SOUTH'S SECURITY BLITZ CHALLENGED
South's security blitz challenged
By Brendan Anderson
New measures 'could perpetuate conflict'
PROPOSED tough new laws in the Republic could cause more problems than they solve, human rights watchdogs have warned.
In a statement issued last night, the groups said they shared the public revulsion at "the horrendous events in Omagh" - but they expressed concern about legislative proposals being considered by the British and Irish governments in the aftermath of the bomb.
Under the new laws - described by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as "draconian" and due to be rushed through the Republic's legal system in the next fortnight - suspects could be denied the right to silence, convicted on the word of a senior police officer and face the new charge of directing terrorism.
Last night's statement - signed by representatives of the Committee on the Administration of Justice, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, British Irish Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the New York-based Human Rights Watch -warned that such emergency legislation often resulted in miscarriages of justice.
Michael Farrell, ICCL, said the Irish government's response to the Omagh bombing '"was reminiscent of actions taken by the British government in the wake of the Birmingham bombing 25 years ago", which led to six wrongfully-convicted Irishmen each spending 16 years in jail.
"We should remember that those departures from the rule of law led to miscarriages of justice and the imprisonment of people like the Birmingham Six and the Guildford Four, while those responsible remained free.
"While governments have a responsibility to bring perpetrators to justice, they need to be sure that their response is in conformity with internationally-protected human rights.
"The intention of those who planted the bomb at Omagh was to undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the search for peace. CAJ and ICCL are urging both governments to ensure that this does not succeed," Mr Farrell said.
The CAJ's Martin O'Brien said the Republic's proposed new laws "largely replicated measures already in place in Northern Ireland".
"There is no evidence to suggest that restrictions on the right to remain silent or the creation of new offences have been particularly effective in reducing the level of paramilitary violence. Indeed, our experience has been that the use of emergency powers has helped to perpetuate rather than resolve the conflict."
"To convict someone of membership solely on the word of a police officer and the accused's own silence would be a breach of the right to a fair trial. In Northern Ireland, where extensive emergency powers have allowed the RUC to effectively intern suspects by remand, the consequences of allowing the RUC the choice of who to convict, are even starker," Mr O'Brien said.
By Brendan Anderson
New measures 'could perpetuate conflict'
PROPOSED tough new laws in the Republic could cause more problems than they solve, human rights watchdogs have warned.
In a statement issued last night, the groups said they shared the public revulsion at "the horrendous events in Omagh" - but they expressed concern about legislative proposals being considered by the British and Irish governments in the aftermath of the bomb.
Under the new laws - described by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as "draconian" and due to be rushed through the Republic's legal system in the next fortnight - suspects could be denied the right to silence, convicted on the word of a senior police officer and face the new charge of directing terrorism.
Last night's statement - signed by representatives of the Committee on the Administration of Justice, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, British Irish Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the New York-based Human Rights Watch -warned that such emergency legislation often resulted in miscarriages of justice.
Michael Farrell, ICCL, said the Irish government's response to the Omagh bombing '"was reminiscent of actions taken by the British government in the wake of the Birmingham bombing 25 years ago", which led to six wrongfully-convicted Irishmen each spending 16 years in jail.
"We should remember that those departures from the rule of law led to miscarriages of justice and the imprisonment of people like the Birmingham Six and the Guildford Four, while those responsible remained free.
"While governments have a responsibility to bring perpetrators to justice, they need to be sure that their response is in conformity with internationally-protected human rights.
"The intention of those who planted the bomb at Omagh was to undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the search for peace. CAJ and ICCL are urging both governments to ensure that this does not succeed," Mr Farrell said.
The CAJ's Martin O'Brien said the Republic's proposed new laws "largely replicated measures already in place in Northern Ireland".
"There is no evidence to suggest that restrictions on the right to remain silent or the creation of new offences have been particularly effective in reducing the level of paramilitary violence. Indeed, our experience has been that the use of emergency powers has helped to perpetuate rather than resolve the conflict."
"To convict someone of membership solely on the word of a police officer and the accused's own silence would be a breach of the right to a fair trial. In Northern Ireland, where extensive emergency powers have allowed the RUC to effectively intern suspects by remand, the consequences of allowing the RUC the choice of who to convict, are even starker," Mr O'Brien said.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0128
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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