Increased numbers on prison protest.

international | rights and freedoms | press release Thursday June 29, 2006 21:48 by Seán Ó Murchú - Republican Sinn Féin - Cork

From this week the number of Segregated POW’s in Maghaberry engaged in the Prison Protest is set to increase. No attempts have been made to address the 5 Demands of the POW’s although the RPAG have reported these demands on numerous occasions.

From this week the number of Segregated POW’s in Maghaberry engaged in the Prison Protest is set to increase. No attempts have been made to address the 5 Demands of the POW’s although the RPAG have reported these demands on numerous occasions.

1. FREE ASSOCIATION
2. END TO CONTROLLED MOVEMENT
3. RIGHT TO FULL TIME EDUCATION
4. SEPARATE VISITING FACILITY
5. RIGHT TO ORGANISE OUR OWN LANDINGS

The Prison Protest will continue until these demands are addressed and the necessary changes are implemented. The media are censoring the ongoing struggle in Maghaberry and the prison service are ignoring it, despite this, support for the POW’s and their demands is growing. This situation cannot continue and POW’s are determined that this situation will be resolved once and for all. The implementation of Segregation was not a meaningful attempt to deal with the issue of Political Prisoners it was a political move made in 2003 to trick the Irish people into believing that the conditions that led to protests within the prison at that time had been improved and that the issues had been resolved. Since Segregation conditions for both POW’s and their visitors have worsened.

The POW’s are relying on the Irish people to stand with them in their fight to improve conditions and ultimately to win back Political Status. The Irish people have never failed POW’s in the past and we have faith that they will not fail them now.

REPUBLICAN PRISONERS ACTION GROUP STATEMENT

28th June 2006