[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise today--St. Patrick's Day--to call 
attention to human rights abuses in Northern Ireland. I became 
particularly aware of ``the Troubles,'' as the conflict there is known, 
when I was a student at Oxford in the 1970's. The events in Northern 
Ireland greatly disturbed me then, as they do now, and I never fathomed 
how long these events would restrict the lives and freedoms of the 
people of Northern Ireland.
  Over 20 years and over 3,000 lives later, the violence continues. We 
must vigorously condemn the heinous crimes, the murdering and the 
maiming, the terror, and the torture inflicted upon innocent civilians 
by both Loyalist and Republican paramilitary organizations. I condemn 
the recent mortar attacks on Heathrow Airport in London and threats of 
further attacks there and on Gatwick Airport. These terrorist acts are 
despicable and cannot be rewarded in any way. Yet, as Britain seeks to 
control and punish such acts of terror, it cannot abuse the rights of 
innocents.
  So, today, I want to speak not about these patently offensive acts 
but against other insidious activites. Today, I want to speak about the 
human rights abuses and civil liberties violations committed by the 
British Government against Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland.
  This is a difficult subject for Americans. Great Britain is a good 
friend and ally of the United States. But I strongly believe our 
special relationship with Britain cannot allow us to turn a blind eye 
to violations of fundamental, basic human rights, no matter where they 
occur. The offenses of which I speak were outlined by Amnesty 
International in its 1994 report on political killings in Northern 
Ireland, and in the State Department's 1993 Report on Human Rights 
Practices in the United Kingdom.
  According to these reports, human rights abuses taking place in 
Northern Ireland include: searches and arrests without warrants; 
detention and interrogation of criminal suspects without access to 
legal representation; and the inference of guilt in criminal trials 
based solely on the silence of the accused.
  There have also been allegations of mistreatment of criminal 
suspects, including physical and mental abuse, and the use of 
confessions obtained through these methods.
  Mr. President, some of these practices are brought to light in the 
film ``In the Name of the Father,'' which was, for the most part, an 
actual account of a casualty of ``the Troubles.'' Although this film 
tells the story of one man, in truth it tells the story of many, for 
some of the practices dramatized in the film continue to this very day, 
as is indicated in the report of our State Department.

  The wrongful arrest, conviction, and imprisonment of the Guildford 
Four was not an isolated incident. The Winchester 3 and the Birmingham 
6 can tell you that much. Miscarriages of justice continue for the 
Irish Catholics of Northern Ireland and will do so until the British 
Government attempts to mend serious flaws in its legal system.
  While I find these practices abhorrent, even more serious in my mind 
are allegations of collusion in political killings between members of 
the British Government's security forces and armed paramilitary groups 
such as the Ulster Defense Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force.
  According to Amnesty International, ``Allegations of collusion range 
from direct involvement of security force personnel in Loyalist death 
squads, complicity by authorities in such killings, to aiding and 
abetting such actions through the passing on of intelligence 
information.'' Amnesty International points out that the victims are 
``almost always members of the minority Catholic community and often 
targeted solely because of their religion.''
  It is, indeed, hard to believe that this kind of activity is 
perpetuated by a country whose political traditions inspired some of 
our legal and democratic processes and institutions. While no system is 
without its flaws, including our own, I believe that at the very least 
it is the responsibility of a government to investigate and prosecute 
the individuals involved in these kinds of activities.
  The United Kingdom is a cherished friend to our Nation, but the 
United States must also be a friend to the people of Northern Ireland 
who suffer as a consequence of existing policies. Our strong ties to 
the people of Great Britain--Catholic and Protestant and all other 
religions alike--compel us to urge the British Government to pursue the 
course of justice in these matters. I am encouraged by recent 
improvements in the situation in Northern Ireland and the apparent 
willingness of all parties to work to achieve peace. This process can 
only be strengthened and expedited by the restoration of human rights 
to the people of Northern Ireland.
  Mr. President, America's first settlers fled Britain to escape the 
discrimination and persecution they faced because of their religion. 
Four hundred years later, the Catholics of Northern Ireland live under 
the shadow of this history. On this day when we celebrate the Irish in 
all Americans, I urge the British Government to return to these people 
their rightful liberties for the sake of decency and for the sake of 
peace.

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