Statement From OC CIRA POWS in Maghaberry

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Wednesday June 21, 2006 15:42 by Séan Ó Murchú - Republican Sinn Féin - Cork

We the Republican POWs call on all nationalist, Republican people of Ireland and abroad to support us in our upcoming protest for better conditions and the restoration of political status. In 2003 we embarked on a protest for segregation, this battle was won and segregation was introduced in September of that year. At that time the Brits asked for a period of transition and conditions would then improve. These terms were accepted reluctantly by Republicans.

STATEMENT FROM OC CIRA POWS IN MAGHABERRY.

We the Republican POWs call on all nationalist, Republican people of Ireland and abroad to support us in our upcoming protest for better conditions and the restoration of political status. In 2003 we embarked on a protest for segregation, this battle was won and segregation was introduced in September of that year. At that time the Brits asked for a period of transition and conditions would then improve. These terms were accepted reluctantly by Republicans.

However as in 1980 when our comrades in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh ended their first hunger-strike, we have found that the Brits are still incapable of honouring their promises. As a result we again find ourselves in the unfortunate position of having to embark on a prolonged protest. This has come about as a direct result of the intransigence of the Brits in seeking a policy of criminalisation. We hereby state that we as Republican POWs will no longer co-operate with nor accept the policies and regime imposed on us by Brit puppets.

We have outlined our five demands. The protest which we now embark upon will not end until our demands are met. We will take whatever steps are necessary in order to improve the conditions not alone for ourselves, but also for those who may come behind us. I would therefore like to call on all Republican bodies, all politicians to back us in our plight. We have exhausted all avenues open to us. We gave the Brits the transition period required by them and still they refuse to accept that we are not criminals. We would ask everyone to support us by supporting our representatives on white-line pickets and leaflet hand-outs taking to the streets and demand that the Brits and their prison service sort this out once and for all.

Go raibh maith agaibh
Slán
OC, CIRA POWs
Maghaberry Concentration Camp