CHARTER 80, the campaign established in Britain to promote the demands of the H Block and Armagh political prisoners, is now establishing a firm foundation.
Among recent signatories| to the call for 'human rights for Irish political prisoners' are Mick McGahey, president of the Scottish National Union of Miners, and Gordon McClellan, general secretary of the Communist Party.
The arguments on which the demands of the prisoners are based are described in a new pamphlet produced in Belfast by the trade union sub-committee of the National H Block Committee*. The pamphlet explains the background to the H Block issue, relates the 'conveyor belt' system of "justice', and outlines a number of case histories of trade unionists who have become political prisoners.
One such history is that of Tom McAllister, a member of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers. This is Tom's story — and the case for Charter 80. Tom was 13 years old when tempting to escape, Tom was British troops went onto the shot in the ankle and knee. streets of Belfast in 1969. Liv- While he was on his face on the ing in a socially depressed area ground the Special Patrol on the Falls Road made him, Group (RUC) fired more shots like others his age, a target for into his back injuring the base harassment both the of his spine.
British Army and the RUC. Later Tom's doctor On average the McAllster testified that the of household was raided' by the this injury indicated that Tom security forces several times a had been shot while lying on the week, and sometimes two or ground. An eye-witness to the even three times daily. shooting told the same story.
The Tom Tom left school at 17 to paralyzed from the waist down. become an fitter, He also had a broken leg. He but due to spending too many was taken to the Royal Victoria al-night sessions ın army or Hospital where he was given a RUC barracks he found it im- blood transtusion The very possible to hold down his job. next day he was transferred to a He left work return to military hospital. school, but even inis became Approximately four weeks impracticable, as he often was later, without warning, Tom «alc or mie way to school was transferred to the infamous He was arrested again on 29 Castlereagh RUC station. He March 1978 in what was later still had a leg in plaster, and said to be a hijacked vehicle. It had a bag and catheter attached was also claimed that guns and to him to assist his bowel and explosives were involved. bladder movements.
that delivered for despite the fact that the day he was moved the consultant in charge issued Tom a certificate stating that he had to remain in TOM McALLISTER - 'But for the political set-up in our country he would never have seen the inside of a prison.' was hospital for at least a further 13 'questioning', weeks.
Tom's parents and solicitor tound out about the transe and contacted the family doctor who saw Tom the next day.
During the examination Tom prisoners are: the right to wear their own clothes instead of prison uniforms; the right to free association with other prisoners; the right to refuse to do prison work; the right to organise educational and recreational activities and to send and receive a weekly letter, parcel, and be visited weekly; full remission of sentence; *Propose that Charter 80 be adopted by your trade union, trades council, or Labour women's, and student movement to sign Charter 80; *If there is a local Troops Out Movement branch in your area ask those involved to circulate the Charter 80 petition; *Come to the Charter 80 rally in London's Conway Hall, Red Lion Square on 27 September.
complained that the police were hospital for proper treatment.
interrogating him standing up The family doctor rang the - even though he had one leg prison, spoke to the doctor in plaster. Five weeks after be- there and urged that Tom be ing shot he was finally charged transterred to hospital The After this his parents visited prison doctor agreed with this him. opinion. Nevertheless Tom In statement to tne McAllister remained in prison, Associalion lor Legal Justice on remand, for over a year. his mother said: under no illusions about how When his trial was eventualTom would after the ly heard it lasted all of three Special Branch were finished days. was convicted of with him, possession of a gun and expletely astounded when we saw plosives, and was sentenced to him. He, in all honesty, was a twelve years and ten years, to physical wreck. be served concurrently. He was 'He was in a highly nervous denied political status and imstate, twisting his hands and mediately went on blanket propulling at his nails. At that mo- test. ment I knew without a doubt According to his mother he that my son had been to hell is at present 'badly handicap. and back at the hands of the ped'. She explains: 'He wears a sadistic animals. built-up boot. He has gone from over 12 stone to about seven stone. He has the zombie"They had withheld the pain-killing drugs left by his ilke appearance that all the GP. He said they had stood him blanket men have, vet he is for interrogation against a wall determined to remain on the pulled his hair, his ears, pulled his head back as far as possible, protest unti he status, and we his family fully gets He said they also sat him in a support his aims. 'He is no criminal, and but straight-backed wooden chair, and from behind kept kicking for the political set-up in our country he would never have his chair so as to jar his spine. Tom appeared in court the seen the inside of a prison'.
next morning. He was remand. *Trade Unions and H Block ed in custody. The magistrate costs 5Up and is available from recommended that the medical "Trade Union sub-committee' authorities at Crumlin Road 52 Broadway, Belfast 12. Cost prison should examine Tom 50p plus 20p p&p. Ten Copies and if necessary remove him to or more 30p each. PLANS are now well under- whole will meet up in Belfast on way for the Troops Out Saturday but tie mos Movement to Poole boy boat ine are for hee Belfast on the weekend of boat; the fare for the 9/10 August. urall boat tennis tą Most of the delegation are exThe delegation will visit and pected to travel by boat, so there picket British Army forts in West should be plenty of company and will take part commoon Bellast will be demonstration on 10 August mark. provided, mostly in the homes of ing the anniversary of the introduc- local families tion of internment. • An educational There will be a meeting for all programme is also being arranged those in the London area wishing to to allow those who go the oppor- take part in the delegation on Montunity to meet learn the truth about the Irish situa- people day August pub, Tottenham Court Rd.
The delegation is being planned Further details can be obtained so that people who are working can by phoning the national office of leave home on Friday evening and Troops Out : Movement on set back aried mons 267 2004. If you want to see Belfast rangements are on offer depending variety travel al- British media refuse vourse anadern to what the tell you on how much people can about Ireland phone. that numbe! The idea is that the delegation as a
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