Revolutionary Citizen Army Calls for Support for PD
Unfree Citizen1974Republicanism and the IRANo public scan is online for this item; the text below was read from a privately held copy.
Machine-read text, not corrected. Cut from the scan by machine, by the size of the headline type. Where columns were set close together, lines of a neighbouring article can run in, and a headline can be missed so that two articles share a page. For anything you quote, read the scan.
Scan page 3
without fuss or bother in Britain.
seven days).
in Britain. people.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act which became law on 29th November (8 days after the Birmingham bombs) had been passed by the British government for more than 18 months and is unprecedented even by British standards. The powers it gives the English police can only be described as total and in reality means that a form of detention without trial has now been introduced The Act itself falls under five main headings: 1. It proscribes the IRA (i.e. makes it illegal ) been served.
to belong to or support the IRA in any manner can result in an unlimited fine plus 5 years imprisonment. The wearing of armbands, uniforms or carrying banners supporting the IRA carries a £200 fine plus six months imprisonment.
. Police can arrest without a warrant. 3. A person can be held in police custody for up to seven days (If a new custody order is signed he can be held for a further 4. Anyone can be excluded from entering Britain and suspected persons can be sent back to Ireland even if they are residing 5. Restriction and control of travel; North and South to and from Britain.
There was also a promise made by the British Home Secretary that a discussion on hanging would be introduced into the House of Commons shortly to deal with some political offences as well as one for the introduction of identity cards for selected Since Nov. 29th when this legislation became law there has been an enormous number of arrests in England. More than 40 people have been held for extended periods (some for 12 days) and up to now 17 of these have been charged with numerous By | offences under the Act. At least ten exclusion orders from Britain have been signed but so far only three of those have Perhaps the greatest iron lies-in the abuse which is already evident in the implementation of this section 9f the Act. The 3 Irishmen who have been served with exclusion orders have all lived in England for long periods. They have all been active in politics but have played no part in the military campaign there whatsoever. John Rafferty (32) an ordinary member of Provisional Sinn Fein had his main political activity in selling papers in pubs and clubs. Gerry Doherty (40) and J. Flynn (28) both members of the Official Republicans ‘Clann na hEireann”’ actually openly condemned the Provos whole military campaign in Britain. These 3 men have been forced to leave their families etc. at the whim of the British Special Branch merely for daring to challenge the British politically. How many more will follow?
What is happening in Britain is only a prelude to when these laws can be used by the British government against English, Scottish and Welsh militants who will shortly be forced to take a more determined and positive stance in defence of their wages, jobs and livelihood. It is up to the British revolutionary left to demonstrate clearly their internationalism and to organise now against this legislation no matter how unpopular that, might be.
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MUST OPPOSE NEW LAWS