Posted by Jim on June 22, 2012
Interned Irish political dissident Marian Price has been moved from Hydebank Prison to a hospital in Belfast this [Friday] morning.
It follows mounting concern over her physical and mental health. For two years, she has been held in isolation at prisons in the north of Ireland on the order of the British government.
Ms Price is a former hunger striker who, alongside her sister, was force-fed by British prison warders for more than six months to prevent her death. Both of the Price sisters are understood to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Earlier this year she was moved from the high-security Maghaberry Prison to Hydebank, also on medical advice.
Sinn Fein Assembly member Jennifer McCann welcomed the decision to move Marian to a hospital.
The West Belfast Assembly member, who is a member of the Justice Committee at the Assembly, said Marian “should of course be released as her continued imprisonment is an affront to natural justice.
“We welcome this move which will see Marian Price get the care she needs and Sinn Fein will continue to press for her immediate release.”
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement said it welcomed the “belated”
transfer of their former spokesperson to hospital.
“This overdue move demonstrates the seriousness of her health and well being and puts lie to the reasons peddled for holding her in jail,”
said Francis Mackey.
“We wish Marian a speedy recovery and we recognise the deterioration of Marian Price’s health is a direct result of the conditions in which she was held.
“In welcoming her move to hospital we in the 32 CSM hope now that the recognised care packages available will be fully utilised and the contributing factors which led to her ill health will be eliminated.”
The move comes as an international campaign has grown for her release and the release of other political internees in the North of Ireland.
SYMPOSIUM
This week has seen events in London, New York, Dublin, Belfast and Derry calling for the release of both Marian Price and Martin Corey.
Delegates at a London Symposium on Policing this week signed an open letter to British Direct Ruler Owen Paterson calling on him to order the immediate release of Marian Price and Martin Corey whose ‘indefinite detention without trial is contrary to fundamental human rights principals.’
Signatories include the family of Mark Duggan whose shooting death at police hands in London last summer provoked riots in a number of English cities.
Paul O’Connor of the Pat Finucane Centre, who attended the symposium, described the support of the London delegates as “another sign of the growing disquiet and concern at the use of so-called ‘secret evidence’
which is impossible to challenge or disprove”. He said the ‘secret evidence’ was used to indefinitely detain individuals on the basis of undisclosed allegations from the Security Service MI5.
“When delegates were asked to sign this open letter there was an overwhelming response — people understood the issue and understood the dangers posed by the use of ‘secret evidence’.
“Marian Price and Martin Corey should be released immediately.”
US EVENTS
Scores of anti-internment campaigners gathered outside a Manhattan event marking the British royal jubilee on Thursday evening last week.
One of the organisers, Sandy Boyer, explained why the group decided to protest the jubilee event.
“Marian Price is in prison in northern Ireland at the queen’s discretion,” he said.
“It’s very critical that we raise awareness here. If we can get some noise made, some progress made in the United States, it can have a big effect over there.”
The protest close to Times Square in Manhattan called for the immediate release of the political dissident.
A father-of-two from the South Bronx, Irish American Danny Shaw, took part in the demonstration. The CUNY professor said the protest was about the struggle for human rights.
“I was over in Belfast for the 40th anniversary of internment,”
34-year-old Shaw said.
“We may be a small group today, but we are symbolic.”
Another event has been organised by the ‘Free Marian Price Campaign, US’
group for next Wednesday evening at O’Lunney’s Time Square Pub 145 West
45 Street, between 6th & 7th Avenue, with a range of speakers, including noted author Malachy McCourt.
Among those who will also attend the event are John Duddy, the well-known boxer from Derry.
The Derry-based Prisons Crisis Group welcomed the support of the former middleweight contender.
“Marian’s case is now attracting attention on an increasingly wide basis, both in Ireland and internationally,” said spokeswoman Betty Doherty.
“The fact that a woman can be detained without trial for more than a year and with no release date at the whim of a British politician strikes most people outside Ireland as absolutely shocking and incredible.
“The original charge has now been withdrawn – but Marian is still held in Hydebank Wood prison where, potentially, she could remain for the rest of her life. This is an outrage against justice.
“We must continue to build up the pressure and reach out to those not yet involved in the campaign. We have the momentum to move forward and force the British government to abandon internment once and for all.
“We call on other people of influence and renown to add their voices to John Duddy’s.”
IRISH ‘PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE’
Geraldine McNamara, Republican Sinn Fein Publicity Officer, pointed to the contradictions in the Dublin government celebrating Aung San Suu Kyi, the human rights defender and former prisoner of conscience who spent some 15 years under house arrest in Burma, while remaining silent on the plight of Ireland’s political dissidents.
Ms Suu Kyi received the freedom of the city of Dublin at a glittering civic event on Monday.
Ms McNamara called for the immediate release of Martin Corey and Marian Price and an end to the oppression of Irish Republicans.
“Martin Corey and Marian Price are interned here in Ireland because they will not accept a divided Ireland, and those who try and highlight this situation are continually harassed and cannot picket or march on the streets of the Occupied Six Counties without being charged with offences against the British regime,” Ms McNamara said.
“Aung San Suu Kyi has been an inspiration to oppressed people world wide and hopefully she will not now be used by imperialist countries who oppress those who like Aung San Suu Kyi continue to speak against tyranny in their native countries.”
RECEPTION FOR PRISONERS’ FAMILIES
Meanwhile, an outgoing council chairman has hosted a reception for families of republican prisoners on council property in one of his final acts in office.
Independent Moyle councillor Padraig McShane said the decision, which has angered unionists, was a humanitarian gesture.
It is believed to be the first such event to be held on council-owned property anywhere in the north. Mr McShane, who resigned from Sinn Fein in 2010, said he had been praised for the gesture.
“To imprison individuals because of their political beliefs and to beat, abuse or strip search them must never be an avenue of retribution against those who hold fast to different beliefs from others in society.
“These actions are contrary to the genuine peace many of us strive for.
I have received only positive comments for the initiative.”
Posted by Jim on June 19, 2012
The address by Cait Trainor, Ard Chomhairle member to the annual RSF commemoration at Bodenstown, June 10, 2012.
British Occupation is no more acceptable today than it was in 1798, time does not normalise occupation nor can it erase the natural injustices that go hand in hand with it. Once again we as proud Republicans stand here today at the grave of Theobald Wolfe Tone, to honour and commemorate him and all the Irish patriots and to show our continued rejection and resistance to British rule.
The normalisation of today stands in stark contrast to Tone’s vision of what Ireland should be as a fully independent and sovereign nation.
Tone’s tactics did not include negotiating with the enemy or compromise, he had a clear message “break the connection with England”. His tactics where to lead men to the hillsides with pike in hand, with a determination that Ireland should stand as an equal independent nation among the nations of the world. Tone’s vision is our vision, Tone’s desire is our desire, and
Tone’s determination is matched with our own. Tone had an aim to unite Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter in the common goal of Irish Independence. To this end his venture was successful for people from all backgrounds did organise to end British tyranny. Britain, realising the power of Irishmen uniting, inflamed sectarian division to further their own imperial ends.
The descendants of the Republican Irish Scots have been systematically robbed of their noble Republican heritage by a vile combination of British imperialism, unionism and Orange sectarianism, many of their descendants fled to America to escape British oppression and played an important part in the foundations of a Republican USA. It is sad indeed to see descendants of such noble people subservient to monarchs and imperialists, a notion so alien to their ancestors.
Today we see the same age old tactics from the British invaders, who are bribing and intimidating the nationalist people of Ireland into accepting alien concepts, one such is the abominable UK City of culture moniker that has been bestowed on Derry for 2013. Using native collaborators to sell such an idea to the people, this shameful accolade has been supported by many traditional Irish cultural and sporting groups, the GAA and Comhaltas are two particular groups who have allowed themselves to be reduced to snivelling servants, banging the tribal drums for the foreign viceroy. The UK City of Culture’ title in an Irish city is an insult to all Irish people. The British puppets who claim to represent Republicans and nationalists, who fought so hard to win this disgusting title, are no better than paid informers betraying the nation.
Ireland today is one unrecognisable to the past, things we have never thought possible happen day by day, those in power seem determined to sell of our Country, be it to the acceptance of British occupation or the handing over sovereignty to Europe. Just recently the fiscal treaty that assures austerity for years to come and ensures the poor get poorer was passed in the 26 Counties. Republican Sinn Fein was at the forefront of opposing this treaty and indeed all the past European treaties that make Ireland nothing more than a piece of land controlled by the capitalist and banking elite.
The treaty asked people to vote on economic measures not yet decided, rendering the people powerless to make changes in future that could see Ireland prosper. Ireland has lost control of its nationhood, Republican Sinn Fein through EIRE NUA points the way to regaining our independence including fiscal independence. EIRE NUA is the only positive alternative, a framework for the future of an Independent Ireland. We need to acknowledge that its concept is not widely known or understood.
It is a working document that provides for how an independent Ireland should be. 100 years on from the rising we need to speak to the people in layman’s terms on our vision for independence, Lets forget fancy words and political jargon and give the Irish Nation the confidence and knowledge it needs to realise that our vision and EIRE NUA is the only position that can create a peaceful and just Ireland for all.
Recently a British minister in Stormont, Martin McGuinness, suggested he wants to enter into talks with Republicans. Republicans have always made it clear that we are not interested in engaging with puppets of the British State. The only time we will be interested in meeting representatives from the British government will be to discuss their withdrawal from our country. Former Republicans should understand they no longer hold influence among Republicans and we view them as contemptible cogs of the British Establishment.
In May 2011 the 26 Counties had a State visit from the British Queen.
Republican Sinn Fein led the way in opposing the subservience and fawning that was seen by national organisations. On June 26 the British Queen will once again visit Ireland; again we will see subservience and fawning. British Deputy First Minister in Ireland Martin McGuinness will undoubtedly greet her in another shameful act of capitulation to British imperialism. They have lost all claims to Republicanism even in the anti-monarchist sense. Again Republican Sinn Fein will oppose the British monarchy visiting any part of Ireland and I urge you all to join in our protests.
The last few months we have seen an upsurge in harassment from State forces. House raids, arrests and communities under siege. This harassment has been met with great resistance and courage from the Republican people. These actions give truth to the lie that the people have been bought. The RUC/PSNI is a force of occupation and no amount of community outreach can change the basic reason they exist, their primary purpose is to uphold British rule in Ireland. Young nationalists are told times have changed, that you can join the RUC and still remain a Republican. This is a dangerous lie that must be exposed; those who promote it are putting the lives of young Irish people in jeopardy. As history has shown the British police force has always been an enemy of the Irish people and treated accordingly and they continue to be so.
The ongoing arrests and trumped up charges amount to nothing more than internment by stealth. Two such cases are Martin Corey and Marian Price.
Martin Corey’s case is so blatant there is not even a known charge against him; he is simply interned for holding Republican principles.
Marian Price is currently very ill in Hydebank. The refusal of the prison authorities to allow UN doctors into to see her is no surprise; they don’t want the world to know the injustice of her detention. Scores of men are currently on a no wash protest in Maghaberry Jail in response to invasive strip searching and other barbaric conditions. Compassionate parole is used as a punishment against Prisoners of War. We must redouble our efforts to highlight their plight. The valued efforts by prisoners who are under lock and key to fight for their rights and thereby further the cause of Irish Republicanism, must be reciprocated by us on the outside
The media has stepped up its campaign of trying to normalise us to British rule, protesters are vilified for using their voice, politicians use words like pathetic and disgusting when citizens stand up for themselves against harassment. Currently there is a British propaganda advert making reference to all the wonderful things the Brits have done for us. They state this is our place, our time! It’s a good slogan, this is our place, its Ireland and this is our time, time for change, time for freedom. There can only be one winner in this war and that will be the Irish people, if our generation do not succeed there will be generations to come who will.
We must realise that each and every one of us must work hard to end British rule. We are a Movement made up of individuals; your single action can contribute to the success of the Movement. We are all part of a bigger picture but that picture starts with you, our work or lack of, can have a detrimental or monumental effect. I have heard it said when people see injustice “why doesn’t somebody do something about that?” Who is somebody? You are somebody, I am somebody and so we collectively are the somebody who must do it. The power of the individual is as important as the power of the Movement. We are all only as good as our last action, sometimes we may feel that what we do has no bearing in the larger scheme of things. I want to leave you with this thought. One person can make a difference, 100 people can make real change but together we can build a nation.
Posted by Jim on June 15, 2012
Sinn Fein has said it was caught off guard by the announcement last Friday that the visit of British monarch Elizabeth Windsor to Stormont later this month will involve a giant celebration by tens of thousands of unionists.
The event at the Stormont estate is due to happen as part of the two-day visit to the north of Ireland during Windsor’s Jubilee “tour of the UK”.
The British government’s Northern Ireland Office (NIO) revealed last week that a ‘party’ would take place in the grounds of Stormont
Parliament Buildings on 27 June to welcome the monarch. It initially
said there would be 10,000 attending, but that number has since increased to 20,000-25,000.
On Sunday, Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin said Sinn Fein had not been consulted and that she would not be attending the rally. The next day, Mr McGuinness, who had been expected to greet Windsor at Stormont, described the British announcement as “unfortunate” and said he was “surprised” by it.
He added that there is currently no “doable proposition” for him to meet the queen.
A decision to welcome Windsor, the Commander-in-Chief of the British armed forces, was seen as a gravely difficult move for the former IRA commander, despite his current role as the North’s Deputy First Minister.
But the added presence of tens of thousands of Union Jack-waving loyalists in the grounds around Stormont has increased the potential humiliation for the Sinn Fein veteran.
“This would be a huge ask for any Irish republican and, as we speak at the moment, we do not have a doable proposition in relation to that matter,” Mr McGuinness said.
He said an earlier decision by the Six-County Executive to send a gift to Windsor had been arrived at “in a very diplomatic and sensible manner”, but that Friday’s surprise announcement was “unfortunate”.
British Direct Ruler Owen Paterson said that all the parties in the North had been made aware of the broad outlines of the planned visit by the NIO.
While negotiations are said to be still taking place behind the scenes to resolve the matter, a direct meeting between McGuinness and Windsor is now seen as unlikely.
However, DUP First Minister Peter Robinson warmly welcomed the announcement of the rally. “It is fitting that such a celebration should take place in the Stormont Estate,” said Robinson. He said the British royals are not “in the business of doing deals” but he hoped a meeting with Martin McGuinness could still be arranged.
On Sunday, Sinn Fein’s Minister of Culture Caral Ni Chuilin ruled out attending the event, which she said she only heard about through the media. She accused the British government of “concocting” the celebration with the DUP.
Sinn Fein MP said Pat Doherty said Paterson was being “deliberately disingenuous” to say that Sinn Fein had been made aware of the Stormont event.
“It is typical of the ham-fisted way the NIO has operated under Mr Paterson’s tenure.
“Neither Owen Paterson nor the NIO told Sinn Fein of plans for between 10,000 and 25,000 people holding a Jubilee event in the Stormont estate.
“This matter did not go to the Executive – in our view it should have done.”
‘NOT WELCOME’
Geraldine McNamara PRO of Republican Sinn Fein said there would be protests against the visit.
“The British queen is not welcome in the occupied six counties of Ireland no more than she was welcome in the twenty six counties by Republicans last year,” she said.
There was an attempt to make the world believe that it is acceptable by the Irish people to have two divided states, she added.
“One hundred years ago when a previous British monarch visited Ireland republicans stated that ‘we serve neither King nor Kaiser’. Today we state that ‘we serve neither Queen nor Chancellor’.”
“The media will no doubt attempt to portray this as a visit by a monarch to greet her subjects. In response we must take to the streets once more in opposition, we must make the international community aware that Ireland is still under foreign occupation and that we are subjects to foreign Queen.
Posted by Jim on June 4, 2012
The Good Friday Agreement contains the word ‘Equality’. This word just does not exist within the mentality of Unionists such as Morrow and Brush. In their eyes, it justifies them, not only to persecute Gerry McGeough and his family, but also to manipulate and rewrite the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. While it appears that Gerry has been singled out as the only Republican to be prosecuted and imprisoned on alleged offences prior to 1998, over time, it will be clear that he is only the first.
Prior to 1970, to satisfy their bigoted needs and desires, they wore the black uniform of the B-Special. Today, they satisfy those needs by ensuring that equality of implementation does not apply to the terms of the Good Friday Agreement when dealing with Republicans. Therefore, they want to see Gerry McGeough serve his full sentence for an alleged ‘criminal act’.
They will not associate the term ‘criminal’ with members of the British Security Forces who, they believe, were totally justified in any actions carried out against innocent Irish Republicans who were tortured or murdered simply because of their political beliefs. They see us as the lowest form of existence in Ireland.
Would they apply the term ‘criminal’ to the British soldiers who shot dead innocent civilians? They have no reason whatsoever to entertain such a thought. The first British soldier to be charged with murder in the Occupied Counties, in 1974, had his charge reduced to manslaughter and was then acquitted. That set the precedent for what was to follow.
Following Gerry’s arrest in 2007, it took another three years before he was actually brought to trial. In the meantime, a decision was taken to continue the use of the corrupt British Diplock Court system. International political asylum laws were abused by the British and Swedish Governments scheming to permit confidential political asylum papers to be used as ‘evidence’ against Gerry. Internment without trial was then reintroduced and any charges against those internees is based on ‘secret evidence’ which nobody is allowed access to. The term ‘dissident’ is used to insinuate that all those who are no longer associated with mainstream Republicanism are obviously opposed to peaceful and political solutions. Therefore they ‘pose a threat’ and the British ‘Security Forces’ can justify ‘controlled’ internment against Republicans.
Since Gerry’s imprisonment in 2011, statements have been issued by the most bigoted Anti-Good Friday Agreement Unionists, Morrow and Brush, voicing concerns over the amount of legal aid granted during Gerry’s trial in an attempt to manipulate the legal aid system and deny Republicans the right to a defence. Their latest statement now calls for Gerry McGeough, an Irish Republican, to be labelled a criminal and they attempt to rewrite the Good Friday Agreement by stating that Gerry should serve his full twenty year sentence. His release date is 2031. British soldiers, UDR and RUC personnel are not being prosecuted for pre-1998 offences. This sets the precedent today for what is to follow.
This has to be stopped now. The British Government and the Dissident Unionists need to be held to account for their actions against the people of Ireland, 14 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Equality and the right to benefit from the Peace Process is not being applied to Republicans. This things were supposed to be over. Gerry McGeough, Marian Price and Martin Corey should be released immediately. We want Gerry home now.
Damian Herron, Chairman – Northern Ireland
Free Gerry McGeough Campaign Committee
www.freegerry.com
Posted by Jim on May 31, 2012
by Sandy Boyer (for Counterpunch)
Marian Price has been imprisoned in Northern Ireland for more than a year on the basis of secret evidence neither she nor her lawyers have been allowed to see. She is effectively interned without a trial, sentence, or release date. Unless the courts intervene, she will only be released by order of a British Cabinet Minister, Owen Paterson, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Overruling the Courts
Twice she has been arrested and brought before a non-jury Diplock Court.
Twice a judge ordered her released on bail.
Each time Owen Paterson overruled the judge and ordered her back to prison. He said that he was revoking her license (parole in American
terms) because he had “confidential information” against her. This “information” could only have come from MI5.
In May 2011, she was charged with “encouraging support for an illegal organization” after she held up a piece of paper from which a masked man read a statement. Northern Ireland must be one of the very few places where holding up a piece of paper can constitute a crime.
On May 11, 2012, almost exactly a year after these charges were filed, they were dismissed because the British government hadn’t produced any evidence. But Marian Price remains in prison.
In July 2011 she was charged with “providing property for the purposes of terrorism”. She was accused of giving a cell phone to someone who participated in the killing of two British soldiers. She had been questioned about this and released 18 months before being charged. Her solicitor, Peter Corrigan, told the BBC that there was no new evidence against her.
Once again she was released on bail, and, again, Owen Paterson said he was revoking her license and ordered her back to prison.
The Vanishing Pardon
But Marian Price and her legal team insist that she was never actually on license. They say that after being convicted of IRA bombings in Britain, she received a full royal pardon (the “Royal Prerogative of
Mercy”) when she was freed in 1980 after she appeared to be on the brink of death from severe anorexia nervosa.
The British Government now says the pardon “cannot be located” – that it has been lost or shredded and that no copy exists. Peter Corrigan told a public meeting in Belfast that this is the only time in the entire history of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy that a pardon has gone missing. The veteran Irish human rights campaigner Mgr. Raymond Murray said that “You can draw your own conclusions.”
There is good reason to be concerned about Marian Price’s health and well being. She was unable to appear in court on May11th, even by video link. Prison doctors have said that she should either be in a hospital or home with her family.
She was held in solitary confinement for more than a year. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has called for a ban solitary confinement of more than 15 days.
Marian Price’s Health
Marian Price’s health was permanently damaged when she was force fed over 400 times while on hunger strike in a British prison. She described the force feeding in an interview with the Dublin magazine The Village.
“Four male prison officers tie you into the chair so tightly with sheets you can’t struggle. You clench your teeth to try to keep your mouth closed but they push a metal spring device around your jaw to prise it open. They force a wooden clamp with a hole in the middle into your mouth. Then, they insert a big rubber tube down that. They hold your head back. You can’t speak or move. You’re frightened you’ll choke to death.”
Marian Price’s husband, Jerry McGlinchey, said in an interview with “Radio Free Eireann” on WBAI, the New York Pacifica station, that he is “very, very worried” about her health. He says she never recovered from the force feeding which caused tuberculosis that had to be treated as recently as 2010. The anorexia has returned and she suffers from such severe arthritis that she can’t even open her hand.
McGlinchey believes that her health will get steadily worse as long as she is in prison. He said that “My fear is that Marian will slip into a deep depression that it would take her years to come out of. I believe that is what the government intends.”
Her prison conditions have contributed to the decline in Marian Price’s health. Male prison guards shine a flashlight in her eyes throughout the night. Protestant prisoners in nearby cells sing anti-Catholic songs at the top of their lungs all night long, making it impossible for her to sleep.
Support for Marian Price
Very few people agree with Marian Price’s politics. She is a “dissident”
Irish republican who believes in the necessity of an armed struggle to end British rule. Nevertheless the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein and the Social Democratic and Labor Party, have all called for her release.
But what is at stake is more than Marian Price or her politics. The Irish civil rights leader Bernadette Devlin McAliskey has said that her treatmenrt, “Is a clear signal to everybody who is not “on board” and who is not of the same mind as the government: that no dissent will be tolerated. No dissent will be tolerated and you challenge the status quo at your peril.”