24 May 2001 Edition
US Committee reinforces RUC ban
The International Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives has approved an amendment to promote human rights in the North of Ireland. The amendment, cosponsored by Chris Smith and Peter King, strengthens the current suspension of exchanges between the FBI and RUC and calls for three Presidential reports on human rights and police reform in the North of Ireland. Specifically, it mandates a report on the Rosemary Nelson, Pat Finucane and Robert Hamill murder investigations from the US President.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on policing, Gerry Kelly described the ongoing interest and attention from the US on the issue of policing as ``both welcome and necessary, particularly in respect of powers to inquire into the multiple abuses by the RUC Special Branch and their support units which the British government is attempting to keep covered up''.
The recent `Insight' programme on UTV into the activities of the `force within a force' identified by Patten is a damning indictment of the Special Branch, he said. ``Yet these human rights abusers all remain in place,'' said Kelly. ``They are still in the RUC and the British government has refused to make provision for effective inquiries in the new policing legislation into their activities. This is totally unacceptable. Young nationalists will not join any police force unless they can satisfy themselves that human rights abusers have been removed and that any future abuses, should they occur, will be met with immediate and effective action.''
Sinn Féin spokesperson on policing, Gerry Kelly described the ongoing interest and attention from the US on the issue of policing as ``both welcome and necessary, particularly in respect of powers to inquire into the multiple abuses by the RUC Special Branch and their support units which the British government is attempting to keep covered up''.
The recent `Insight' programme on UTV into the activities of the `force within a force' identified by Patten is a damning indictment of the Special Branch, he said. ``Yet these human rights abusers all remain in place,'' said Kelly. ``They are still in the RUC and the British government has refused to make provision for effective inquiries in the new policing legislation into their activities. This is totally unacceptable. Young nationalists will not join any police force unless they can satisfy themselves that human rights abusers have been removed and that any future abuses, should they occur, will be met with immediate and effective action.''