H-BLOCK, Armagh News

The revolutionary socialist , Petr Uhl is currently serving a six-year sentence in the infamous Mirov Jail in Czechoslovakia. His crime: opposition to the Stalinism of the Husak regime. Uhl was a founder of the Movement of Revolutionary Youth which included Czech student leaders and prominent members of the Metal Workers Union, For his role in the RMY he has already served a four year prison sentence. After his release he became a leader of Charter 77 and VONS -- two civil rights movements which have been active in a large number of cities and towns throughout Czechoslovakia, Before his more recent arrest he had completed a book entitled Czechoslovakia and Socialism which is the most comprehensive indictment of a Stalinist regime since Trotsky!'s Revolution Betrayed, Petr Uhl is serving his sentence under ''strict regime" and can only be visited once every six months for two hours, To make matters wor se Uhl is suffering from chronic bronchitis and is being subjected to additional harassment by prison authorities, Uhl needs the support and solidarity of the international labour movement if he is to survive their persecution, Peoples Democracy will be participating in the campaign alongside the Fourth International. In future issues of SR we will give reports of the progress being made. ACTIVITY IN NAVAN On Sunday the 6th of June, the Navan Prisoners Action Committee (PAC) staged a protest to highlight the conditions of the men and women in H Block and Armagh. The event chosen was a Gaelic Football match between Meath and Dublin. Under a banner of ''Smash H Block'', thousands of leaflets were distributed. This action was well received by many who attended the match and similar actions should be repeated outside GAA matches, particularly as the closing stages of the All-Ireland Finals are now in full swing.

TRADE UNION CAMPAIGN The National H. Block campaign in the trade unions is growing, A special sub-ctte has been lobbying T.U organisations with satisfactory results.fhe most fav-— ourable response so far has come from the Trades Councils, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Derry etc. , have come out in support of the prisoners! demands, This support is now developing into a demand for real action from the Trade Union leader ship.

A resolution at the |CTU conference from the Waterford Trades Council called for a trade union enquiry into H. Block, The ICTU leaders manoeuvred behind the scenes to have this resolution referred back to the incoming execeutive where they hoped it would be forgotten, But their manoeuvring was not entirely sucessful, Even without discussion, a quarter of the delegates signed a petition Supporting the resolution. Indeed to ion was not radical enough', Hotel). prisoners demands status natal care) head off growing support Kennedy in Ireland, and Carroll circulated a document As well, calling for a referral back on the grounds that the Waterford resolutThe ICTU execeutive have not heard the last of this, The Trade Union sub Anyone interested In working on the ctte of the National H, Block Campalign intends to organise a mass Aug. 31. lobby of the execeutive to ensure. that the Waterford resolution Is discussed, The Trade Union subctte of the Bray branch ITGWU also plans to raise the issue in the unions. at 29 Mountjoy Square (basement). All union organisations from the shop floor up to national level are urged to give support to this campaign and to build for the forthcoming lobby of the ICTU execeutive.

DUNDALK ARMAGH MEETING A meeting In Dundalk, called by the National H-Block Committee on July July 27, brought together women, mostly from Belfast and Dublin, to plan for the launching of an Armagh Women Prisoners Committee (incor= porating the Dublin based Armagh Prisoners Solidarity Cttee.) which will take place at a meeting in Dundalk Dundalk on August 31 (in the Imperial It is hoped that the meeting on Aug, 31 will draw large numbers of people from all parts of the 32 Counties, The planning meeting drew up aims for the committee which will be put to the vote at the August meeting(i) to develop support for the women (ii) to win large numbers of women to support the campaign for political (iii) to highlight the specific problems as women suffered by the Armagh prisoners (ie, health and sanitary conditions, lack of ante and post (iv) to highlight the cases of women In prison in the Republic and Britain because of the political situation the case of Pauline Mc Loughlin was discussed In detall and statements on her situation were Issued the following day from Belfast and Dublin. Other aspects-of bullding the campaign were discussed, :

new committee Is asked to attend on A creche will be provided =. for those who need to bring children with them, Meanwhile, those In the Dublin area are asked to attend meetings every Wednesday at 6,00pm COPENHAGEN MEETING The Armagh Prisoners Solldarlity Committee mounted an Intensive lobby during the recent U.N, conference on womens rights, held in Copenhagen, PD women members who attended report that In addition to government delegations there were thousands of womens rights Ccampalgners from every part of the globe, who participated In an alternative tunofficial! conference, It was among these actlvIists that the APSC made Its voice heard, Dozens of workshops heard reports from Nell Mc Cafferty on the conditions of women political prisoners In Armagh. Thelr case aroused considerable Interest and sympathy, and recieved widespread commitments for raising thelr pftgitt In many countries, Among those who agreed to campaign for the prisoners were the PLO, Vietnamese and Cuban delegations, The APSC also worked closely with the delegation of the Fourth International which made Armagh one of Its. priorities at Copenhagen.

During the 'official'! conference, the report of Paddy Daly, Minister of State for the Dept, of Labour, was challanged from the press CONTINUED ON PAGE 7.....+«+

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