US House Votes 421-2 for Independent Nelson Inquiry Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit US HOUSE VOTES 421-2 FOR INDEPENDENT NELSON INQUIRY 04/20/99 16:23 EST The United States House of Representatives today overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution calling for an independant inquiry in to the murder of Northern Ireland Human Rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson. The final vote was 421 - 2 in favor of the resolution. Congressman Chris Smith's (R) House Resolution 128 calls on the Government of the United Kingdom-- (A) to launch an inquiry totally independent of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) to gather evidence, conduct the ground investigation, and issue a detailed, public, report on the murder of defense attorney Rosemary Nelson; (B) to institute an independent judicial inquiry into allegations that defense attorneys are systematically harassed and intimidated by security forces; and (C) to implement the United Nations Special Rapporteur's recommendation for an independent inquiry into the possibility of collusion in the killing of defense attorney Patrick Finucane. Today's vote will be seen as a huge boost to the recently launched Rosemary Nelson Campaign which is considering asking a senior United Nations figure to oversee an independent investigation into the murder. Campaigners are considering asking UN Special Rapporteur Param Cumaraswamy, who investigated claims RUC officers issued death threats against Mrs Nelson, to lead the probe, it emerged yesterday. The campaign - which is being supported by the Nelson family and which was launched in Belfast yesterday - detailed its demands for an independent investigation of the killing, as well as a wider independent judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mrs Nelsons murder in a loyalist car bomb attack on March 15. Yesterdays launch was attended by leading British human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce who added her weight to the call for an independent probe. Spokesman for the pressure group, Dr Robbie McVeigh, insisted it would be non-political and centre on a demand all sections of the community could support - the defence of human rights. The murder of Rosemary Nelson was of course a terrible event with potentially huge implications for policing and human rights in the north of Ireland, he said. It was, however, primarily a human tragedy for her family and friends and it bears emphasis, whatever happens in terms of the pursuit of truth and justice in this case, their loss can never be replaced. It is also true, however, that there will be some solace to her family and friends in the achievement of the truth about the circumstances surrounding her murder. He said the campaigns simple demands were the only means of securing the truth. Referring to allegations of security force collusion in the killing, he added: Justice must be done and must be seen to be done in this case. If the RUC or other security forces were involved in collusion in the murder then this must be exposed. If not they have nothing to fear from an independent investigation and indeed should welcome it. The organisers of the campaign said the Nelson familys calls for an independent inquiry had already been backed by Catholic Primate Archbishop Sean Brady, SDLP leader John Hume, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, the European Parliament, the US Congress and Mr Cumaraswamy. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, the Committee on the Administration of Justice, British/Irish Rights Watch, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Irish Council on Civil Liberties, are also calling for an outside police force to conduct the murder investigation. "The success of the peace process is predicated on the people's ability to believe that injustices such as this will be investigated thoroughly, fairly, and transparently," said Rep. Chris Smith, the prime author of the bill. "It is absolutely critical that a truely impartial investigation of Rosemary Nelson's murder will be conducted and, in the end, help further the cause of peace. As a champion of Due Process rights, Rosemary deserves no less. For this investigation to be beyond reproach, it must be organized, managed, directed, and run by someone other than the RUC," said Smith. But RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan has rejected calls for an outside police force to carry out the investigation into the Nelson assasination. Flanagan stated that the RUC were best qualified to take charge of the investigation. He said it would be done in an absolutely thorough and professional manner. The UK Government has also rejected calls to remove all Royal Ulster Constabulary officers from the investigation. Britain's Northern Ireland Office Minister Lord Dubs said the RUC was best qualified to carry out the murder hunt, which is to be assisted by Kent Chief Constable David Phillips, with help from the FBI. He said: "If you were to remove the RUC, how can we have an effective inquiry? We want to investigate the murder quickly, find out who the criminals were and bring them to justice. I don't want any delay." __________________________________________________________ The Irish American Information Service is a non-profit organization providing up-to-the-minute political news from Ireland to the world. The IAIS is funded entirely by your contributions. Please send your tax-deductable contributions to IAIS at the National Press Building, 529 14th Street NW, Suite 837, Washington, DC 20045. You can visit us on the Web at http://www.iais.org ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-04.24.99-12:52:43-11149