“One of the places \where the struggle in the…”

One of the places \where the struggle in the 6 Cos. reache’s its height is in ‘A’ wing Crumh'n Road Jail Belfast. Through absclute determination, through the suffering of heroic men, and through the support of a risen people the men and women of ‘A’ wing, of Armagh, Long Kesh ™ and Portlaoise, have won major victories against the state, even when imprisoned. The greatest of these achievements is that of political status — the forcing’ of the state to admit that it holds these men and women because of their political opposition to its rule.

But the state did not ,rant this willingly and does not me.1tion it willingly. Through every dav of imprisonment the struggle goes on. The state continuously in a thousand ‘ different ways trying to destroy the prisoners unity and discipline .and the prisoners beating every attempt back.

Inside ‘A’ wing Entry into ‘A’ wing presents an immediate contrast to the main prison. Elsewhere the men are reduced - to identical objects in the drab prison uniform, marched everywhere at the double by aggressive and arrogant screws. The prisoners of ‘A’ wing wear civilian clothes. When they march, it is in their own -disciplined formations, not those of the State. On entry you are not catalogued or numbered, but welcomed by the Staff Officers of the prisoners. You then give details of yourself and your arrest, not only to help keep the prisoners informed about the outside world, but to prevent the authorities from planting informers. (They attempt this regularly).

Life in ‘A’ wing The first few days in ‘A’ wing are spent adjusting to the surroundings. They also determine how you will get on with your comrades. Just how quickly you are accepted depends on your reaction to the various practical jokes played on newcomers. It would spoil the joke to give details, but you usually find yourself revaled in various ridiculous positions to the entire population of ‘A’ wing. Life then becomes a series of routines; lock-up, release from cells, exercise, drill, meals, visits and study. The difference in ‘A’ wing is that many of the routines have been.developed by ° the prisoners to increase their sOlidarity and ability to act together, rat.her than prison routines deve.loped to separate and isolate the prisoner..

A continuous battle Even this ability to organise is not something that the prison authorities accept easily. Under pressure from the Brits, and with the aid of the screws and mainly below.and send it to:

weapon.

What we owe sure that they get this.

If you are interested in joining the People’s Democracy and fighting for a 32-County Socialist Republic, fill in the form Belfast: CONNOLLY BOOKSHOP, AVOCA PARK, ANDERSONSTOWN RD.,BELFAST 11.

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TINUES loyalist ‘trusties’ they continually try to destroy this solid arity. By petty erosion of privileges, by ordering staged provocation by screws, by ~ discreet encouragement: of loyalist hatred, the authorities ‘keep up a continuous hunger strilxe, forcing prisoners to resort to their strongest An example was the protection against poison, which involves random selection of food from the kitchen and the assistant governor coming to ‘A’ wing to taste tlae food. This elementary protection was only won after several attem pted. poisonings and a long hunger strike. Again, only a hunger strike and rmass support prevented the authorities extending the time spent isolated in the cell.

If anyone is entitled to the support of the anti-imperialist working classy, it is the Republicans and Socialists imprisoned by the Brits and their collaborators in the 26 Counties. Even prison can be used by revolutionaries to deepen their understanding and increase their discipline, solidarity and dedication to the struggle.

The prisoners have suffered deeply to win political status, the minimum conditions in which they are still able to organise together. They are under continuous pressure and dependent on the continued care and support of the people outside. It is up to us to make He declared that as an act of conciliation to the loyalists, he was in favour of amending articles 2 & 3 of the Southeri Constitution — which contain the meaningless clauses claiming that the ‘Republic’ has jurisdiction over the 6 Cos.

Although such a change would in practice mean nothing, the political reasoning behind such moves must be challenged. It indicates a complete reluctance to face up to the facts of life in this country.

The Loyalists are intent on bringing back full-scale loyalist power in the North. No amount of meaningless gestures from the 26 Cos. or from the SDLP will change this. The only way to treat such a threat is to face up to it.

The anti-Unionist population must not be beaten in such an onslaught. 26 Co. workers must prepare to ensure that adequate supplies of essential materials for food and defence are available for the Catholic minority ghettoes in the North.

STOP THE RETREAT !

PREPARE NOW !

THE PEOPLES DEMOCRACY | — What we stand for The People’s Democracy is a revolutionary socialist organisation, fighting for the establishment of a 32-County Workers Republic in Ireland. In that fight we have learned through our experience of the struggle in the. North that there can be no progress made until. the age-old problem of the domination and exploitation of Ireland by British imperialism is settied.

We therefore support the war .

of resistance against British contro} in the North and have agitated and will continue to agitate, to hack up that war — north-and south.

Because both states, north and south, are capitalist controlled we recognise that the 26-Ce. government ~ and indeed all the Leinster House Politicians — support Britain in the continuation of partition in Ireland and actively promote this by their policy of repression in the 26 Cos.

Consequently we see that the Struggle for National Liberation and Socialism must be fought here as well.

Our activity is based on our.

experience and Marxist analyses of the situation in Ireland. We consider the anti-imperialist struggle should be fought to gain the support of the working-class people of Ireland and the People’s Democracy pledge themselves to achieving through.

the struggle for National Liberation — a Workers Republic of Ireland.