REPUBLICAN PRISONERS DEMAND RIGHT TO ORGANISE THEIR OWN LANDING.
Statement from the Republican Sinn Féin PoW Department:
"The denial of a separate landing for the CIRA PoWs in Portlaoise prison is part of a policy to criminalise the continued Irish Republican resistance to British rule in Ireland. Since 1917, 22 Irish Republicans have died in defence of their right to political status.
In the 1940s the Republican Prisoners in Portlaoise were among the first ‘Blanketmen’ in opposition to criminalisation. In the 1970s Republican prisoners endured a 47-day hunger strike.
The Republican prisoners in Portlaoise today are defending the same right to political status because they are part of the same struggle.
The CIRA prisoners demand their right to a separate landing. The CIRA PoWs' demand is simple – they want to continue to be treated as political prisoners - as other groups in the jail are."
IRISH REPUBLICAN PRISONERS ARE NOT CRIMINALS........and Irish Republicans will not stand by while the Free State administration attempts to treat them as such.
Portlaoise Prison protest : the Free State regime are attempting to place Irish Republican POW's on the same prison landing where criminals are presently incarcerated in Portlaoise Prison. A protest against this injustice will be held outside the prison on SATURDAY 23rd JANUARY 2010 from 10am to 4pm.
All those concerned about this latest attempt to criminalise the on-going struggle to remove the unwanted British political and military presence from Ireland are asked to attend this protest. We have political prisoners because of this political conflict ; they are not 'criminals' and we will not stand by as attempts are made to treat them as such.
Portlaoise Prison protest, Saturday 23rd January 2010 , 10am to 4pm.
Thanks!
Sharon.
