Please show your support for all of the victims of collusion in the North by attending the Congressional hearing scheduled for this Thursday, October 22nd.  Let Congress know that there is a tremendous amount of political support behind uncovering the broader themes of the conflict, including collusion, shoot-to-kill and British state violence. (If you are unable to attend, email info (at) iauc.org to find out how you can help!)

See the details below, or go here:

Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Chairman:

"Concerns Regarding Possible Collusion in Northern Ireland: Police and Paramilitary Groups"

The hearing begins at 10am in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

BRIEFING BY:

Her Excellency Nuala O'Loan
Member
British House of Lords
(Former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman)

WITNESSES:

Mr. Raymond McCord, Sr.
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Mr. John Finucane
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Ms. Jane Winter
Director
British Irish Rights Watch

Please sign the online petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking him to initiate an independent investigation into the Ballymurphy Massacre in 1971.  The same British Army Parachute Regiment responsible for the killings at Ballymurphy went on to kill 14 unarmed civilians on what has come to be known as Bloody Sunday in Derry just 5 months later. Photo of the unveiling of the Ballymurphy mural courtesy of Relatives for Justice.

The text of the petition is as follows:

To:  British Prime Minister

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to initiate a fully independent and human rights compliant investigation into the 11 killings of civilians in Ballymurphy, Belfast between 9th and 11th August 1971 by the Parachute Regiment.

On 9th August 1971 the British Government introduced internment without trial in the North of Ireland. Between the 9th and the 11th August the British Army's Parachute Regiment killed eleven civilians in the mainly nationalist Ballymurphy housing estate. The deaths included a Catholic priest and a mother of eight. In all 53 children were left without a parent as a result of these killings.

The killings were not investigated independently or appropriately and the Northern Ireland Office immediately disseminated disinformation alleging that all of those killed were involved in paramilitary activity. The cover up and lies added intensely to the deep hurt caused by these deaths. The ensuing suffering of the families has been indeed egregious. 38 years later it is now time for the British Government to act to put in place a human rights compliant, fully independent investigation so that the truth of what occured is firmly established and to make possible official actions of reparation and apology to the families.

This will contribute positively to the processes of transition and healing in the North of Ireland and to the current debate on dealing with our collective past.

From Relatives for Justice:

Speaking in response to the DUP's motion concerning the re-definition of a victim of the conflict Relatives for Justice Chairperson Clara Reilly issued the following statement;
 
'Jeffrey Donaldson, and the DUP, are pandering to a very small constituency of people bereaved that are not representative of the broader community of those affected by the conflict who, unfortunately, have refused to move forward with the rest of us.
 
'Essentially this is an anti-agreement group - ironically created and exploited by the DUP during its opposition to the agreement.