BRIEF SUMMARY OF PREPARED STATEMENT OF BRENDA DOWNES OF THE UNITED CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLASTIC BULLETS TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ON THE 24 JUNE 1997

• Plastic bullets are highly dangerous, lethal weapons.

In using them with the full knowledge of their lethal nature and granting immunity from prosecution to those use them to murder, the British government are in effect operating a shoot to kill policy

* They have been used during the conflict in Ireland in non riot situations as a means of intimidation against innocent

individuals including small children. Their use has proven to

be counterproductive.

There is clear evidence that they have been used in a sectarian manner against the catholic community in the North of Ireland

The Rules governing their use are clearly not adhered to.

* Military and

medical research show that of their very nature they are highly dangerous.

Those who use them are not subject to the Law. Nor it would appear are they subject to internal discipline when Rules of Engagement are breached.

* In the use of plastic bullets the British Government has contravened Domestic and International Legislation.

* Relatives of those who have been murdered by plastic bullets and those who have been injured have been denied justice.

Their continued use is a major obstacle on the road to peace and their deployment and uoo to "racolve" that which demands political resolution is not only counterproductive, it is immoral, illegal and contrary to the cornerstones of democracy

THANK YOU CHAIRMAN SMITH NOT ONLY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE

THE VIEWS OF OUR MEMBERSHIP WITH YOU BUT FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THAT OF THE MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMITTEE IN TAKING UP THIS CRITICAL

TASK. IN OUR VIEW AMERICA HAS A UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE TO THE RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT AND TO THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN AND

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CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL IN IRELAND. THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT WEEKS AND THE UNITED STATES IS PRESENTED WITH A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS

IT'S CONCERN AND DEMONSTRATE ITS' RESOLVE IN PROMOTING THE JUSTICE

UPON WHICH PEACE CAN ENDURE.

FIRST, I MUST EMPHASIZE THAT HIBERNIANS SEEK THE USE OF NON-VIOLENT MEANS TO RESTORE THE UNITY TO IRELAND LOST WHEN BRITAIN CHOSE TO

UNILATERALLY AND UNDEMOCRATICALLY PARTITION IRELAND WITH A LAW

IN 1919 FOR WHICH NOT ONE IRISH VOTE WAS CAST. THE VIOLENCE USED BY

THE BRITISH AND THEIR LOYALIST ALLIES FAILS TO RECEIVE THE ATTENTION

ACTS OF NATIONALIST PARAMILITARIES ARE GIVEN. IT WOULD NO DOUBT

SURPRISE YOU THAT NEARLY 900 INNOCENT CIVILIANS(ALMOST 1/3RD OF THE TOTAL CASUALTIES) HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE FOR LAW AND ORDER, DEMOCRACY AND WHO HAVE FORSWORN VIOLENCE. THE INDEX OF DEATHS (1969-1994) BY MALCOM SUTTON PORTRAYS A CONFLICT QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE OFTEN SEEN IN THE U. S. MEDIA. VIOLENCE IS A DEAD END AND ONLY UNCONDITIONED DIALOGUE AND THE

CAUSE THAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY-THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS-

WILL BRING PEACE TO IRELAND.

FIRST, A CORE PROBLEM WHICH WAS CREATED BY THE BRITISH TO SUSTAIN

THE STATELET IS ANT-CATHOLIC DISCRIMINATION MOST PARTICULARLY IN

EMPLOYMENT. IN THE MACBRIDE FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRINCIPLES, NAMED AFTER THE FAMED IRISH NOBEL PEACE PRIZE HONOREE DR. SEAN MACBRIDE, AMERICANS HAVE A WAY TO INSURE THAT THEIR ECONOMIC CLOUT, WHETHER BY INVESTMENT OR PURCHASE POWER, PROMOTES FAIR

EMPLOYMENT IN THE NORTH. THE PRINCIPLES WERE SUPPORTED IN THE 1996

PLATFORM OF BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES.

REPUBLICANS SUPPORTED "PRIVATE INVESTMENT [IN THE NORTH] FULLY CONSISTENT WITH THE MACBRIDE PRINCIPLES FOR FAIR EMPLOYMENT IN

ORDER TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES THAT

STILL EXIST AGAINST CATHOLICS IN THE WORKPLACE." I APPLAUD YOUR

FOLLOW UP TO THAT COMMITMENT BY INCLUSION OF THE PRINCIPLES IN THE

BILL RECENTLY REPORTED FROM CHAIRMAN GILMAN'S INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND WHICH LINKS THE PRINCIPLES TO RECIPIENTS

OF MONEY FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND.

SECOND, I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE LARGER IRISH-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS THIS PAST MARCH 15TH 1997. THE

USE OF PLASTIC BULLETS IN THE NORTH ALTHOUGH INTRODUCED AS AN

ALTERNATIVE TO REGULAR BULLETS HAS HAD DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. THE

RUC AND BRITISH ARMY HAVE KILLED 17 PEOPLE(16 CATHOLICS) AND PERMANENTLY MAIMED HUNDREDS OD OTHERS INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY

KEVIN MCCAFFERTY, A 16 YEAR OLD FROM DERRY WHO LOST HIS EYE TO A PLASTIC BULLET AT UNION HALL PLACE LAST YEAR. ON THIS ISSUE WE FIND

OURSELVES IN RARE AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES WHICH HAS

CALLED UPON PRIME MINISTER BLAIR TO BAN THEIR USE AS A CONFIDENCE

BUILDING MEASURE. WE APPEAL FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO JOIN THE

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE IRISH BISHOPS CONFERENCE, AND PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN OPPOSING THE USE OF THESE DEVICES WHICH

ARE BANNED FROM USE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

THIRD, THE TRUE WORK OF PEACE IS TO WORK FOR MEASURES THAT WILL PROMOTE JUSTICE. SUCH MEASURES COME IN MANY SHAPES AN SIZES. THE

CORRUPTION OF LAW WHICH WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED THE BIRMINGHAM

SIX AND THE GUILFORD FOUR TO ACHIEVE POLITICAL ENDS IS ONGOING WITH

CASES LIKE THAT OF THE CASEMENT THREE AND THAT OF DANNY MCNAMEE

AND THE PUNITIVE DETENTION OF MS ROISIN MCALISKEY. YOUR EXPRESSION

OF CONCERN MIGHT SERVE TO EXPOSE THESE INJUSTICES TO THE LIGHT OF

TRUTH.