agreement
have gone largely unfulfilled.
This reality is documented by the disastrous police work by the
"new" Police Service Northern Ireland over the past months
surrounding:
1] four months of child abuse by loyalist mobs against Holy Cross
Elementary School while the RUC/PSNI turned their backs on the
protesters allowing pipebombs, animal feces, verbal abuse and
dangerous missiles to rain down on little children -- with not
one arrest nor attempt to defuse the situation;
2] the continuing murders and sectarian attacks against Catholic
families and neighborhoods throughout the north;
3] the political attacks against Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan
from the "police" hierarchy over her report disclosing police
ineffectiveness, ignoring vital warnings, and the subsequent
cover-up associated with the Omagh bombing where over a score of
innocent people died;
4] the murder, immediately after his release form police custody,
of a key witness [John Stobie] against the RUC/British
intelligence in the murder of Pat Finucane;
5] the mysterious break-in of Castlereagh Interrogation Centre in
which key documents went missing, documents which could
potentially implicate the police themselves;
6] and the viciousness and political nature of the attacks in
March and April 2002 against Republican ex-prisoner activists and
anti-militarization activists in South Armagh. And much, much
more.
In July '02, a British documentary program produced by BBC called
"A License To Kill" was aired. In stunning fashion, this two part
series tied the murder of human rights lawyer Pat Finucane [and
others] directly to the RUC and British intelligence. Not a
revelation to Irish nationalists. The police collusion in the
murders of Rosemary Nelson and Robert Hamill and many, many
others still cry out for independent, international inquiry The
Police Service Northern Ireland still is not democratically
accountable for its actions The Police Service Northern Ireland
still is associated with the sectarian mission of the past The
Police Service Northern Ireland still is neither culturally
neutral nor concerned with human rights.
It is time for the US Congress to hold hearings on the policing
situation in the north of Ireland.
WRITE/COMMUNICATE TO THE FOLLOWING
Congressman Chris Smith of NJ has been the force behind two
previous International Relations Committee hearings on policing
in the north of Ireland. During the first hearing, human rights
lawyer Rosemary Nelson testified before the committee that the
RUC threatened her life on numerous occasions. She was murdered a
few months later.
He needs to be encouraged to sponsor a hearing as soon as
possible. He is very dedicated, knowledgeable and sympathetic; we
need to tell him we are behind him in supporting a hearing. A
brief message is best. Thank him for his work in the past and ask
him to convene hearings on the RUC/PSNI as soon as possible. Give
a good reason for him to do so. That's it. Two sentences.
The Congressman's addresses: Christopher H. Smith 2373 Rayburn
House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-3004 [202] 225-3765
Fax [202] 225-7768
In the forefront of the group that stood up for the Irish peace
process on the International Relations committee are: Congressmen
Ben Gilman [R - NY], Joe Crowley [D - NY], Donald Payne [D - NJ],
Eliot Engel [D - NY], Robert Menendez [D - NJ], Peter King [R -
NY], and Chris Smith [R - NJ].
Call or communicate to your Members of Congress whether on the
committee or not, to ask them for help in calling for a hearing
and to attend if one takes place.
You can be connected to your member of congress through the
congressional operators at 1-202-224-3121; just ask for your
member's office.
For further information, contact Gerry Coleman, Irish Northern
Aid Committee political education director: noraid@inac.org
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