IRPWA: DIRTY PROTEST NELL’ALA E3 DELLA PRIGIONE DI PORTLAOISE

E’ con grande rammarico che l’IRPWA invita la famiglia repubblicanaa a sostenere ancora una volta i POWs (prisoner of war, ndr) nella loro protesta contro la palese ingiustizia del sistema carcerario in Irlanda.
L’IRPWA è stata incaricata dai POWs repubblicani a precisare come e perché si è verificatoa questa protesta e di chiarirne le ragioni
Una protesta è attualmente in corso nell’ala E3 di Portlaoise Prison a causa della sospensione dei programmi di ‘rilascio temporaneo’ (TR, temporary release ndr) e del ‘rilascio compassionevole’ (CR, compassionate release ndr). E ‘ convinzione dei POW’s che questa sia una ritorsione alle azioni dell’ IRA nelle sei contee occupate, infatti, l’Irish Prison Service ha incaricato alcuni dei suoi portavoce a chiedere all’OC (Officer Commanding, ndr) dell’ala E3 se ‘crede nel frontiera’!
La situazione attuale è la seguente: due prigionieri repubblicani (Vinny Kelly e Justin McCarthy) sono attualmente impegnati in una no wash/dirty protest, non in una blanket protest come inizialmente lasciato trapelare.
Ad intervalli di tempo, tutti i POWs repubblicani aderiranno alla protesta, e in quella fase, vi sarà la sua escalation.
Il rappresentante dell’Irish Prison Service e il governatore hanno chiesto all’OC di riconsiderare la posizione dei POWs in attesa di un colloquio con il Free State Government. L’unica concessione dei POW sè stata di ritardare l’adesione di altri uomini alla protesta per un breve periodo di tempo per dare loro la possibilità di risolvere il problema. E’ impressione dell’IRPWA, che questa finestra di opportunità si chiuderà rapidamente e per questo ci appelliamo a tutti coloro che sono coinvolti nel Free State Government e nell’Irish Prison Service, a compiere notevoli sforzi per risolvere questa situazione intollerabile, non appena possibile.

Seguono il comunicato ufficiale dell’IRPWA e il comunicato ufficiale dei POW dell’ala E3 di Portlaoise Prison all’Irish Prison Service

Protest on E3 Portlaoise Gaol (IRPWA)
It is with great regret that the IRPWA call upon the republican family to once again support POW’s in their protest against the blatant injustice of the Prison system in Ireland.
The IRPWA have been tasked by the republican POW’s to state how and why this protest has occurred and to clarify the facts of this protest.
A protest is currently underway on E3 Portlaoise due to the suspension of the temporary release (TR) and compassionate release (CR) programmes. It is the belief of the POW’s that this has happened due to IRA actions in the occupied six counties, indeed the Irish Prison Service have indicated this much and one of their spokespersons has even asked the OC of E3 if he ‘Believed in the border’!
The situation at present is as follows: Two republicans prisoners (Vinny Kelly and Justin McCarthy) are currently involved in a no wash/dirty protest, NOT on the blanket as some have suggested. At intervals republican POW’s will join this protest until the whole landing is on protest , at this stage the protest will escalate.
The Irish Prison Service representative and the Governor have asked the Officer Commanding to reconsider the POW’s stance pending talks with the Free State government, the only concession the POW’s have been willing to make at this stage is to delay further men joining the protest for a short period to give them a chance to resolve the issue. It is the understanding of the IRPWA that this window of opportunity is fast closing and we would urge all those involved in the Free State government and the Irish Prison Service to make strenuous efforts to resolve this intolerable situation as soon as possible.

Statement from Republican Prisoners E3 to the Irish Prison Service.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) states in its mission statement that one of its goals is to try to maintain relationships between prisoners and their families. This is one of the reasons for it’s Temporary Release (TR) programme. When a prisoner is released his chances of settling back into normal family relationships are improved. The programme was also to help prisoners to seek housing accommodation and social welfare payments and help further their education upon release.
The process for Political prisoners has always been compassionate on TR. We have always obeyed the rules set out surrounding releases of this nature. We have always maintained the integrity of being Republican prisoners by returning on time and there has never been an issue with this. We recognise the importance of these releases on the grounds that if we are to maintain family ties important events must be attended. In the past the IPS has allowed Republican prisoners to attend funerals of family and loved ones. It has also allowed for important religious events such as Christenings, First Holy Communions and Confirmations.
It has recently stopped all of this without any explanation being given. Examples of this include denials of applications to attend children’s First Holy Communions and funerals of close relatives. One application was submitted when a Republican prisoner’s only aunt passed away and the application came back denied after the funeral had already taken place. Another application was denied for a prisoner to attend the funeral of his twin’s mother and denied again for the twins Confirmation eight months after the death of their mother.
We the Republican prisoners of E3 landing will not tolerate this blatant discrimination and unjust treatment. It is only following recenet events in the six counties that this unfair treatment of our prisoners has intensified. We believe it is directly related and until the IPS and the Governor of Portlaoise Prison are willing to stop this harassment and mistreatment of all Republican prisoners we will commence protest. We will not be used as leverage for the British and Free State governments.

DICHIARAZIONE DI PASQUA DEL REAL IRA

E’ questo il testo della dichiarazione di Pasqua del Real IRA (Óglaigh na hÉireann) pubblicata dal Tribune.ie e che verrà letta il 13 aprile durante la commemorazione tenuta dal 32 County Sovereignty Movement a Derry.

Statement from the Real IRA to be read out at the 32 County Sovereignty Movement commemoration in Derry tomorrow
Real IRA statement: ‘It fell to the volunteers of Óglaigh na hÉireann to carry out the [Denis Donaldson] sentence and punishment demanded in our Army Orders’
‘The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann send fraternal greetings to our friends and comrades at home and overseas, especially to those incarcerated by the enemy here in Ireland and further afield.
“Special mention must be made of the families of our POWs. Their resilience in the face of adversity inspires us all. We would remind republicans that, at this time of commemoration, we have a special duty to all POWs and their dependents. We send solidarity greetings to all those revolutionaries fighting to defend the sovereignty of their nations.
“History has shown us that compromise with the British on the issue of national sovereignty has always resulted in those who have compromised condemning those who continue to uphold and defend Irish sovereignty.
“Our struggle is against the British occupation forces and the administrative arm of the British government in Ireland – be they in the RUC/PSNI, the NIO [Northern Ireland Office], or the quislings in Stormont [the DUP-Sinn Féin Executive]. The same has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan: those who assist the occupier always condemn the occupied. However, seldom in such blatant or hysterical terms as we have witnessed recently.
“A former comrade [Martin McGuinness] has come full circle and, with a knight of the British realm [Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde] at his shoulder, he has labelled our gallant volunteers as traitors to justify his Redmondite stance and home rule politics.
“Let us remind our former comrade of the nature and the actions of a traitor. Treachery is collaborating with the enemy, treachery is betraying your country. Let us give our one-time comrade an example. Denis Donaldson was a traitor and the leadership of the Provisional movement, under guidance from the British government, made provision for Donaldson to escape republican justice in the same manner as Freddie Scappaticci.
“It fell to the volunteers of Óglaigh na hÉireann to carry out the sentence and punishment demanded in our Army Orders and by the wider republican family. No traitor will escape justice regardless of time, rank or past actions. The republican movement has a long memory.
“Recent years have seen the reorganisation and restructuring of Óglaigh na hÉireann. This is continuing and is constantly evolving and being refined to keep abreast of enemy developments in technology and modes of war. It is vital that volunteers educate themselves in such developments and take the necessary steps to safeguard themselves and their comrades.
“Actions by volunteers of Óglaigh na hÉireann in the last year have proved that the tactical use of armed struggle can, and does, bring results. As was witnessed in Antrim, British soldiers and the colonial police will continue to lose their lives as long as the issue of national sovereignty remains unresolved. Óglaigh na hÉireann will continue to strike at the British occupation forces wherever and whenever we decide.
“We also reserve the right to execute anyone providing services, in any shape or form, to the enemy. Those who assist the occupiers have placed themselves in harm’s way. They know what they need to do to extricate themselves from a situation of their own making. There will be no further warnings.
“The same goes for the RUC/PSNI. Let us be clear so there is no further ambiguity on the matter: any young person fool enough to join the colonial police in the belief that the leadership of the Provisional movement will protect them, or give them cover, is sadly mistaken. The RUC/PSNI are a British police force, just like the old RIC [Royal Irish Constabulary].
“Like the RIC, some in their ranks portray themselves as Irish and there to protect and serve their communities. In reality, they are the first line of defence for the British government. They are being used to spy, arrest, interrogate, brutalise and uphold foreign laws against fellow Irishmen.
“By such actions, they forfeit any right to call themselves Irish. Once you don the uniform of your British paymaster, you become its instrument. He who pays the piper calls the tune.
“The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann urges republicans to be vigilant in the time ahead. We have no doubt that the British Army and colonial police will seek to once again spill republican blood for recent attacks on their ranks. The republican movement is prepared for this.
“The British political, military and security establishment, along with local allies, will redouble their efforts in the dirty tricks department and their campaign of criminalisation. They will seek to sow mistrust and divisions among republicans and will use counter-revolutionaries to do so. These people will one day be forced to answer for their actions.
“Finally, we reject the assertions of the pro-establishment media that Óglaigh na hÉireann is fractionalised or engaged in criminality. Óglaigh na hÉireann is a unified body committed to the cause of Irish sovereign national self-determination and an end to British rule in Ireland.
“Our recent actions speak louder than a thousand establishment lies. Beir Bua. Victory to the IRA!”
The Real IRA refers to itself as Óglaigh na hÉireann. However, in claims of responsibility to media it can use its more popular name, the’Real IRA’ to distinguish itself from a smaller dissident group which also calls itself Óglaigh na hÉireann

April 12, 2009

DICHIARAZIONE DI PASQUA DEL 32 CSM

32CSM Easter Oration 2009

Marian Price
A chairde, there are those who would say we are traitors gathered here to commemorate the actions of traitors. Pearse and Connolly were deemed to be traitors because the British trenches in the Somme were filled with Irishmen deceived into thinking that fighting in the imperial slaughter of the First World War would lead to Home Rule. Pearse and Connolly said it wouldn’t, and they were right, but still they were vilified and executed. Ninety three years later republicans once again state that the Home Rule strategy will not deliver Irish freedom. Calling us traitors for saying so from the steps of Stormont, flanked by Britain’s head policeman in Ireland, proves we are also right. We are immensely proud to share the views of Pearse and Connolly.
Once again British soldiers are being killed on Irish soil. Once again British soldiers are using Irish soil to train to kill in foreign wars. Once again establishment nationalists have moved to support the British regime in Ireland. Nothing has changed. Claiming that unity will be achieved by 2016 is similar to the deception employed to lure men to their deaths in the fields of Flanders in the lost hope of securing Home Rule. Nothing has changed here either. The men and women of 1916 fought for fundamental change. They were not reformists, but Irish separatists who articulated the basic republican message that our sovereignty is inalienable and indefeasable.
This year also marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the First Dail Eireann. The First Dail was the Proclamation in action. It was an Irish parliament of, by and for the Irish people. It declared our independence to the world and set about a radical social programme to cherish all of the children equally. It remains our blueprint for the future of our country and our people.
Our history is one of conflict because too often our history has been repeated. Political arrangements which usurp Irish sovereignty cannot lead to peace or freedom. Inherent in these arrangements is the attempted suppression of those who seek to defend our sovereignty. They murder us. They hang us. They intern us. They intimidate us. They malign us. It represents that familiar colonial chorus, ever desperate to maintain itself. Trading civil rights in return for recognition of foreign rule condemns our children to fight for that most basic of rights, their own freedom. The men and women of 1916 were not fooled or bought by the trappings of Home Rule nor intimidated by the forces of Westminster and her Irish lackeys. For them democracy meant more than an opinion poll rating or a gerrymandered election. The voice of the people can only be heard if it is freely expressed.
And this is the message which republicans need to articulate today. As republicans we need to put before the people our framework from within which Irish democracy can function without external impediment. We need to set our case against British occupation in a way which is relevant to our people’s needs today. Our aims cannot be solely the product of the past nor can they be a slave to that past. British reasons for remaining in Ireland will change according to modern British interests and republican strategies opposing these interests must adapt accordingly. But in doing so we cannot repeat the failures of history by compromising the legitimacy of our position for the appearance of short term gain. The British have no right to be here and our right to resist them is a matter for us to determine and not them.
We are constantly asked; what is your alternative? The answer depends on who is asking the question. To those who call us traitors we say; any alternative but yours. To those who call us anti democratic we say; let us negotiate without pre conditions. To those republicans who genuinely seek an alternative we say; let us construct one together. We must be clear that the Good Friday Agreement represents a significant defeat for republicanism. And in the face of this we need to be pragmatic and not reactionary. Recrimination is not an alternative. Working constructively together is. Along with other republican comrades the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has engaged in an initiative to forge a way forward from a unified republican position. The ideology behind it is the ideology of necessity. All republican banners are welcome because all republican banners are needed.
How we engage with the Irish people is as important as what we engage them on. From the outset the truth of what we say will be judged by the strength by which we say it. Eloquence and emotion are no substitutes to a unified voice. The politics of conflict resolution requires clarity to ensure that any resolution is just and democratic. Armed conflict is in existence because such a resolution has not been entered into. Neither republicans nor the British government can invoke the existence of armed conflict as an excuse not to engage in a process to find a final democratic resolution to the Anglo Irish conflict. We have to deal with reality as it is and not how we wish it to be.
Standing here in commemoration of 1916 let us invoke the clarity of the Proclamation as we now address the British government today. You must leave Ireland. If, as you say, you have no selfish, strategic or economic reasons for remaining in Ireland then there is no excuse for you not to leave. There is no problem in Ireland which demands your presence that the Irish people themselves cannot resolve. If you require a framework to allow you to disengage from our country we will construct one for you. But for this to happen you must go before the international community and renounce your claim to sovereignty over the Six Counties. A claim of sovereignty represents the bedrock of any strategic interest so let this be the basic test of your intentions.
We call on all republicans to realign ourselves around the securing of achievable aims. We have set forth a programme to rebuild the republican movement through political advancement. We have proposed that commemorating 1916 should be the annual barometer by which we measure our success especially in the run up to its centenary in 2016. Irish republicanism must be in a position on the occasion of this centenary to tell the Irish people that concrete political gains have been made toward making national reunification an unstoppable reality. The Proclamation is too important a document to condemn it to perpetual aspiration.
The Unity Initiative is the only realistic way forward. Armed struggle is a reality in our midst. We must address it for what it is, a symptom of the unwillingness of the British government to engage on the core cause of conflict, namely, its illegal claim to sovereignty over part of our country. For those who want armed struggle to cease they must come forward with proposals to address its cause. The politics of condemnation is a failed irrelevancy just as British micro Ministers are sitting in Stormont. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement have endeavoured since its formation to put such proposals into the public domain.
We sought a peaceful alternative through the auspices of the United Nations only to have that route disbarred to us when the US authorities, acting on influence from London and Dublin, banned our organisation from travelling there. But we are not deterred by this and efforts are underway to petition the Obama administration to reverse this policy. Because contrary to previous declarations made there, Ireland is not at peace.
We have sought dialogue with both governments, unionist and nationalist parties in an attempt to seek a peaceful way forward but these offers have been largely ignored. We thank all those who worked toward achieving this. And we say it again now; if you truly believe our position is so flawed come and tell us how, rather than grandstanding on media soap boxes. Our door remains open and we will not stop knocking on yours.
Comrades, the template of 1916 remains supremely relevant for us today. It was republican unity which drafted the Proclamation and allowed for the accommodation of its diverse views so magnificently. It was republican disunity which led to that fateful confusion on that day. They have given us the benefit of their foresight and the lessons of their errors. Let us leave here today all the wiser for both.Beir Bua.