THE NORTH'S most important human rights watchdog body has advised the Northern Secretary, in exceptionally strong terms to institute an independent inquiry into the events leading up to, during and since the Drumcree stand off.
The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights (SACHR), an independent body which has a statutory advisory role, expressed deep concern "about the failure to maintain the supremacy of the rule of law and about the serious violations of human rights resulting there from".
In a statement following a special meeting to consider recent events, SACHR said it believed that "the failure to maintain the rule of law had, and will continue to have, a devastating effect on the stability of this part of the United Kingdom unless urgent steps are taken to repair the damage.
The commission considered that the events had led to "what is perhaps the widest gulf in understanding between the two communities for 20 years". If lessons were to be learned and the healing process begun, it was vital that each community should have a clear understanding of the factors which shaped the events and the reasons why certain decisions had been taken. While it welcomed the announcement of an independent review of parades and marches, it regarded this "as a first step only".
SACHR has recommended that the British government should urgently set up something in the nature of the Cameron Commission of 1969, which should be presided over by an international figure.