Group to publicise paramilitary abuse

A HUMAN rights group was set in motion yesterday as a young man in his mid 20s was shot in the leg in a punishment attack in …

A HUMAN rights group was set in motion yesterday as a young man in his mid 20s was shot in the leg in a punishment attack in west Belfast.

Human Rights Campaign 97 has been set up to publicise the "intensity and extent" of abuse by paramilitary organisations and will focus on the IRA.

The group, which includes SDLP councillor Mr Hugh Lewsley, aims to question the general election candidates on punishment beatings.

"Where do they stand on the mutilation of nationalists and loyalists by thugs with baseball bats and hurley sticks? In particular, where does Sinn Fein stand?" the group said in statement.

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Sinn Fein yesterday denied claims that republicans were involved in a series of attacks on Protestant homes in Tyrone this week. Sinn Fein councillor Mr Francie Molloy said: "Sinn Fein's position is straightforward. These attacks are wrong and those responsible for them should stop immediately."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams yesterday warned nationalists to be extremely "vigilant" following the discovery last week in Carrickfergus of a loyalist arms cache.

The RUC said yesterday that two boxes of 12 gauge shotgun cartridges, each containing 25 rounds, component parts of at least 18 pipe bombs along with tools and cutting equipment had been found during a planned search of Ederny Walk, a predominantly loyalist area. The find was made between March 27th and 28th.

Mr Adams accused the RUC of "colluding in the political cover up surrounding the extent of loyalist activities". The loyalist ceasefire was a "sham" and Mr Adams accused the British government and sections of the media of "double standards".

"Loyalist death squads have in recent weeks killed one Catholic, shot and wounded many within their own community, made three attempts to destroy Sinn Fein offices, two of which involved large amounts of explosives and could have resulted in many civilian casualties, they are daily engaged in targeting republicans and nationalists and are involved in the preparation and use of bombs," said Mr Adams.

DUP Councillor Mr Sammy Wilson, in Belfast, accused Mr Tommy Cheevers of the Apprentice Boys of "caving in" to the "agitators" on the Lower Ormeau Road by not walking over the bridge during the annual march last Monday.

Mr Wilson said no major road in Northern Ireland was safe for Protestant marches and "Cheevers and his men have endorsed that policy".

"The Ormeau Road has now been conceded to IRA/Sinn Fein. The question is where will IRA/Sinn Fein now turn its attention to?" said Mr Wilson.