International outrage
The brutal murder of human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson has brought
a storm of outrage and condemnation both at home and internationally.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, speaking at Emory University while
on tour in the US, described Rosemary Nelson as, ``a brave and
courageous woman who refused to allow state violence and intimidation
deter her from the task of defending human rights and speaking out
against injustice. Her life was an example of how one person can make
a difference in standing up for truth and justice''.
Adams highlighted the fact that Rosemary Nelson was a constituent of
David Trimble and the people whom she represented were a section that
Trimble would not talk to.
He added, ``it is not enough for political leaders to condemn violent
actions. We have to ensure that we do not create the space in which
the bigots and reactionaries can perpetrate their actions. For Mr
Trimble that means he must reach out beyond his own supporters. He
must talk and listen to every section of our people. That means
burying old enmities and suspicions, grasping the outstretched hand
of friendship and moving forward together''.
The death of Rosemary Nelson particularly affected US Congressmen. Ms
Nelson had testified before Congress last September that she was in
fear of her life from the RUC. She was testifying at a committee
hearing which highlighted a United Nation's report that called for an
independent inquiry into the harassment of defence attorneys in the
Six Counties as well as a specific, independent inquiry into the
allegations of collusion in the 1989 death of Pat Finucane.
Ben Gilman, chairman of the Congress's International Relations
Committee quickly called for an independent inquiry into the murder
and added ``the fact that Ms Nelson openly feared threats from some in
the RUC and had no faith in their ability to protect her, makes it
all the more important that the RUC engage in a total hands off
approach from this inquiry, so that its eventual findings can stand
on their own''.
Congressman Chris Smith, chairman of the Sub-committee on
International Operations and Human Rights, urged an investigation
into the possibility of collusion by British forces. He said that ``it
is obvious that the RUC cannot be entrusted with this investigation.
The circumstances of her death, her fear of the RUC, and her own
forecast that something horrible might happen to her makes it
absolutely necessary that an investigative body, other than the RUC
investigate her murder''.
Gerry Adams, while supporting the calls for an independent inquiry,
dismissed as ``unacceptable'' the inquiry established by the head of
the RUC using an English police officer.
He pointed out, ``there have been four such similar inquiries at
critical points in the past. The first was carried out by Scotland
Yard Detective Chief Superintendent Kenneth Drury who was brought in
to investigate the beating to death in his home of Derry man Samuel
Devenny in the Summer of 1969, Drury failed to establish the truth
and the temporary English head of the RUC, Sir Arthur Young,
complained of a ``conspiracy of silence'' within the RUC protecting the
guilty. Three subsequent reports by another three English policemen,
John Stalker, Colin Sampson and John Stevens, into RUC collusion and
shoot to kill tactics by the RUC were never published and have
remained under wraps. Clearly this mechanism of appointing English
policemen to get at the truth will find no support or confidence
among nationalists''.
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