UN Children's Rights Committee concerned about use of baton rounds - 15-06-97

 The comments come in response to concerns raised by the Celtic League with the Committee following an incident in which a thirteen year old child received severe head injuries.

 The United States Embassy in Dublin had already responded, indicating that it shared the concerns and agreeing to forward the correspondence to the appropriate offcials in Washington.

 The League is now to write to British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, calling upon him as a parent with young children, to consider the anguish caused by the deaths and injuries inflicted by these weapons over many years.

 The League is aware of the controversy earlier this month about so called "faulty" baton rounds. However, this issue should not confuse the main point: Plastic bullets, never deployed in other areas of the U.K., should not be used in N. Ireland -certainly not in situations involving children!

 J.B. Moffatt

Letter from UN Committee on the Rights of the Child - 10-06-97

 I wish to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter dated 26 May 1997 and its enclosures concerning the use of plastic bullets by security forces in Ulster in incidents involving children.

 The contents of your letter and its enclosures have been brought to the attention of the Committee on the Rights of the Child at its recently concluded fifteenth session.

 The Committee wishes to draw your attention to the concluding observations adopted upon consideration of the United Kingdom's initial report by the Committee (CRC/C/15/Add.34), where the Committee expressed its concern about difficulties experienced by children living in Northern Ireland (para. 10). In its recommendations, the Committee suggested (ul)inter-alia(/ul), that the general principles of the Convention, particularly the provisions of its article 3, relating to the best interests of the child, should guide the determination of policy making at both the central and local levels of government(para. 23); that teaching about children's rights be incorporated into the training of curricula of professionals working with or for children, icluding the police (para. 26) and that additional efforts were required to overcome the problem of violence in society.

 I am enclosing a copy of the document CRC/C/15/Add.34 for you information.

 Yours sincerely,

 Soussan Raadi-Azarakhchi,
Secretary
Committee on the Rights of the Child

United States Embassy endorses concerns over plastic bullets - 07-05-97

 The League wrote last week to the US Embassy (see below), and also the Embassies of EU countries, following a further serious incident in which a thirteen year old child received a serious head injury (Lurgan - 26/4/97).

 Pointedly, the Ambassadors letter also endorses our concern that despite guidelines operated by the RUC and aimed at restricting the possibility of head or upper body injury, many injuries of this type have been suffered.

 A parallel protest has been lodged with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child highlighting our concern that a substantial number of those killed or injured by these weapons in N. Ireland have been children.

Text of letter from U.S. Embassy in Dublin - 07-05-97

 On behalf of Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, this is to thank you for your letter of April 26 concerning the use of plastic bullets in Northern Ireland.

 The 1996 Human Rights report on the UK prepared by the U.S. Department of State notes that "Police continue to use plastic bullets in crowd control situations, a practice restricted to Northern Ireland. The number of plastic rounds fired this year surpasses all but one prior year. This practice has been widely criticized by human rights monitors and the UN Committee Against Torture. The European Parliament has called for a ban on their use. According to RUC rules, plastic bullets should only be aimed at the lower half of the body; numerous head and upper body injuries nevertheless have resulted from their use."

 I can assure you that your concerns are being forwarded to the appropriate officials in Washington. Thankyou for sharing your views with the Ambassador on this important human rights.

 Sincerely,

 Richard B. Norland
First Secretary (Political) 

Further action against use of plastic bullets - 27-04-97

AGM resolution
RUC unfit to police

Letter to Parick Mayhew, Secretary of State for N. Ireland 27-04-97

 Dear Sir,

 I write to express our concern at the continued use of plastic bullets by British Army and Police units in N. Ireland.

 We understand that over the weekend 26/27 April another child, a thirteen year old boy was injured when one of these weapons was fired into his face, initial reports indicate he is lucky not to have lost the sight of an eye.

 It has not escaped our attention that this incident comes just fifteen years to the week after another child, eleven year old Stephen McConomy was killed in a similar incident.

 Plastic and Rubber bullets have caused numerous deaths in N. Ireland since their deployment and many other people have been scarred and maimed. Despite persistent denials by the N. Ireland Office their is clear evidence that the weapons are used outwith procedures supposed to minimise the injuries they cause, the number of serious head injuries indicate that this is a weapon not only used but abused by the Security Forces.

 Senator George Mitchell set down a clear marker to the British government in his report when he suggested a "review...with respect to..the use of plastic bullets".

 This latest incident makes it imperative that the use of these loathsome weapons are discontinued forthwith and we urge this course of action.

 In conclusion we have emphasised the fact that in the two cases we mention and indeed in many others these weapons are deliberately targeted against children. We will therefore be raising this matter directly with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva - quite frankly this abuse has gone on long enough!

 Yours faithfully,

 J.B. Moffatt
General Secretary, Celtic League. 

Letter to US Ambassador in Dublin - 27-04-97

 Dear Ambassador,

 I attach a copy of a letter of protest submitted to the British government in relation to an incident which resulted in a child being injured by a plastic bullet fired by British Security forces in N. Ireland.

 The United States government supported the peace initiative in the North and also deployed one of its most respected political figures Senator George Mitchell to assist that process. The Mitchell report contained a clear indication to the British government that the use of this weapon should be discontinued.

 In total seventeen people have been killed by plastic or rubber bullets in the past twenty-five years. Scores more have been seriously injured or maimed. Regrettably many of the injuries and eight of the deaths have involved children.

There is also strong evidence of the deliberate misuse of the weapon, with it being fired at close range and also at the head of victims. Information supporting this contention was circulated to the US Congress by the Irish National Caucus in April 1993.

 We urge the United States government to do all in its power to convince the British government that this weapon should be withdrawn.

 Yours sincerely,

 J.B. Moffatt
General Secretary, Celtic League

Letter to Committee on the Rights of the Child

 For the Attention : Sousan Raadi-Azarakhchi
Secretary to the Committee on the Rights of the Child

 Dear Ms. Raadi-Azarakhchi,

 I draw your attention to the attached correspondence, including a letter to the British governments Northern Ireland Office, concerning the use of plastic bullets by its Security Forces in Ulster.

 Our purpose in writing to your Committee is to express our concern that in an alarming number of incidents these weapons are deployed randomly against groups of children. Indeed in the most recent incident 26/4/97 a thirteen year old child was hospitalised with head and face injuries. Since the introduction of the plastic bullet which replaced earlier rubber devices seven children have died and many more have been horrifically injured.

 There is strong evidence that British Security forces deliberately misuse these weapons and that they are in some instances discharged at short range at the head or face of victims.

 We urge your Committee to urge an end to the use of these weapons particularly in situations where children are involved there is no doubt that the deaths and horrific injuries inflicted upon men, women and children by these weapons constitute a human rights abuse of significant proportions.

 Thanking you in anticipation of your response.

Yours sincerely,

 J. B. Moffatt
General Secretary - Celtic League