11 February 1999 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

Youth slam RUC

Young people from across the Six Counties broke their silence about how the criminal justice system has failed them during a conference held last Tuesday in the Europa Hotel in Belfast. The conference was organised by the Committee on the Administration of Justice, the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders and the Nucleus centre. Over 70 young people and representatives of various community groups attended.

The use and abuse of British emergency legislation was particularly highlighted, as it has been applied to youth as young as 10 years of age.

Other issues, such as the lack of accountability of the RUC, the work of various agencies dealing with criminal justice and official social services as well as the success of community restorative justice schemes were debated.

The conference was attended by various assembly members, including Sinn Féin's Sue Ramsey and Baírbre de Brun. Commissioner on Human Rights Brice Dickson and Commission on Policing member Maurice Hayes were also present.

One of the issues lengthily debated and that came to be a focus point in all discussions was the work of the RUC. During the presentations made at the opening of the conference by the youth of both communities, the RUC was portrayed as a hostile and menacing organisation. In sketches, many youth represented the RUC through scenes of verbal, physical and sexual abuse. The comments made about the RUC were full of anger and bitterness.

This hostile perception was further highlighted when many youth shared their experience of the RUC in the presence of Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan. ``My experience in the hands of the RUC has been one of sectarian harassment. How can you expect us to trust a force that has never brought justice and truth, the real truth, Mr. Flanagan?'' asked one of the young

women participants. ``What does the future hold? The RUC needs to be totally disbanded and a police force that can be trusted needs to be established. Time is right for change, for a true justice system to be established.''

When challenged on the ``gap of perception'' between what the youth expressed about the RUC and his own personal view, Ronnie Flanagan denied that there was any and blamed this idea on the ``wall of propaganda being erected against the police''. His comments during a panel discussion were described by most of the youth as ``offensive''. His statement was repudiated as a mere public relations exercise and angered participants more. Many young people from West and the wider areas of East Belfast were further infuriated when Ronnie Flanagan argued that ``disbandment is not even an option''.

The conference was described as a great success by both the youth and the organisers. Follow-up work on the conclusions of the various panel discussions and debates will now begin.

 

People's Tribunal to examine state abuse



By Mary Maguire

A People's Tribunal into the abuses of the RUC, British Army and other state bodies is to be held in Belfast on 26 February in the Dukes Hotel.

A group of US lawyers from the Lawyers Alliance for Justice will be collecting evidence and information on abuses committed in

RUC torture centres such as Castlereagh, and also on the streets, in private houses as well as in courts.

This Tribunal is the first in a series to be held in the Six Counties and South Armagh in particular.

The information gathered will be passed onto the US Congress under the leadership of Congressman Ben Gilman who will expose the past and present abuses that has not been so far covered by the ``victims' commissions'' set up by the British government.

``We are appealing on anyone who has precise and factual information to come forward and give evidence both publicly or privately if they wish. Confidentiality will be respected. The Tribunal does not need general accusations against the military, police, the courts. It needs names of the individuals who are known to have done these things. Already over 130 names have been given,'' said Father Des Wilson.

``It is our aim to ensure that those responsible for abusing our people while in power must be exposed and be prevented from holding any public post in the future,'' he added. ``It is vital that the names of those responsible should be known and given to our elected representatives, to human rights associations and the US Congress.''

For more information, contact The People's Tribunal on (01232) 326 722
 


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland