[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 31 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 31

            Concerning human rights in the north of Ireland.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 1993

  Mr. Engel submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
            Concerning human rights in the north of Ireland.

Whereas the list of human rights abuses involving important elements of the 
        British Government is lengthy and well documented as evidenced by recent 
        reports from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Amnesty International, 
        and the Helsinki Watch Committee;
Whereas the legal safeguards against such abuses of human rights are often 
        inadequate;
Whereas although killings by the Irish Republican Army and Loyalist paramilitary 
        forces outnumber those by the British security forces, the more than 300 
        killings by security forces since 1969 (many of which involved unarmed 
        civilians) have resulted in only 21 murder charges, with only 2 
        convictions;
Whereas investigations of police abuses have been internal and not available to 
        the public, including the victims and their families;
Whereas evidence persists that security forces, acting in concert with the 
        British Government, have on more than one occasion sought to cover up 
        reports of certain violations;
Whereas an investigation by Deputy Chief Constable John Stalker revealed the 
        existence of an elaborate cover-up in a case in which an elite anti-
        terrorist squad of the Royal Ulster Constabulary was involved in the 
        killing of six Catholic youths, including the falsification of 
        testimony, obstruction of the coroner's investigation, and the 
        destruction of critical evidence;
Whereas British authorities undertook a lengthy campaign to discredit Stalker, 
        and his recommendations were ignored;
Whereas there has been a long standing and warm alliance between the United 
        States and Great Britain which has been a source of stability and 
        comfort to many Americans, especially during this time of rapidly 
        shifting international alliances;
Whereas the political and judicial principles which guide our Nation today, 
        including safeguards painstakingly hewn from the British Magna Carta, 
        urgently compel us to speak out against inequity and abuse no matter 
        where in the world they occur;
Whereas our stubborn and irrepressible commitment to fairness and decency does 
        not distinguish between friend and enemy, criminal or prosecutor, and 
        the American covenant of democracy commits us to protest any wrongdoing 
        and confront any injustice;
Whereas the turmoil and bloodshed will not come to an end until the British 
        authorities, including the military and security forces, are prepared to 
        protect and defend the human rights of all the people of the north of 
        Ireland; and
Whereas as an ally and a friend, the United States has a unique opportunity to 
        insist that Great Britain adhere to recognized standards of justice and 
        decency in the north of Ireland, and as a leading power in the world 
        community, we have a special responsibility to do so: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress hereby petitions the President to intervene 
personally with the Government of Great Britain to urge that 
government--
            (1) to address the continuing human rights violations in 
        the north of Ireland, and
            (2) to initiate talks among all parties involved in the 
        conflict there in an effort to find a lasting and equitable 
        solution.

                                 <all>