Nathan Hastings with a Roe 4 Republican Prisoner Statement 29th July 2014
The meeting of Tuesday 29th July 2014, between Republican prisoner representatives and Sinn Féin laid bare the reality of the current situation in the gaol generally and specifically the nature of the current relationship between Sinn Féin and the Republican activists imprisoned by the British State.
The contrast between the Sinn Féin delegation of today and those same people, who once stood shoulder to shoulder with us during previous gaol conflicts, could not be more stark. To be sat down discussing our current gaol struggle with former comrades some of whom were our OC’s in the H Blocks but are now fulfilling a role a kin to the “Board of Visitors” is a pathetic and sorry reflection of just how far these people have gone in propping up both the prison regime and the unionist statelet we once resisted together.
No-one can ever second guess what analysis martyred comrades would support today, but it is beyond doubt, they would not support our gaolers. Today former comrades may not be turning the key to physically lock our cell doors or degrading or tormenting Republican prisoners and our families directly but they are absolutely in league with the six county “Justice” minister and MI5 puppet masters in their efforts to criminalise us.
Sinn Fein and others like them in the constitutionally nationalist camp along with David Ford should remember; just as before with the segregation battle in Crumlin Road Gaol and the fight for political status in the H Blocks Republican prisoners will resist all attempts to criminalise us whether through controlled movement, strip-searching or isolation.
If Sinn Féin does not want to be an enabler of a British State criminalisation policy it should make it clear publicly and cease its support of the Stormont regime and the “Justice” Minister. Tactics of Pontius Pilate and the uttering of polite, meaningless words have failed in the past and they will fail in the future. Twenty first century Republicanism needs to be defined by actions, not aspirations.
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That's the main thing I can't get my head round with Sinn Fein is the prison issue. They bought into the g.f.a and that's up to them and I suppose they would argue that certain sacrifices have to be made if their long term strategy is to work, however every ethos of a people must have an issue that is non-negotiable, and the criminalisation of republicans is surely that. Fighting against an occupier is never a crime and given our history, you would like to think that s.f would have an attitude that says well maybe we don't agree with your tactics but we will never be in league with the criminalisation of any armed republican. Criminalise one of us you criminalise us all so i don't understand their tactic here.
ReplyDeleteWell, Martin McGuinness stood next to the police chief and called armed republicans 'traitors' to Ireland. So they must look on POWs as the enemy to their strategy because they don't agree with Sinn Fein's way forwards on this so-called peace process. Whatever Sinn Fein's views are they shouldn't criminalise any republicans whether they are in agreement with them or not...they too were once in gaol themselves facing criminalisation from the same system.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't or didn't they (Roe house prisoners) name and shame the PSF reps...?
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