THE decision Republican prisoners in the H Blocks, Kesh, to embark on hunger strike from 27 was, in the end, inevitable.
The announcement of the hunger strike. made last Fri_ day in a letter smuggled out of after repeated attempts by prisoners, the Catholic Church in Ireland, and many individuals Britain, throughout the world to suade an intransigent British regime to seek a settlement of the H Block issue.
In this context the decision to go on hunger strike was only in the most formal SCINC akeN voluntarily; reality it was forced on ine prisoners by the stubborness and inhumanity of the present Tory, and the last Labour government. Status It was the Labour government which created the Blocks. Previously, in 1972, the Heath government recognised the exceptional nature of those in prison in the North of freland. con victed for 'crimes' connected the political there. granted those 'special category status?.
This meant prisoners were wear their own clotnes, freely, and take orders only their than from prison staff.
Their status was similar to that given to prisoners of war.
This abolished by the government in 1976.
Teased this arbitrary decision. declined to wear the the uniforms now forced them.
The British reacted to this in resistance denying and prisoners the usual facilities; by constantly harassing and physically assaulting them.
example Was une prisoners uniforms they were not allowed to go to the toilet. This led to the 'dirty protest', with the prisoners being obliged to use their own cell as a toilet. that the throughout the judicial proallowed to cess which the prisoners go mix through they are never treated as 'ordinarv criminals' rather indicated in its 1978 report in'interrogation' prisoners, they are subjected Was to widespread torture in an atLabour tempt The sions'.
They Serve prison The prisoners tried at special the courts, in which the normal laws regulating trials are nored. For witnesses making allegations against the prisoners are not Lial obliged to wore and therefore The prisoners in the H Blocks the prison compounds are in the shape of an H ing that this exceptional treatment be extended to the time they serve in prison.
They wear their own clothes, mix ordinary freely, the right to organise KaRen own facilities, and tenssion l sentences of These demands have been repeated supported dividuals and throughout the world Britain Executive Committee of the On Party Block, Tony among the many Labour MPs who have signed Charter 80, As Amnesty International of the non-Jury igCoalic appear in court, cannot be so-called because - are askwant the right to prisoners' Appeals recreational the Two Massachusetts organisations legislature the National back the awarded protested conditions in tOI Benn over and degradation'.