Caoimhghín O Caoláin TD will give the keynote address to the Annual Congress of the Irish American Unity Conference in San Francisco on 8 November.

While in San Francisco he is due to visit Irish prisoners Pól Brennan, Kevin Barry Artt and Terry Kirby who on 27 November were denied bail by a California Court. They are appealing against a decision to extradite them to the Six Counties.

O Caoláin attended the reception in Dublin Castle on 30 October for Hillary Clinton. Before his departure for the States O Caoláin said:

``The role of Irish America is as vital as ever with negotiations under way. Issues of equality as well as the central constitutional demand for an Irish national democracy continue to be highlighted by all the friends of Ireland in the United States. The positive role of the Clinton administration is ongoing and I conveyed this to Hillary Clinton when I spoke to her on Thursday evening.

``Attempts to extradite the H-Block Three from California, like the attempted extradition of fellow H-Block escaper Tony Kelly from this jurisdiction, are totally inconsistent with the peace process. The H-Block Three should be released from jail in California and I will be using the opportunity of my visit to support them and their families.''

O Caoláin will be meeting with elected officials in California and a cross-section of Irish community leaders in San Francisco.

Congressional Committee passes human rights resolution

By Padraigin Newell

The US government's House International Relations Committee almost unanimously passed a long awaited human rights resolution on the Six Counties, a move sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith. There was only one opposition vote, from New York Congressman Amo Houghton.

Under the leadership of Smith, chair of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, the committee has held two hearings on human rights in the Six Counties since June 1997. The resolution seeks to ``adequately address outstanding human rights violations and fully integrate internationally recognised human rights standards as part of the peace process.''

Prior to the vote anglophile representatives from the State department argued that it was ``not a good time for this type of legislation,'' prompting an angry response from Ben Gilman, Chair of the House International Relations Committee and a sponsor of the Bill, ``It hasn't been a good time for over 700 years.''

Other key components of the resolution call on the US Congress to condemn violence by agents of the British government as well as other combatants to the conflict, that a truly independent complaints mechanism for the review of citizens inquiries regarding alleged abuses of the RUC and other security forces should be established and that plastic bullets should be withdrawn from use in accordance with the recommendations of the European Parliament and many other international and local bodies.

In a statement issued shortly after the debate Congressman Gilman said, ``The need for respect for human rights as an essential part for finding lasting solutions for the Northern Ireland issue, is self evident.''

Urging adoption of the Resolution, ``by all those concerned about securing lasting peace and justice in Northern Ireland,'' Gilman added. ``We cannot neglect fundamental respect for human rights. The need for reform, especially in the treatment of the minority nationalist community, should not be overlooked.''