Republican protestors picketing the British Embassy in Dublin , Saturday 24th April 2010....A similar picket will be held at Portlaoise Prison next Saturday , 1st May 2010 , from 12 Noon to 1pm. Republican prisoners in Portlaoise Prison will , at that time, be on a fast in solidarity with their imprisoned comrades in Maghaberry Prison. Transport arrangements (from Dublin) will be announced as soon as same have been confirmed.In a statement released on the 6th April last , the Republican prisoners in Maghaberry Prison stated -
"Over the past number of years, we the Republican Prisioners in Maghaberry have experienced a continual decline in conditions and a steady increase in oppressive tactics being adopted against ourselves,our families and visitors.
We have encountered a lack of willingness,concern and urgency in our efforts to deal with the system on issues of human rights and moral decency. And now we find ourselves in a position where we can only rely upon our own efforts to highlight the injustices we feel daily. Our concerns of late come with the removal of a Republican prisoner from our wing on the word of the RUC/PSNI with a bogus death threat. Despite guarantees given to the governor, he was still removed.
This curious development comes against a recent incident in which information containing the details of the former governor were planted in the cell occupied by a Republican prisoner. All this at a time when visitors to Republican prisoners are being strip-searched by the RUC/PSNI.
In recent times continuous lockdowns and loss of recreation are becoming more and more common. Searches have also been conducted on our families by the RUC. These lockdowns result in us being locked down in our cells for days at a time with no food, hot water and exercise, showers or contact with our families.
We, the POWs, have also witnessed the attitude of the screws becoming more aggressive with up to five assaults being carried out on Republican prisoners in the last 18 months, all resulted in Republicans being charged with assault in an attempt by a corrupt prison regime to cover up what is happening.
The accumulative effect of these grievances and a lack of any other form of redress, lead us to concede the only way to stop these assaults and degrading treatment is protest."
Portlaoise Prison , Saturday 1st May 2010 , 12 Noon to 1pm.
Thanks!
Sharon.
