Will The British Honour Maghaberry Deal ?- RNU

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Tuesday August 31, 2010 15:45

by DANNY MCBREARTY - Republican Network for Unity

REPUBLICAN NETWORK FOR UNITY (RNU) Cathaoirleach/Chairperson, DANNY MCBREARTY has voiced concern about breaches of the agreement which resolved the protest by Republican political prisoners in Maghaberry and asked; “Does the failure to deliver on pledges made to Republican prisoners indicate bad faith by the British crown or the misconduct of its prison staff?”

Mr. McBrearty added, “After months of protest against conditions and a regime which reminded many of the no-wash days in the H-Blocks during the years which preceded the hunger strikes of 1980-81, Republican political prisoners through respected facilitators reached a reasonable and honourable settlement with the British administration. RNU together with many other Republican and human rights activists welcomed this agreement, which was witnessed and confirmed in writing. It now appears that little more than two weeks later these pledges are being clawed back by the prison administration. Republican prisoners are being denied promised access to classrooms, unlock periods are delayed, their representatives are not recognized, and specific promises about numbers allowed out on landings are breached”

Republicans are monitoring this situation closely. Will the British keep their word and honour their agreement? Are we seeing examples of bad faith by the crown, or are we instead witnessing violations due entirely to the sectarian bitterness of the prison staff? Republican prisoners have taken the mature and reasonable step of raising these violations under mechanisms and monitors set up as part of the agreement. The crown now has a clear opportunity to keep its word and honour its agreement and it cannot disclaim responsibility for the deeds of those they hire and pay to run Maghaberry.

The RNU Cathaoirleach concluded, “Thirty years ago the British government under Thatcher forced a no-wash protest upon Republican prisoners in Long Kesh and Armagh. Protests by human rights groups, clergy and Republicans were ignored, derided or dismissed. The British labeled these political prisoners criminals and said their suffering was self-inflicted. Gifted with opportunity upon opportunity to resolve the protest, the British instead blundered into the hunger strikes. Republicans do not want to see the British repeat their mistakes. This agreement must not become a revisit to the regime of broken promises and missed opportunities”.