Saoirse to march to Belfast City Hall
By Michael McCracken.
Saoirse, the prisoners support group, is set to hold a massive
Belfast city march and rally at the City Hall on Sunday 14
September, on the eve of the Stormont talks, as it intensifies
its campaign to force Britain to repatriate and release
republican POWs.
Saoirse chairperson Martin Meehan pointed out that Saoirse wants
to raise public consciousness on all aspects of prisoners' lives,
``this campaign embraces the repatriation of POWs in English
jails, the conditions POWS live under at home and abroad. There
is also the issue of those prisoners in Portlaoise who are
serving forty-year sentences, and the men in England who have
served over twenty-years; none of whom have been given any hope
of release. We will concentrate on a whole series of issues
regarding the plight of prisoners, including release.''
Meehan also pointed out the forgotten people in the issue, the
prisoners relatives. ``People tend to focus on prisoners,
forgetting the plight of the families, especially those
constantly travelling to Britain. Their horrific experiences,
including physical and verbal abuse, strip-searches, wasted
journeys, must be highlighted.
``We are asking prisoners to mobilise their relatives in strength,
to make sure at least ten supporters each are mobilised. That
will help us enormously to mobilise hundreds more at every
demonstration.''
Gerry Adams has called for the ``immediate transfer of republican
prisoners from Britain to jails closer to their families,''
stressing that the prisoners' treatment and ultimate release are
integral to a resolution of the conflict.
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