RUC - time to go
In the past week evidence has continued to mount up to make a
damning case against the RUC.
The force fired nine plastic bullets in Lurgan and two live
rounds in South Armagh (see stories below). In neither incident
were the RUC men's lives in danger and both incidents contravened
their own rules for the discharge of their weapons.
Most of the media carried reports of the incidents provided by
the RUC press office. These reports were false and were issued in
an attempt to justify the firing of weapons at civilians.
Two other reports in An Phoblacht this week deal with RUC
attempts to recruit informers in the nationalist communities.
These attempts consist of intimidation, threats and, in one case,
physical violence against the targets of the recruitment
attempts.
Last week the UN Committee Against Torture condemned the RUC for
the use of brutality during interrogations, deaths in RUC
custody, and human rights violations arising out of the use of
emergency legislation and the deployment of plastic bullets.
In any normal society this litany of abuse would immediately lead
to general calls for action to be taken against the force
involved. In the Six Counties that has not happened. But
republicans must now raise their voices and demand a new policing
service particularly at this time when the Good Friday Agreement
provides for the creation of acceptable policing. The message for
the RUC is clear - it is time to go.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)