Paul Andersen ([email protected])
Thu, 4 Feb 1999 15:06:21 -0700
Wednesday, February 3, 1999 Published at 13:43 GMT
BBC Online
Amnesty to probe punishment beatings
Human rights group Amnesty International is sending a mission to Northern
Ireland to investigate so-called paramilitary punishment beatings.
The group, which investigates allegations of human rights abuses throughout
the world, said that it was sending a team to the province after a
request from the Northern Ireland Assembly's First Minister David Trimble.
The team, which will not include any UK citizens, will investigate the
on-going beatings carried out by both republican and loyalist groups that
are threatening to disrupt the peace process.
Latest police figures show that more than 40 beatings have occurred this
year, but some community groups insist that far more go unreported.
The attacks have sometimes led to the victims losing limbs or other
serious injuries, and the RUC says that the attacks are being carried out
by paramilitaries on both sides of the sectarian divide.
But while unionists have accused Republicans of failing to act over
beatings carried out by the IRA, Sinn Fein has welcomed the Amnesty
International move, saying that all abuses including those carried out by
the RUC must be investigated.
Speaking to the BBC, Jill Heiney of Amnesty International said that the
organisation had been surprised by Mr Trimble's request.
"We have written to David Trimble, the government and leaders of other
political parties to speak to them about the implementation of the human
rights aspects of the Agreement.
"We had received no response from David Trimble until this letter."
Ms Heiney said that Amnesty has monitored Northern Ireland on a regular
basis, and it had concerns not just over punishment beatings but also the
use of plastic bullets by the police, and the restrictions to access to
lawyers under emergency anti-terrorism provisions.
'End kneecappings'
Mr Trimble, who held talks with Mr Blair on Wednesday, said he believed
that Amnesty International's presence could end "kneecappings" for good.
In his letter to the organisation, Mr Trimble wrote: "These human rights
abuses would rightly be denounced if they were happening in Africa and
South America. They should not be tolerated in the United Kingdom."
"Perhaps now you could give us the help needed to ensure the paramilitaries
observe the conditions of non-violence they signed up to in the agreement."
Under the current timetable, the Northern Ireland Assembly's xecutive is
scheduled to begin work in March but unionists are refusing to enter a
power-sharing agreement with Sinn Fein unless the IRA begins
decommissioning of weapons.
Conservative leader William Hague has already called for a halt to
paramilitary prisoner releases while the violence continues. Prime Minister
Tony Blair has rejected the call, saying that it could destroy attempts to
implement last year's political agreement.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Blair said: "The best way that
we can push the process forward is for all aspects of the agreement to be
implemented.
"We have made enormous progress and I hope both sides of the House can work
to make more."
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