Labour NEC takes up 'H' Block appeal
Socialist Press1980 1980-07-02Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 4 →
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Shadow Cabinet was thrown into paroxysms last week. The Party's NEC voted-despite Callaghan's opposition-to endorse an LPYS resolution condemning • the conditions faced by. Irish republican prisoners in the concentration camps of Long Kesh and Armagh Jail.
The resolution which "deplores the appalling conditions which exist in the prisons of Northern Ireland", points to newspaper reports of the beating of women prisoners in Armagh by male warders and them being denied sanitary and medical facilities.
And it points out that in the 'H' Blocks of Long Kesh republican prisoners-who are refusing to wear prison clothing or do prison work as part of their struggle for the restoration of political status-are locked up for 24 hours a day, clad only in a blanket.
They are denied reading and writing materials, and subjected to humiliating body searches.
The resolution concludes lameley that the party's Northern Ireland study group should investigate the conditions of the prisoners, and "consider" restoration of the right for them to wear their own clothes and have access to newspapers, TV, books and writing materials.
But the very fact that the leading • Party body has responded to the four-year struggle for the restoration of political status is a major blow to the Callaghan-Mason right wing, whose attempt to "criminalise" republican fighters in 1976 has led to the ongoing 'H' Blocks "blanket" protest.
Callaghan, having failed by 11-8 to secure the defeat of the resolution, immediately dissociated himself from it: and the Shadow Cabinet called for an emergency meeting with the Northern Ireland study group to "reconsider" it.
Current It is clear however that the motion reflects growing current within the Party and the NAGASAKI THE THINGS FoR WE DO FOR HUMAN RIGH tion of the six counties of In this context socialists should support the limited but WITH ACKNOWLEDGMEN TO AND NOW!
Further: details of the Charter 80 campaign, which is backed by Czech Charter 77 campaigner Ivan Hartel and a long list of sponsors, are available from.
Charter 80, PO London NW5.
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