People's Tribunal to examine state abuse
By Mary Maguire
A People's Tribunal into the abuses of the RUC, British Army and
other state bodies is to be held in Belfast on 26 February in the
Dukes Hotel.
A group of US lawyers from the Lawyers Alliance for Justice will be
collecting evidence and information on abuses committed in
RUC torture centres such as Castlereagh, and also on the streets, in
private houses as well as in courts.
This Tribunal is the first in a series to be held in the Six Counties
and South Armagh in particular.
The information gathered will be passed onto the US Congress under
the leadership of Congressman Ben Gilman who will expose the past and
present abuses that has not been so far covered by the ``victims'
commissions'' set up by the British government.
``We are appealing on anyone who has precise and factual information
to come forward and give evidence both publicly or privately if they
wish. Confidentiality will be respected. The Tribunal does not need
general accusations against the military, police, the courts. It
needs names of the individuals who are known to have done these
things. Already over 130 names have been given,'' said Father Des
Wilson.
``It is our aim to ensure that those responsible for abusing our
people while in power must be exposed and be prevented from holding
any public post in the future,'' he added. ``It is vital that the names
of those responsible should be known and given to our elected
representatives, to human rights associations and the US Congress.''
For more information, contact The People's Tribunal on (01232) 326
722
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