on screws.
They are also regularly denied visits, and when these are permitted the visitors are harassed and made to undergo degrading searches and interrogation. Republican prisoners are denied political status, and in contrast to the VIP treatment given to multiple sectarian killer Albert Baker — are left to sit naked in their cells because of their refusal to wear prison uniforms. But then Baker is a Loyalist, and an ex-member of the SAS.
Frank Stagg, on hunger strike in Wakefield prison for more than seven weeks, is demanding repatriation to the North of Ireland. This right has in the past been freely permitted to Loyalist prisoners by the Labour Government, but similar demands from Republican prisoners have always been fiercely resisted. So Frank Stagg now faces death at the hands of the political assassins who were responsible eighteen months ago for the death of hunger striker Michael Gaughan -whose demand for a transfer was also refused. irish prisoner arter army beating Many of the Republican prisoners in Britain have steadfastly protested that they were not responsible for the actions of which they were accused, and in many cases convictions were only obtained through the use of the conspiracy laws.
In the Six Counties, British imperialism has not found it necessary to make such widespread use of the conspiracy laws to put Republicans behind bars.
Since the passing of the Northern Ireland Emergeney Provisions Act in 1973, all of those charged with terrorist offences have appeared before courts where a judge sits alone - without a jury. Furthermore, changes in the rule of evidence now permit confessions' obtained under duress (i.e. torture) to convict.
The so-called 'security forces' are of course infamous for sectarian discrimination in their treatment of Loyalists and Republicans. The latter are invariably charged with more serious offences even where the "illegal' acts are identical. In their In Belfast alone, 704 men and women are held in prison because of their opposition to British imperialist oppression. In Ireland and Britain the total of Republican prisoners is more than 1,300, and with every day their plight becomes more gruesome. In Britain, especially, the prisoners are kept in solitary confinement and are often subjected to brutal beatings at the hands of prisbook Law and State - The Case of Northern Ireland, Boyle, Hadden and Hillyard have shown that while Loyalists are generally caught in possession of pistols, Republicans get caught with rifles — naturally enough, sentences for the latter are very much steeper.
Army links Fourteen of the North's 17 judges are Protestants. Most of these have been members of the Orange Order. Six have been Unionist MPs, three Attorneys-General, two Chief Whips of the Unionist Party, and one a Minister of Home Affairs.
Their links with the Army are also very strong. Eight are former Army officers, one of whom served in the SAS.
A revealing indication of the way these judges and the Crown forces carry out their job was provided recently by the Labour Government's Attorney General, Sam Silkin. He told Parliament that out of 247 people convicted of membership of "illegal' organisations' over the last two years, only one was charged with belonging to an illegal Loyalist group - the Red Hand Commandos.
All the rest were Republicans. Not Spain: the LCR-ETA(VI) and FRAP.
Fourth
More than 2,000 people marched through London last Sunday on the demonstration organised by the Bloody Sun day Commemoration Committee to demand British withdrawal from Ireland. The biggest single contingent, 500strong, was marshalled by the International Marxist Group (above)-there were also big contingents under the banners of the International Socialists and the Troops Out Movement. Among other groups marching were two from LOUP Photo: JOHN STURROCK (Report)