AMERICAN BREXIT COMMITTEE
1919 CHESTNUT ST, SUITE 1724
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103
John M. Corcoran, Esq., Chair
Michael J. Cummings, Secretary
February, 2019
SUMMARY
There is no plus side to BREXIT for Ireland. The ABC is joining Ireland’s voice of concern for their economy, their people , for justice, peace and the rule of law. The UK wants its own safety net to off-set the Brexit self-harm and expects a US-UK trade and assistance package once they leave the EU. President Trump has publicly promised a great deal without any apparent concern for the actions Britain will take with BREXIT and their effects on Ireland. The change in Prime Minister has not changed Britain’s failure to fulfill the GFA Treaty obligations.. Prime Minister Johnson May is calling for a removal of the European Convention of Human Rights and for amnesty of British security services personnel that killed or colluded to kill innocent civilians in NI. Brexit will be used as another excuse for under-mining and delay fulfilling the Good Friday Agreement the US supports.
We ask for your help in three specific ways:
a. Direct a letter to the Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations James Risch (ID-R) and Chairman of House Ways and Means Committee, Richard Neal (MA-D)) asking for a list of all trade deals and procurement contracts the Committee has approved for the United Kingdom in the past three federal Fiscal Years and for a listing of any such deals and procurement’s currently pending before the Committee.
b. Direct a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressing concern for Britain’s failure to fulfill their obligations under the Irish peace process and their obstruction of legacy requirements and human rights provisions. Ask the Secretary to provide a report on the Brexit impact on Ireland and the 1998 Good Friday Treaty. Ask also if there is to be a Special Envoy as President Trump promised and what are the credentials and experience to be required.
c. Make a request in letters to the respective Chairpersons of Senate Foreign Relations, James Risch (ID-R) and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel (NY-D) and the Co-Chairs of the Committee for the Security and Cooperation in Europe ( Helsinki Commission) Chairman Rep. Chris Smith ((NJ-R) and Co-Chair Sen. Roger F. Wicker (MS-R) to hold hearings on the Brexit impact on Ireland, the potential destabilization of the peace process and the failure of Britain to meet all its obligations under the GFA including the Stormont House Agreement.
When you are contacting a Representative or Senator about a Proposed US-UK Trade Deal, use the below Reasons to Oppose or Postpone to discuss Britain’s failure to fulfill previously agreed to requirements of the Irish peace process.
REASONS TO QUESTION, POSTPONE AND/OR OPPOSE A US-UK TRADE DEAL
1. Britain’s opposition to principles and obligations of the U. S. sponsored and supported 1998 Belfast Treaty (Good Friday Agreement) is an affront to every American especially insulting to Members of Congress who have trusted Britain to fully disclose its role in State sanctioned murders.
2. PM Boris Johnson has promised to repeal the European Convention of Human Rights in British law. Britain abuses Freedom of Information laws and labels the entire conflict in Ireland as an official State secret to insure generations will never know the extent of official murder.
3. Britain has refused to implement the Irish language provisions of the 2014 Stormont House Agreement.
4. Britain’s continues to cover-up of hundreds of civilians killed by British Army and police in NI colluding with loyalist death squads. Decades of Ministry of Defense adjournments and, willful failure to conduct investigations or inquests into those killings publicly mocks Treaty legacy obligations.
5. Britain has unilaterally imposed statute of limitation instructions for NI Secretary to limit prosecution of cases involving Army, police and MI-5 personnel murdering innocent civilians in NI.
6. Brexit was opposed by a majority in NI who voted to remain in the EU but Britain forces NI out of the EU. PM Johnson’s continues to manipulate NI Assembly to ignore and corrupt nationalist votes.
7. There are 140 projects and programs included in the Irish peace process governed by the Good Friday Agreement which are threatened by the EU withdrawal and the EU trade agreement. These include education, employment and peace initiatives.
8. The Trump administration trade and military arms sales policies increases trade deficits, destroys jobs, and adds to economical destabilization and political tensions. It rewards Arab, N. Korean and Russian dictators/ butchers and looks to reward Britain with a sweetheart trade deal despite its lawlessness, anti-democratic policies and human rights abuses in Ireland.
The United States must hold Britain accountable for its GFA failures and empty promises. The Trade Priorities and Accountability Act is supposed to promote democratic practices like the stipulated Ireland re-unification referendum, to support respect for internationally recognized human rights, and to advance U. S. foreign policy objectives like peace and economic stability on the island of Ireland.
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