Downing Street protests to continue
By Fern Lane
IT WAS disturbing last Thursday as we stood waving our flags
outside Downing Street.
Inside Number 10 our leader was taking tea with a man who
represents a government which has pursued violence, killing and
maiming in furtherance of its political objectives in Ireland.
Despite our distaste, we knew this was a necessary process and we
commended Gerry Adams's moral and physical courage in taking such
a massive risk for peace.
We noticed the ease with which Rita Restorick, mother of Stephen,
was permitted to pass through the ranks of police in order to
hand a Christmas card to Adams.
We wondered if the next time Blair visits Belfast will the mother
of, say, Karen Reilly or Peter McBride be allowed to hand him a
card asking him if he is genuine about peace and whether he is
prepared to put a permanent stop to the violence perpetrated by
the military forces under his control.
One of Fuascailt's aims has been to try and translate the latent
support which exists among the Irish community in England into
tangible political action. A monthly picket outside Downing
Street has provided a means by which people here can give
expression to their republican ideals as well as supporting POWs.
Attendance at the picket has grown from the 25 or so who stood in
the January cold to a regular attendance of 80-100 people.
Membership has also increased steadily and a quarterly newsletter
was launched in April. The British were, within a few months and
as a result of a great deal of hard work by pressure groups and
individuals, compelled to close down all but one of the barbarous
Special Secure units - Belmarsh. Last Sunday Fuascailt held a
demonstration outside that prison to protest.
Fuascailt has also demonstrated at Roisin McAliskey's court
hearings, and held pickets outside the German Embassy and the
Lufthansa offices in London.
The campaign has also accommodated visiting relatives,
fundraised, lobbied government departments, attended trials and
court appearances to offer encouragement, and on one occasion
staged a sit-down protest outside the Northern Ireland Office
which brought the London traffic to a complete standstill.
The PTA, however, remains in force despite lobbying all the
political parties during the election campaign. This legislation
deters many people from becoming more involved in political
action.
Fuascailt have tried to counter the fear of arrest and harassment
with a second edition of its PTA card, offering advice and
information for anyone arrested under the Act
The group's priority remains the POW's. Despite claims by the
government that it is acting ``with all haste'' on the transfer of
Irish prisoners, the 23-year men cannot even apply for transfer
until they have their tariffs set.
Fuascailt will still be at Downing Street, waving their flags,
every month until every Irish political prisoners has been
released.
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