Emergency Statement from Maghaberry Prison -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Mon, Apr 09 2007, 19:02:35 PDT
Author: IFC NewsList (Action Request)
Subject: Emergency Statement from Maghaberry Prison

the Irish Freedom Committee�
http://www.irishfreedomcommittee.net

EMERGENCY STATEMENT FROM MAGHABERRY PRISON
Irish Freedom Committee ACTION REQUEST

Monday April 10, 2007

In an emergency message from Maghaberry prison this morning the Irish
Freedom Committee has learned there was a clash with screws on wings
Easter morning Maghaberry prison and fifteen republican POWs are now
charged with wearing Easter lilies.

The message stated that the republican prisoners were forced to run a
gauntlet of over twenty prison staff standing. The staff wouldn�t
allow
the men out for food, Easter visits or exercise as they were wearing
Easter lilies.

The prisoners told the IFC:

"We stated quite clearly that under the Flags and Emblems Act and under
Equality issue we are allowed to wear our Easter lilies to remember our
patriot dead, just like they (staff and loyalist prisoners) are allowed
to
wear their poppies. They said 'There�s no rules in here, we call the
shots.' The screws were very aggressive and looking for confrontation.
There�s fifteen prisoners now charged with wearing an Easter lily
This is
total disgrace. This is 2007, not 1977; that�s what we told them."

"They are refusing us out to yards, they�ve given us no food, no
grub,
they refused to let us out of the cells because we�re wearing an
Easter
lily."

The prisoners decried the deteriorating conditions at Maghaberry.

"The provocation, intimidation, and victimization of republicans in
this
day and age is a total disgrace. You have Gerry Adams allowed to wear
an
Easter lily in a government building to meet Ian Paisley. Yet
Republicans
are not allowed to wear an Easter lily to commemorate our dead."

IFC ACTION REQUEST

We ask that our supporters immediately contact the NIO and Prison
governor
at Maghaberry and protest the unwarranted aggression against Republican
prisoners. There is a Sample Letter below, use as is or modify in your
own words.

1. Enter the following email addresses in your email "TO" bar:
info@niprisonservice.gov.uk, press.nio@nics.gov.uk
Subject: "Maghaberry prison Easter aggression"
2. Copy and paste the suggested text below into your email body
3. Add your name and location to the text.
4. SEND
---------------- SAMPLE LETTER COPY & PASTE ---------------------

MAGHABERRY PRISON
Mr. Alan Longwell - Governor
Upper Ballinderry Road
Lisburn, Co. Antrim
BT28 2PT

NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE
Mr. Peter Hain - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Block B
Castle Buildings
Belfast BT4 3STGTN

NORTHERN IRELAND PRISON SERVICE
Mr. Robin Masefield - Director General
Room 321
Prison Service Headquarters
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast BT4 3SU

Dear sir,

We are writing to protest the aggressive treatment of the republican
prisoners at Roe house yesterday morning, Easter Sunday. We have
learned
that the republican prisoners were forced to run a gauntlet of over
twenty
guards yesterday and have been denied food, visits and exercise because
they wore Easter lilies.

It is unacceptable that prison guards and loyalist inmates can openly
wear
enormous poppies for Remembrance day in November, yet the republican
prisoners are annually treated to abuse and punishment for wearing
small
Easter lilies to commemorate their patriot dead.

We remain concerned over the deteriorating conditions at Maghaberry
prison. We will continue to closely monitor this situation.

Sincerely,

NAME/ADDRESS

------------------------------------------------

The Irish Freedom Committee will continue to monitor events at
Maghaberry
and will post more news here shortly. Please contact
Saoirse@irishfreedomcommittee for more information.

##### ENDS

--
----------------------------------------------------------------

The Irish Freedom Committee� is a Nation-wide, Registered
Not-for-Profit,
wholly U.S.- based organization with no Foreign Principal. We are
dedicated to education on the true root causes of the 850-years war
against British occupation, and to the humanitarian and charitable
support of the dependents of anti-Treaty Irish Republican Political
Prisoners.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPORT THE FAMILIES OF IRISH REPUBLICAN POLITICAL PRISONERS!
Join the Irish Freedom Committee�
http://www.irishfreedomcommittee.net/

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