RNU: End British Policing In Ireland Protest, Dublin

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Saturday February 06, 2010 22:02 by Republican Network for Unity Dublin - Republican Network for Unity RNUDublin at gmail dot com

END INTERNMENT BY REMAND!
SMASH 'SECTION 44'
POLITICAL STATUS FOR REPUBLICAN PRISONERS

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RNU End British Policing in Ireland Campaign:

Its a dark late night, a man and woman are sitting peacefully watching TV in their home, their children are upstairs tucked away in bed sound asleep. When all of a sudden they hear a loud crashing sound at the front of the house, then suddenly the front door collapses suddenly. Then from the darkness outside, armed men fully clad in dark paramilitary uniforms swiftly walk in with their faces masked and guns drawn. The armed men quickly storm the living room and force the man to the ground, they put a gun to his head while shouting at him 'shut up and do what your told', the man offers no resistance. His terrified wife looks on and is also told by the masked raiders to comply or she'll get the same treatment. The man is then brutishly dragged from the ground like a rag doll and smashed against the wall. He is then, against his own will, bundled into the back of a waiting armoured land rover outside. The masked perpetrators committing this act are non other than the ‘Police Service of Northern Ireland’, and they offer no reason as to why they are taking him away.

The man is then taken to a barracks nearby, while his home is turned upside down and his possessions and valuables smashed in what can only be described as a malicious attempt at intimidation. The children woken earlier by the commotion downstairs have witnessed this horrifying attack on their father and saw how he was abducted by these strange armed men, they are crying and shaking uncontrollably. They huddle close to their mother for comfort who is equally as horrified and shaken and are told by the faceless raiders to “sit still and don’t interfere,” as they continue to ransack their home. In the unfolding madness before them they watch as their home is smashed to pieces by the invading party that had forced their way into their house. Then as quickly as it all began it was over. The paramilitary police force exit the house, leaving behind them an emotionally scared family and home devastated beyond recognition.

In the barracks the arrested man, battered and bruised, is left in a dark cold cell and then brought into the interrogation room. For days on end he is interrogated in an aggressive and hostile manner, and is asked questions that he cannot possibly know the answers to or what the motive may be behind the questions been asked. He is denied food and water and deprived of sleep during this long intense and torturous interrogation.

Finally when the interrogation is over he is bundled once again into a van and brought to a prison, were there he is immediately escorted to a small cell. Confused and disorientated from the mayhem over the last few days he enters the cell and a large imposing iron door is slammed shut behind him and locked, he now realises that he is a prisoner. Despite having no idea of the crime he is alleged to have committed and despite not having been convicted of any crime in a courtroom, he is interned without any evidence and unjustly held in captivity. He is now all alone and separated from his loving family who are as equally scared and bewildered as he is.

This may read like a story from 1930's Nazi Germany or some far away place in the developing world, but it is in fact an example of political policing and persecution in Ireland, and not the Ireland of the 1970's but the North of Ireland today in 2010. These are just some of the tactics used by the British security services, a.k.a. the (‘PSNI - Police Service of Northern Ireland'), to suppress the nationalist communities in the North.

The above scenario is an example of internment by remand and there are numerous victims of this form of state persecution being currently held in prison in the 6 counties of the North of Ireland, and the list continues to grow. Other examples of this type of political policing and state persecution include people going about their daily business getting pulled over on the street and been forced to comply with 'stop and searches' while been coerced into providing personal details such as names, addresses and dates of birth. Wiretaps of phone conversations, the bugging of e-mails and text messages are also common practice.

The authority and cop out used by the state police in the 6 counties to carry out such fascist activities is known as 'section 44', from Britain’s Terrorism act. It was declared on January 12th 2010, by the European Court of Human Rights that; “the powers of authorisation and confirmation as well as, those of stop and search under Section 44 & Section 45 of the 2000 (Terrorism) Act are neither sufficiently circumscribed nor subject to adequate legal safeguards against abuse. They are not in accordance with the law.” By asserting these Special Powers, the British government has violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Strasbourg Court also ruled that Section 44 is an invasion of people's right to liberty and privacy.

A recent and worrying development over the last couple weeks in prisons such as Maghaberry, were visitors of republican political prisoners and internees are being forced to comply with rigorous strip searches by prison staff. Even if a visit has been denied by the prison authorities visiting families still have to go through strip searches. This is causing great embarrassment to the families of republican prisoners and internees who have to endure this indignity.

All that has been mentioned here falls under the bracket of 'normalisation', a policy adapted by the British government and politicians of all sides in the 6 counties to force a false sense of stability, and to quell and silence anyone who dares to speak out against the injustice inflicted upon the Nationalist Community by the British Government.

Those in the corridors of power, such as the British government, Stormont, and Leinster house, tell us there is a new dawn of peace and hope now in 'Northern Ireland'. They have conjured up lies stating, that the bad old days of the RUC and B-specials are long gone and that there is a police force in place that is 'accountable' to the people of the 6 counties, try telling that to those who endure endless raids, arrests, intimidation and harassment by the 'PSNI'.

Then there are those who once stood against British policing in Ireland who now seem to be under the illusion that, to end British rule they must administer it, dancing to the tune of the piper and accept whatever deal comes their way. Many of those in the Nationalist Community feel abandoned by these actions and left without a proper voice or support that was once there.

The Republican Network for Unity oppose British policing in Ireland, and call on all republicans, socialists, anti-imperialists and all those who believe in protecting human rights and civil liberties to unite and stand against British tyranny.
Republican Network for Unity will be launching a campaign in the 26 counties to oppose British policing and persecution in the 6 counties, and call on ALL groups and individuals to join us in this campaign.

On Saturday the 13th of February at 3pm, the Republican Network for Unity will be hosting an anti-British policing protest at the GPO on Dublin's O'Connell Street. The purpose of the protest is to highlight the ongoing suppression of the people in the 6 counties to the public in the 26 counties who are mainly unaware of the situation in the North of Ireland. We aim to show the 26 county establishment that there are those who will not accept the harassment and victimisation of their fellow countrymen who are only less then 3 hours up the road,.
We implore All groups and anyone who can make it, to attend the protest which is of the utmost importance so please do so. Banners, flags, placards all welcome.

END INTERNMENT BY REMAND!
SMASH SECTION 44!
POW STATUS FOR REPUBLICAN PRISONERS!

END BRITISH POLICING IN IRELAND NOW!

Republican Network for Unity