Issue 100, Saoirse : Irish Freedom (August, 1995)

              the voice of irish republicanism uimh 100 lunasa — august 1995 50p usa 75c political prisoners i political hostages • the use of irish political prisoners as hostages by the british government has been exposed by the whitemoor jail protests resulting in the minimal concessions of six men transferred to the six counties the situation in britain portlaoise limerick and the usa — see pages 5 and 9 inside o !! brits out i ¦ , i bands from ireland scotland and the usa hunger strike martyrs commemoration speakers include mary ward republican sinn fein des wilson belfast al madden usa bundoran co donegal saturday august 26 assemble east end 3pm • same old story ruc attack nationalists sit-down protest outside belfast city hall after five minutes on july 12 while orangemen can block lame for 48 hours without any ruc interference after 12 months of the present unilateral ceasefire the demand for a british withdrawal from ireland is being ignored by the political establish ments in london dublin and washington republican sinn fein holds to the firm belief that it is only when a british declaration of intent to leave is achieved that real talks can commence among the irish people of all traditions on the future of this island free from outside interference in the present context of attempting to bury the national issue the sectarianisation of the struggle in the six occupied counties is proceed ing apace this was predicted by comhairle uladh ulster executive of republican sinn fein at its meeting on july 9 and was borne out by the upsurge in attacks on catholic and protestant families and property in the weeks since the lesson from the contrasting treatment of nationalist and loyalist protesters by the ruc on the streets of the six counties during july is clear also there is kid glove treatment for these loyal to the british crown and the iron fist of crown forces for the nationalist community nothing has changed in this regard whatsoever under the force of prison protests the british have transferred just six political prisoners from english jails to the six counties there is growing concern for the health of one of the remaining protesting prisoners in whitemoor jail patrick kelly who has been diagnosed as suffering from skin cancer and has been denied the necessary medical treatment the call from the dublin administration for 50 remission for prisoners in britain and the six counties is completely hypocritical while they themselves only extend 25 remission to politi cal prisoners in the 26 counties us president clinton who recently spoke of sectarian warfare in the six counties and of the need for paramilitaries on both sides to decommission their arms made no mention of the british occupation of north-east ireland and of their overwhelming armed forces who are not decommissioning dick spring revealed the real agenda when he told rte radio on july 27 that what was actually meant by decommissioning was the disbandment of the armed groups in the six counties peace in northern ireland was what was needed he said ie within the context of continuing british rule similarly all-party talks are limited to the six-county area and are completely constrained by the downing street declaration and the frame work document both guaranteeing the unionist veto on any threat to the british presence it is time to restate the republican position — while there is a british presence in ireland there will never be peace