PRISONER TO STAND IN WEST BELFAST?

THE Republican Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle meeting in Belfast on February 10 last discussed the forthcoming Westminster elections in the Six Counties and in a statement issued announced it was referring the matter to Comhairle Uladh.

At its meeting on February 18 Comhairle Uladh heard the views of delegates from all nine counties of Ulster. After a long discussion it was decided that the struggle for political status had to be intensified.

It was proposed that to highlight the continuing denial of political status in Maghaberry jail a Republican prisoner should be put forward as a candidate in West Belfast for the Westminster election. The weekly pickets in support of political status in the Falls Road are ongoing each Saturday from 1-2pm and the issue now was extending and highlighting the campaign.

The Republican prisoners in Maghaberry are still isolated and are still in physical danger from loyalist and other pro-British elements in addition to the unwanted attentions of the British prison authorities.

The proposal was recommended to the Ard Chomhairle or acceptance or otherwise at its March 10 meeting. In addition Comhairle Uladh that other constituencies be considered as well as West Belfast.

Billboards being erected outside Newry by Republican Sinn Féin members highlighting the campaign for political status for Republican prisoners in Maghaberry prison.

Delegates reported that neither SDLP nor Provisionals will support the campaign for political status. When confronted with the issue in public they try to ignore it or take evasive action.

When a Provisional member Martin Ferris was confronted with the issue in Ballylongford, Co Kerry he replied four times that there were no political prisoners. In Newry his colleague Davy Hyland was asked by the media about billboards on the political status issue. He evaded the issue.

Belfast delegates in particular felt that the people should be appealed to directly over the heads of the SDLP and Provisional politicians. The Westminster elections provide an opportunity to do this in a manner that cannot be ignored.

Due to the media clampdown on the issue (apart from the Guardian newspaper, February 22 and the Irish News on February 20) it was decided to give it maximum publicity in SAOIRSE.

Political status was won by a hunger strike in May 1972 in Crumlin Road, Belfast led by Republicans Billy McKee and Proinsias Mac Airt. The British government decided to end political status in the Gardiner Report of January 1975. This came into operation on March 1, 1976. It was another British attempt to break the liberation struggle.

Protests began on September 14, 1976 when the late Ciarán Nugent (18) refused to wear a prison uniform. He said they would have "to nail it on his back" if they wanted him to wear it. The blanket protest had begun.

Neither the SDLP nor Provos wants political status to become a live issue. Republican Sinn Féin is determined to make it one.

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