The funeral of Bobby Sands MP. Tens of thousands attended, illustrating the breadth of support for the hunger strike. THE hunger strike in the H Blocks of Long Kesh in the North of Ireland may have come to an end, but the issues that led to the strike have yet to be fully resolved.
ding officer in Farlane, was put in three days solitary confinement. Later this week prison authorities will spell out how they intend to reforms on prison have sons in Long Kesh and who are leading activists in the H recently spoke to recalled the background of the H Block issue. They began by telling how their sons were arrested.
MV SOI was arrested in August 1976, at home, at 50 in cne morns. He was brought Castlereagh Centre, and held for diLe finally signed a statement.
Durine unc tion he suffered mental and physical ill-treatment. unev meao lareas about would to their mothers and sisters.
was charged possession of weapon, was never produc ed, with attempted murder his trial, no soldier evidence against my son.
He was also charged membership of the IRA. The trial was a farce Last week the Provisional IRA's commanKesh, Brendan Macinterpret the work and education an, This will be a crucial facSocialist Challenge and Irom beginning to end. My son got a total of 15 years.
Kathleen Michael was arrested on 20 August 1976 and held in Castlereagh for 62 hours. During that time, OCCIDS sion for a doctor or refused. He was also told solicitor him wa. that his mother had been caugnt with an Armalite, and was being put in Armagh jail.
Like other prisoners, he signed statement, heavy duress. He He was given ment. Since that day, he las been on the blanket protest in the H Blocks.
Socialist Challenge Britain has been accused of using Lorre inne prisons; do you think this Is all exaggeraton.
Kathleen No, it's not an exaggeration. Britain cal Lalk about her fine modern but there's Daci uney never showed and that's punishment block, where most of these young men are thrown if they noy the warders.
It is a concrete block, no bed, where some men spend 30 days, where they were given bread and water, and very, very slight potuous.
Lily not a question of modern prisons, but the treatment. The prison officers started the protest by refusing them their clothes, and threw them a blanket. They started the 10-Wast protest. The warders wouldn't let them out to the toilet without going naked or being the hot radiators.
My son was put in an COLV cell, and continu high poseered hose, thil hosed down he was hospitalised.
Socialist Challenge do you think that such extreme measures are used?
Lily Because they Republican prisoners, and Also, the biggest majority vi bie screws are Loyallsts. I've seen it with my own eyes. one warder had 'for God and Ulster' written on his sleeve.
Socialist Challenge How much support is there for the prisoners? Kathleen I think the hunger strike proved it. There were thousands and thousands supporting the prisoners, especially when Bobby Sands was elected.
Lily You see, . Britain always tried to play down the support, giving a small ber. centage of the numbers at demonstrations and funerals. as a whole, but especially in th 6 counties, have been right behind the prisoners.
When go round the Nationalist arcas, you see the posters in the windows, they were there even before the hunger strike.
Kathleen When Bobby died, came out onto the streets with bin lids and whistles had only gathered, when the Brits cane up firing plastic bullets into the crowd, but there had been no trouble.
People were standing crying over Bobby, and the Brits were shouting "slimmer year' had died. They used the plastic indiscriminately to try and Lily Fitzsimmons get the off the streets, which they failer to do.
Socialist Challenge What role is the army performing? Lily The same role as ever, to guard British interests in Ireland. They are there to keep the nationalist people down and to keep us in our own areas, lal as the young people, schoolboys and girls Their language to them is unrepeatable We were told in 1969 that keepers, but in 1970 when- they were calc ever Loyalists tried come on to the Falls and attack us, and we dared to protect ourscives, tne brits turned the guns on us. Kathleen They've told us that their cycs. WC have rights, they're treating us second class citizens which won't tolerate any more. On 24 October a young couple were sitting watching telly, with a year 0 Day and the marine commandos in Turf Lodge kept rapping at the window.
The man told them to 'take off' and leave them alone. A row developed, naturally, then they beat arrested him, and took him to Springfield Road barracks.
Socialist Challenge troops withdrawn? Do yUL want Kathleen would love them to be withdrawn immediately, we all would. but if they gave us a date it would be a relief that we will be rid of Le alast Lily If the British government LOOK guarantee away from the Loyalist populanon there would be no Socialist Challenge 'bloodbath'. The Loyalists nave strange idea that they are superior the Catholics. They are little better off than we are.
with unemployent being so high They have poor hous ing and the same social he workin hey problems. But every lit class rise Loyalist people that the are superior I think that Loyalist people would realise • they would be bet ter off running their own country.
Socialist Challenge What message would you give to British socialists?
Lily I think the socialist people England good job by highlighting everything we tell them.
The English people should find out what their troops are The politicians know ordinary people don't. All they hear is and shootings. But they don't hear of innocent 9 or 10 yca. dead and hundred.
blinded and maimed by the plastic bullets If you build a movement in this country to get the troops out, , it would be marvellous The better off VOUL walking would the SLICCL Inal walking the streets of Ireland in a British army uniform.
Kathleen Also would like to thank all the people and socialists who are helping our prisoners, and our 5 November 1981
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nounced by the British government at the end of the hunger strike. tor in deciding whether some form of protest continues inside the H Blocks.
of a British soldier, and at gave
Lily Fitzsimmons and Kathleen Holden, who Block campaign in