[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E93-E94]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROTEST OF SCOTS GUARDS CONCERT AT SOVEREIGN BANK ARENA IN NEW JERSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2003

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, for too long, Great Britain has used its 
military and police forces to oppress our friends, family and loved 
ones in Northern Ireland. It is now time that Prime Minister Tony Blair 
and the British Parliament take immediate steps to right centuries of 
murders, anti-catholic bias and oppression.
  As all of you know far too well, the case of Peter McBride is 
appalling and reprehensible. I find it unconscionable that the two men 
who were tried convicted and sentenced for the murder of Peter, were 
not only released from prison but were allowed to rejoin the Scots 
Guard. This is absurd.
  I am proud to lend my voice in calling on Great Britain to 
immediately remove these two guardsmen.
  I also stand with you today in calling on Great Britain to 
immediately reinstate the power sharing government that was created by 
the Good Friday Accords. As many of you know, last October, Prime 
Minister Blair suspended the Belfast Assembly. The Good Friday Accords 
and more specifically the participation of all parties in the power 
sharing government are the only real solution to lasting peace in 
Northern Ireland.
  However, the only way for the agreements and power-sharing 
institutions to succeed is for Unionists to immediately accept equality 
amongst all citizens and parties in the North. The Protestant ruling 
parties must cease their stall tactics and work within the confines of 
the agreement to create a government that will be representative of all 
residents of Northern Ireland.
  Northern Ireland must also immediately implement all of the Patten 
Commission's recommendations. The North must provide its citizens with 
a full, fair and just reform of their police service. The PSNI (Police 
Service of Northern Ireland) must be representative of all ethnic, 
religious and political groups in Northern Ireland. Prime Minister 
Blair should immediately demand a full implementation of the Patten 
police recommendations and ensure that Northern Ireland has a police 
service that is representative of all parties involved.
  Once the Northern Ireland Assembly is reinstated, the first item on 
their agenda should be

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to provide the citizens of Northern Ireland with a Constitutional Bill 
of Rights. Northern Ireland should draw from the experiences of the 
U.S. and South Africa, and create a binding document that specifically 
lays out the liberties and rights of all the residents of the North. 
Citizens of Northern Ireland should be guaranteed the right against 
unreasonable search and seizures, the right against being detained 
without charges filed and the right to openly practice one's religion.
  It is my hope that Prime Minister Blair will take immediate action on 
reinstatement of the Belfast Assembly and come to his senses and 
terminate these two Scots Guards. I hope that we will honor Peter 
McBride's memory by continuing our fight for equality and self-rule in 
Northern Ireland. Again, while we should never forget Peter's murder, 
we should use this atrocity as a basis for human rights and police 
reform in the North.
  I look forward to continuing to work for the right of all citizens of 
Northern Ireland.

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