Support JENGBA : JOINT ENTERPRISE: NOT GUILTY by ASSOCIATION (JENGbA) is a grassroots campaign supporting prisoners who have been convicted under joint enterprise but who are not guilty of the index offence.

Jun-22-2012

Help the UK's Wrongly Convicted Tuesday in London

Tim King Salem-News.com

 

Stand for justice at JENGbA Campaign Fundraiser; sometimes justice is not blind but the wrongly convicted are...

CD cover of Rapper Goddaz has Jordan Cunliffe's picture above the letter A. Goddaz will be joined by Alabama 3 and others to be announced for the special 26 June event.

(SALEM / LONDON) 

- By the time you are done reading this account of a wrongly convicted boy in England; his mother's pursuit of justice, and her support from one of the UK's most famous wrongly convicted men, you just might be asking where you can sign up to help. 

We all must remember that one single victory for a human being's injustice, is a battle won in the war for human rights, and that is in many respects what it is coming down to.

Our newsroom was advised of an upcoming fundraiser that is worth paying attention to. It is a call to assist an important cause for justice in the UK, and I hope people in the London area get out and support this group in their mission for justice by attending the scheduled event referenced below.

Paddy Hill photo: GuardianUK Janet Cunliffe photo: Guardian UK

Janet Cunliffe is battling the legal system on behalf of her son Jordan, who she contends, was falsely convicted of Murder.

“

Myself and Paddy Hill (one of the Birmingham Six who was released on Appeal after 16 long years in prison) are guest speakers. We are hoping to raise money for the JENGbA Campaign as well as raising awareness to the abuse of the law of Joint Enterprise and the horror of being a Miscarriage of Justice as Paddy Hill was and my son Jordan Cunliffe's now is.

”

Both Paddy Hill and Janet Cunliffe have a great deal to say about civil and legal injustice in the UK today. In fact Mr. Hill can talk about the absence of it in ways that would likely make your skin crawl.

His story is one of false conviction under extreme prejudice, and eventual appeal and freedom. This political prisoner was called a terrorist, and then terrorized for more than a decade and a half by his own government. As the record would later show, Paddy Hill and the others were victims of a terrible miscarriage of justice.

"They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of one Irishman who doesn't want to be broken" - Bobby Sands

As Ms. Cunliffe mentioned, he is one of the 'Birmingham Six'- men convicted for being Provisional IRA (Irish Republican Army) members complicit in the infamous 'pub bombings' of 21 November 1974 in Birmingham, England that left 21 people dead, and 182 injured.

To this day, it is not clear whether the IRA was even involved in the incident, and it is a fact that Dáithí Ó Conaill, a member of the IRA's Army Council, denied any claim to the act the day following the deadly bombings:

“

If IRA members had carried-out such attacks, they would be court-martialled and could face the death penalty. The IRA has clear guidelines for waging its war. Any attack on non-military installations must be preceded by a 30-minute warning so that no innocent civilians are endangered.

”

At the time, Wikipedia states, IRA sources in London said that the bombs might have been planted by Ulster loyalists "bent on stirring-up a wave of anti-Irish feeling in Britain".

Mulberry Bush Pub bombing: justice4the21.blogspot.com

The political and media attention allowed the British occupational war in Northern Ireland to escalate tensions under the banner of terrorism, and these men were prosecuted for a crime that another group they had absolutely no connection to, actually claimed responsibility... the small militant group, "Manchester Brigade of Red Flag 74"; an organization that reportedly broke away from the International Marxist Group and claimed to have about 500 members.

The bombings brought a wave of anti-Irish sentiment; attacks were waged on members of the Irish community in Great Britain, and then just days after the bombings, the 'Prevention of Terrorism Act' was introduced by the British Government.

The Birmingham Six faced charges based on circumstantial evidence, for murder and conspiracy to cause explosions. Three men were charged with conspiracy and two also faced charges of unlawful possession of explosives.

Convicted and sentenced to life in what a higher court later determined to be a fabricated police case, he and the other men: Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Joseph Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker, who were physically abused by police and sentenced to life in prison, waited sixteen years behind bars for a successful appeal.

The Birmingham Six on the day of their release with Chris Mullin MP (centre) Courtesy: innocent.org.uk

A police superintendent and two other police officers would be charged with perjury and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, Wikipedia explains. 

Unlike the Birmingham 6, the police were never prosecuted.

Paddy Hill eventually found his freedom, but for Janet Cunliffe and her son, the pain generated by this same legal system drags on. Jordan, a teenage youth, is serving a life sentence for Murder as one of three teens convicted in the death of a father that tangled with the boys, who reportedly had been drinking, after his daughter told him that they were vandalising a garden; and lost his life in a scuffle with the boys.

While her son was convicted by the courts in the death of Garry Newlove, the boy was prosecuted according to Joint Enterprise; an archaic doctrine introduced hundreds of years ago to outlaw duelling- of all things.

15-year old Jordan Cunliffe

"It means anyone associated with someone who commits a crime can be convicted alongside them for the same offence," JOINT ENTERPRISE: NOT GUILTY by ASSOCIATION (JENGbA), the group holding the upcoming fundraising event, explains.

The case against the youths coincided with a public outcry against teen drinking. By all accounts, the boys involved in this crime were made into examples of how harsh court administered penalties can be, but none of it matters of one of the boys is innocent.

Jordan Cunliffe was 15-years old at the time of this terrible, tragic event that robbed the life of a father of three. Without question, there are no words to describe this callous and tragic event that did not cost one life, but four if you think about it.

The problem with all of it, is that Jordan is legally blind, and he says he didn't lay a hand on Mr. Newlove. The prosecution contended that he was guilty - that he could see the crime, and encouraged it.

Yet as the Guardian wrote of the incident:

For years, he has suffered from acute keratoconus, an eye condition. A medical report produced at the trial stated: "He is eligible to be registered as a blind person and is unable to perform any tasks for which vision is necessary." The report was accepted by the prosecution and read to the jury.

Janet Cunliffe rallying for her son Jordan.

He was still convicted in an emotionally charged trial. The 2007 incident was used as an example by the Conservative party's David Cameron, then leader of the opposition, who pointed to the death of Mr. Newlove as a symbol of "broken Britain".

The Guardian described the widow Helen Newlove's rage against the three convicted youths as "unrelenting".

Newlove, who supports capital punishment – she told reporters in 2008 that the UK should have the death penalty – believes the trio convicted of killing her husband should never be released from prison.

While it is always natural for a mother to rally for her son, the conviction of Jordan Cunliffe, based on the existing evidence, truly seems full of holes.

From my perspective, it appears that he was convicted under a response to public pressure, rather than on the actual merits of the case.

“

Baroness Newlove, the victim's wife, continually appears in the media saying her husband was kicked in the head forty times and that my son stood and watched while this happened. This simply is not true. Garry Newlove died due to a single blow to the neck and this was inflicted by one person. As Jordan wore no shoes and had no marks to his hands or his feet, this proves he played no part in any attack, and more importantly as Jordan was blind, to stand and watch as Baroness Newlove claims is something he most certainly could not do.

”

Jordan's mother says the case is an important one that shows just how unjust this legal principle is. It brings into the picture a unique problem: victim's families do not always understand what is happening during the trial; who is guilty or why. A select committee brief inquiry recently concluded this legal principle is "confusing for juries".

Jordan Cunliffe, who is legally blind, was sent to life in prison at 15 for standing near a crime that took place, even though he had nothing to do with it.

“

If a blind 15-year old child can can slip through the net then this can happen to absolutely anyone. People need to start realising just how vulnerable they are if this law stays as it is. People need to show their support and speak out, no one should be made to take responsibility for someone elses actions, especially if they if they have no knowledge of that other persons actions, and the public need to do this now so that this does not have to happen to them or anyone else.

”

Janet stresses that the Tuesday, 26th June event, that will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, London, WA112AY, is extremely important.

A symbol of the growing awareness of the situation facing so many, is the fact that the Rapper Goddaz has written his latest single about Joint Enterprise, and he will be performing it at the Tabernacle and releasing it on the same day. As a staunch supporter of the campaign he will be donating all the proceeds to the JENGbA Campaign. Click image of the CD cover below, or here to download full size PDF with more details about the 26 June event. More entertainment is planned for this special evening; Alabama 3 will appear, along with other high profile guests.

Janet Cunliffe concluded by saying, "I know it will not be possible for everyone to attend, but please be aware, donate to the campaign or inform anyone you think may be interested."

Click image or here to download full size PDF

JOINT ENTERPRISE: NOT GUILTY by ASSOCIATION (JENGbA) is a grassroots campaign
supporting prisoners who have been convicted under joint enterprise but who are not
guilty of the index offence. We are all volunteers who have a loved one in prison for
something they did not do. We are campaigning to highlight the abuse of "joint
enterprise" to convict innocent people, including children, who are serving
mandatory LIFE sentences.

What is JOINT ENTERPRISE?

Joint Enterprise is an archaic doctrine that was introduced hundreds of
years ago to outlaw duelling. It means anyone associated with someone who
commits a crime can be convicted alongside them for the same offence.

PLEASE SUPPORT US – see our website www.jointenterprise.co

Or come along to our fundraiser in London on Tuesday 26th

Sources:

www.jointenterprise.co

Joint enterprise law questioned by mother of teen convict Eric Allison - The Guardian

Birmingham Six - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Birmingham pub bombings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Morning Star on the campaign against the use of plastic bullets

Britain

MPs join calls to end deadly use of plastic bullets

Thursday 21 June 2012

by Paddy McGuffin, Home Affairs Reporter

Human rights activists and MPs demanded an absolute prohibition on the use of plastic bullets today as Tory-driven austerity cuts threaten more disturbances in the months and years to come.

Following last summer's riots, the Metropolitan Police has begun to stockpile thousands of the lethal projectiles, which have been responsible for 17 deaths and hundreds of serious injuries in Northern Ireland.
Nine of those killed were children and campaigners warned that if plastic bullets were deployed on the streets of England fatalities would doubtless occur.
The warning followed comments by Britain's top civil servant Jeremy Heywood that the country faced a decade of spending cuts.
The Home Office has made provision for a number of draconian policing measures including the use of baton rounds and water cannon to quell mounting protests and acts of civil disobedience against the brutal cuts programme.
United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets spokeswoman Clara Reilly said that it had been proven that the use of plastic bullets exacerbated tensions rather than calm them.
She said: "It's important for people in Britain to understand the human devastation of the use of plastic bullets in the North of Ireland.
"The majority of victims were killed in incidents where there was no disturbances prior to the use of plastic bullets.
"With ethnic minority communities in Britain experiencing serious difficulties with policing and with increased tensions, the use of plastic bullets, with the inevitable injuries and real potential for fatalities, will light a fire that will be hard to extinguish."
Ms Reilly was joined by Paddy Kelly of the Children's Law Centre and Tottenham-based activist Stafford Scott.
Ms Kelly said the number of plastic bullets fired in Northern Ireland had risen exponentially in the last few years, from 17 in 2009 to 350 fired in one month during the marching season last year.
She warned that with the Met hoarding a stockpile of over 10,000 rounds and growing tensions between police and communities such as Tottenham, it was highly likely that "some young person will be killed by plastic bullets."
Tottenham Defence campaign spokesman Mr Scott said: "The government's policies will cause more unrest on our streets but, rather than dealing with the causes it is looking to quell them with weapons such as these."
SDLP MP for Foyle Mark Durkan told the Star: "People should not be deceived by the soft names given to these lethal weapons.
"The volume in which they have been ordered shows that they are unlikely to be used sparingly."
Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell stated that they would raise the issue as a matter of urgency in the commons and added their voices to the call for total prohibition.
paddym@peoples-press.com

Campaign against plastic bullets

Protests Don’t Kill People, Plastic Bullets Do

 June 22, 2012 · by Aisha Maniar

http://onesmallwindow.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/protests-dont-kill-people-plastic-bullets-do/

Last month, the Metropolitan police confirmed that following the riots in August 2011, its stockpile of plastic bullets, or baton rounds, had increased to over 10,000 by the end of the year; just prior to that, the Met had around 700 bullets. Through a freedom of information (FOI) request made by former Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly, Dee Dorcey, the Met revealed that in 2010-2011 the use of plastic bullets was authorised 22 times.  

The use of plastic bullets is very much a British method of crowd control. Pioneered as a “safer” alternative to rubber bullets, they were first used in Northern Ireland in the mid-1970s. In that decade alone, over 40,000 plastic bullets were fired. This “safer” method claimed its first victim in 1975 in 10-year old Stephen Geddis.

Since then, 13 other people have died. Hundreds of others have suffered upper body injuries, been blinded or suffered brain damage, most often not in riot situations, and children in particular have been affected. Plastic bullets were not designed for crowd control and are only to be used when absolutely necessary. Although the former chief constable called for an end to their use in 2007, plastic bullet use has increased in the past couple of years, with over 350 rounds fired in June to July 2011 alone.

With the fresh rise in plastic bullet use in the North of Ireland and stockpiling across other parts of the UK, in the same week as the inquest into the death of Sean Riggs in police custody and the trial of PC Simon Harwood for the death of Ian Tomlinson, a press conference was held in parliament on Thursday 21 June, “Use of Plastic Bullets will Fuel Racial Tensions”, chaired by Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. Speakers included veteran campaigner on the issue, Clara Reilly, from the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets (UCAPB), Paddy Kelly from the Children’s Law Centre in Belfast and Stafford Scott, from the Tottenham Defence Campaign (TDC), a supporter of the Mark Duggan family.

The UCAPB has been campaigning for almost 30 years against the use of plastic bullets in the North of Ireland and calls for an outright ban on the use of these “lethal and excessively dangerous weapons”. Clara Reilly, of the campaign, said that they were “dismayed” last year at news that plastic bullets could be deployed during the summer riots in England. Mrs Reilly said, “it is obvious there is much work to be done in local communities around racial tension and abuse, police accountability, poor housing, unemployment and how the promotion of human rights must become a policing priority.” She also expressed concern that the further escalation of the use of plastic bullets in the North of Ireland could put an end to the peace process.

Paddy Kelly of the Children’s Law Centre in Belfast expressed concern that at least one child will be murdered this summer by a plastic bullet. In 2010, a 17-year old suffered serious injuries. She described them as a serious breach of children’s rights and had only served to escalate tensions in the North of Ireland. She also expressed her worry that with the stockpiling of plastic bullets in the aftermath of the riots in England, the upcoming Olympics and rising racial tensions, plastic bullets could be used against black and Muslim youth this summer in England. She urged people in London to be vigilant “as the consequences are severe to bear”.

Stafford Scott of the TDC expressed concern that the government appears to have a greater interest in the police having and using plastic bullets than the police force itself. Mr Scott stated that in view of the recent riots, it appears that the government is well aware that its policies will fuel more unrest. He urged the government to rethink its strategy against protesters, as the use of plastic bullets, CS gas, water cannons and other heavy-handed deterrents to protest will not stop people taking to the streets to exercise their legitimate rights.

John McDonnell MP agreed with Stafford Scott’s analysis that there is a considerable political dynamic to this policing issue. Jeremy Corbyn MP said that under the current government there has been a move from policing by consent to policing by enforcement and that there is a security paranoia developing in the UK, making it easier for the police to access and justify large stores of such weapons.

The two MPs attending stated that they would take action on this issue. John McDonnell said that stopping the cuts and austerity measures is the only real viable alternative to preventing the type of social disorder such violent tactics are intended to quell.

The solution does not lie in arming the police or heavy-handed and dangerous policing but in dealing with the underlying causes of the increasing social unrest, embodied in the wide-sweeping cuts to public services, growing (youth and) general unemployment and the closure of facilities that foster social cohesion. Stockpiling these weapons creates hysteria and an impetus for their use, given their ease of access.

Recently, measures have been introduced further restricting the right to protest around parliament and severe sentences have been given to people taking part in student protests. Coupled with the austerity and privatisation agenda, the CEO of private security firm G4S also predicted this week that in five years’ time, large parts of the police service, a crucial public service, will be run by private firms. The prospect of unaccountable private “policemen” running around with plastic bullets is frightening.

In the North of Ireland, accountability has also been an issue with the public authorities. Families and individuals who have been affected have attempted to take legal action. Many court cases have been brought and while large amounts of compensation have been paid, an admission of wrongdoing in itself, only one policeman has ever been charged, in 1984 for the murder of John Downes; he was, however, acquitted. The police, army and government have not been held accountable in any way.

Plastic bullets are used elsewhere, including in Spain and the Occupied Territories. In spite of its use in the North of Ireland over the past few decades, there has been little reporting about this issue in the mainstream British media. Clara Reilly said, “the public has no idea of what plastic bullets are and what they can do, or they would otherwise be opposed to their use”.

Laurence McKeown sends message of support to the Palestinian Hunger Strikers Bilal Diab en Thaer Halahleh

In 1981, Laurence McKeown took part in the Irish Hunger Strike that was led by Bobby Sands. Laurence endured 70 days without food before ending his fast.

Today, 2 Palestinian men, Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh, are on day 70 of their Hunger Strike in an Israeli prison. Plus, over 2,000 other Palestinians are about to enter their 4th week on Hunger Strike.

As Bilal and Thaer suffer in their protest, Laurence sends them a message of support and solidarity.

Remember the death of Bobby Sands 5 May 1981. Colm Scullion recalls..

Photo : Luk and Colm, Belfast

His friend and comrade Colm Scullion recalls :

http://www.bobbysandstrust.com/archives/2628

Click here to view the embedded video.

Bobby Sands Remembered

May 4, 2012 · Print This Article

On this the 31^st anniversary of the death on hunger strike of Bobby Sands, his friend and comrade, former IRA prisoner Colm Scullion from South Derry, recalls first meeting Bobby while on remand in Crumlin Road Jail. Colm had been injured in a premature explosion at the time of his arrest in October 1976 along with his fellow comrade Tom McElwee, the ninth republican to die on the hunger strike, on 8^th August 1981. Colm was later sentenced, and in the H-Blocks met up with Bobby again and there in H-3, during some of the darkest days of the protest, they shared a cell. Here, the quiet South Derry republican speaks about Bobby Sands’ humour, his humanity and his concern for especially the younger prisoners as the blanket men entered their fifth year of beatings on the protest for political status.

Helping ex-prisoners, youth at risk and marginalised people.

Bobby Sands Trust for Hana Shalabi, vigil in Belfast

Prisoner’s Condition Deteriorates

March 21, 2012 ·

Source

 

A vigil was held in recent days in Belfast in support of Palestinian hunger striker, Hanan al-Shalabi, whose condition has rapidly deteriorated. Amnesty International has expressed concern for Hana al-Shalabi, a young Palestinian woman, who is being held on Administrative Detention in Israel’s Hasharon Prison and who is now on the 35^th day of her hunger strike.

At dawn, on February 16^th, fifty Israeli soldiers, together with attack dogs, raided her family home in Jenin. She was arrested without warrant or charge, beaten and humiliated. Upon arrival at the prison she was forcibly strip-searched by a male soldier. She immediately began a hunger strike demanding her release, for which she was punished with solitary confinement. She has already served a thirty-month period of Administrative Detention for which she was never charged or brought to trial.  For more information see here.

Last month another Palestinian prisoner, Khader Adnan,ended his 66-day hunger strike against his imprisonment in a deal that will see him released on April 17^th.

Danny Morrison for Khader Adnan

On behalf of the Bobby Sands Trust, its secretary Danny Morrison has called upon the Israeli government to immediately release Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan who is close to death. 

Danny Morrison said: “Here in Ireland the British government’s prime minister Margaret Thatcher thought that she could break the will of our struggle by killing our prisoners who were hunger striking for their rights as political prisoners. She was wrong and the violence that the British sewed only reaped a whirlwind of resistance but at a heavy cost in Irish and British lives. The lesson from history is that one must talk and negotiate and recognise the rights of people to be free and to be free from injustice and persecution.

“An earlier British prime minister, Ted Heath, thought that he could also break us through the use of ‘administrative detention’, that is through the use of internment-without-charge-or-trial, which is the pretext used by the Israelis for imprisoning Khader Asnan against whom they have no evidence. People in Derry who marched against internment were massacred on Bloody Sunday and fourteen of them were killed by British paratroopers. Again, that did not break us but only made us more determined to fight for our rights.

“It is probable that Israeli rulers are so hardened that they cannot find it within themselves to exercise clemency and resolve this hunger strike. They possibly do not even care what effect their behaviour has on their reputations and how people around the world view Israel’s behaviour with disgust. But they cannot win over the Palestinian people – even should Khader Adnan lose his right to life.

“It was a great Irishman, Terence MacSwiney, the Mayor of Cork, who was arrested by the British and went on hunger strike to the death, who said: ‘It is not those who can inflict the most but those who can suffer the most who will conquer in the end’.

“The thoughts of Irish republicans throughout Ireland are with Khader Adnan and his family and we hope that he wins his right to freedom.”

AN IRISH SONG for KHADER ADNAN (with lyrics) by David Rovics

Khader Adnan's current hunger strike, presumably to the death, is more than a little reminiscent of the IRA hunger strikes of 1981. As, no doubt, the Israeli occupation of Palestine is more than a little reminiscent of the British occupation of Ireland, most particularly during the Troubles.

Lyric:

Khader Adnan, Bobby Sands

Khader Adnan grew up near Jenin City
You could say he was a product of his time
Ever since he was a kid he'd get arrested
Though he was never charged with any crime
Spending half his life in prison
A life lived like so many of his friends
Arbitrary and indefinite detention
Never knowing if your jail time would end
Khader Adnan was arrested last December
Again he wasn't told the reason why
He was shackled, he was beaten, he was tortured
There beneath the Middle Eastern sky
Perhaps there was a moment when he realized
That right then, with his body, he'd say no
But from then on he refused to eat another meal
Like in Belfast not many years ago

Khader Adnan grew up in a war zone
But all the tanks and planes were only on one side
It was a type of war that they call occupation
Settlement, removal, fratricide
And anyone who talked about resistance
Who thought they did not deserve to be a slave
Would be looking down the barrel of a gun
And often find themselves inside an early grave
Khader Adnan loves his wife and daughters
And he likes to eat his daily bread
But in prison he can't see his children
Or live life with the lady that he wed
So on behalf of all the children without fathers
He decided he had to strike a blow
He said I will have dignity or death
Like in Belfast not many years ago

Each time Khader Adnan was arrested
In prison he would learn a little more
And soon he became the teacher
And he'd talk about the times that came before
They talked about civil disobedience
They talked about the ballot and the gun
They talked about the Occupied Six Counties
And the H Blocks in 1981
Khader Adnan talked of perseverance
And how someday their people might be free
How someday they might hear their children laughing
Unafraid, how someday things could be
And then at 3:30 on one morning
The soldiers came, their rifles pointed low
And they took Khader Adnan from his family
Like in Belfast not many years ago

They say Khader Adnan is a terrorist
Just like they said of Bobby Sands
Because he dares speak out against injustice
Because he dares to make a stand
Because he dares believe that he is human
And he does not deserve to live this way
Because he dares to consider an alternative
Because he dares imagine a new day
Khader Adnan lost his liberty before he was born
To fight for life it's death he must embrace
But just like others come before him
There are others waiting to take his place
And even the great powers can lose interest
In supporting such a vicious status quo
Because you can't break a man who won't be broken
Like in Belfast not many years ago

Former hunger striker Raymond McCartney (SinnFein) for Khader Adnan

Photo : Raymond McCartney pendant sa grève de la faim en 1980

The first hungerstrike, undertaken by seven republican volunteers began on October 27th 1980.Brendan Hughes the I.R.A Officer Commanding the prison would lead the prisoners on the strike followed by six others John Nixon, Sean McKenna, Raymond McCartney, Tommy McKearney and Leo Green.Five basic demands had been drafted by the prisoners beforehand and made public.These demands were basically political status in another form:
The Five Demands:
1. The Right not to wear a prison uniform;
2. The Right not to do prison work;
3. The Right of free association with other prisoners;
4. The Right to organize their own educational and recreational facilities;
5. The Right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week.

Former hungerstriker Raymond McCartney for solidarity with Khader Adnan

Khader Adnan receives message of support from Oliver Hughes. Feb 14th, 2012

In 1981, after 59 days on Hunger Strike, Francis Hughes, 25, died in the H Blocks. His cousin, Thomas McElwee, 33, also died on Hunger Strike after 61 days. ...

Bobby Sands et Khader Adnan : une lettre aux journalistes de Mireille Péromet

Grande peinture murale à Belfast à l'honneur des grèvistes de la faim, morts il y a 30 ans, photo Luk 

Mesdames et Messieurs les Journalistes,


Le 5 mai 1981, mourait Bobby Sands dans la prison de Maze, en Irlande du Nord, après une grève de la faim de 66 jours.
Il est resté, avec ses compagnons, un héros de la cause républicaine mais également de la défense de la liberté et de la dignité des prisonniers politiques.
A l’époque, la presse nous tenait informés de l’évolution de son état presque jour après jour.
Mais c’était avant et surtout, Bobby Sands était irlandais.

Aujourd’hui, dans le silence médiatique et l’indifférence générale du monde politique, un homme se bat contre la mort.
Il s’appelle Adnan Khader, il a 34 ans, père de famille et est en grève de la faim depuis le 17 décembre.

Il a tort d’être palestinien, Adnan Khader
Il a tort de vouloir résister contre l’occupation, Adnan Khader
Et comme tel, il n’a guère de chance que la presse ou le monde politique ne se mobilisent pour lui... à moins que...
Parce que Israël est une “démocratie!”.
Parce qu’on ne critique pas Israël.
Parce qu’Israël est intouchable puisqu’au-dessus des lois.
C’est comme ça. Depuis 64 ans.

Et Adnan Khader, ce n’est pas  Gilad Shalit, ce franco-israélien qui était soldat au moment de sa capture, alors qu’Adnan Khader se bat pour la liberté, contre l’occupation.
Alors, Gilad Shalit,  avait droit à toutes les attentions; vous parliez de lui, son portrait était arboré sur les façades des Mairies françaises.

"Gilad a été persécuté, maltraité, torturé", a dénoncé Nicolas Sarkozy au gala annuel du CRIF ce mois ci, après l’avoir reçu dans l’après-midi à l’Elysée. "Honte à ceux qui ont fait cela !" a-t-il lancé, en fustigeant "ce comportement barbare"... Après avoir dit : “La mission de la France, c’est d’être aux côtés de tous les Gilad Shalit, dans les geôles de Gaza ou ailleurs dans le monde", la main sur le coeur et la voix tremblotante. Rassurez-vous, Monsieur le Président, il n’y avait qu’un prisonnier israélien et il a été libéré.

Les autres, ce sont des barbares... 6,000 barbares, parmi lesquels des enfants et des femmes, qui croupissent dans les geôles israéliennes, sans avoir droit au moindre procès.
Terroriste, Adnan Khader?
Mensonge.
Incarcéré en “détention administrative”, donc sans charges ni procès, comme tant d’autres,   il proteste contre ces conditions arbitraires d’emprisonnement ainsi que les traitements cruels et dégradants.

Aujourd’hui entre la vie et la mort,  Adnan Khader a fait savoir qu’il ne voulait être examiné que par un médecin faisant partie de l’association israélienne indépendante “Physicians for Human Rights” (PHR). Malgré cela, le service israélien des prisons qui l’a transféré dans cinq hôpitaux différents à ce jour, lui refuse cette possibilité, qui fait pourtant partie des directives internationales. Depuis le 6 février dernier il est hospitalisé à l’hôpital de Safed, attaché à un lit et refusant de se livrer à des médecins auxquels il ne fait pas confiance.

PHR souligne la gravité de l’état de santé d’Adnan Khader, sachant qu’à partir du 42ème jour, les grévistes de la faim commencent à perdre leurs facultés visuelles et auditives, souffrent de saignements internes, et qu’ils peuvent mourir d’arrêt cardiaque ou AVC à partir du 45ème jour.
Les médecins de PHR publient leurs adresses e-mail pour répondre aux demandes concernant Adman Khader :
hadas@phr.org.il
amanydaiyf@phr.org.il



A noter aussi qu’une manifestation en solidarité avec Adnan Khader,  organisée par le village de Beit Ommar (près d’Hébron) a été violemment réprimée par l’armée israélienne il y a quelques jours... Elle a arrêté Saqer Abu Marya et Youssef Abu Marya (pour la 18e fois), père de trois enfants, membre du comité populaire, après les avoir tous les deux maltraités (coups de crosse sur la tête). Deux militants israéliens pour la paix: John Brown, 32 ans et Mekhal Rotem , 25 ans ont également été arrêtés.

J’espère que Adnan Khader touchera votre conscience et votre coeur et que honorerez votre métier celui d’informer.
Du côté français, nous attendons toujours, malgré la belle déclaration du Président...



Bien à vous,

Mireille Péromet



cc: UE
Sources: Capjpo-Europalestine, InfoPalestine, anniebannie.blog

Voices Unheard: A Study of Irish Travellers in Prison. Conn Mac Gabhann. Irish Chaplincy in Britain. 2011.

Download report here

Bobby Sands Trust : solidarity with Khader Adnan

 Bobby Sands, Belfast, photo Luk

Fifty Days On Hunger Strike

February 6, 2012 ·

A Palestinian prisoner, 33-year-old Khader Adnan, passed his fiftieth day on hunger strike last week, protesting along with 300 other inmates against the Israeli policy of internment without trial (‘administrative detention’). Details about the case (below) can be read at the website, The Electronic Intifada.

“We have reached a moment no one can be silent anymore. Khader Adnan is now on his 50th day of hunger strike! No matter who you are, you cannot overlook Khader Adnan’s current condition. The silence of many human rights organization is deafening, it is intolerable and unforgivable. Khader Adnan is currently the longest lasting Palestinian on a hunger strike.

Khader Adnan has entered his 50th day of hunger strike protesting his illegal detention by Israel. Adnan was sentenced with administrative detention, which basically means Israel holds no charge or any evidence against him. Adnan is held in Israeli prisons without charge and without facing proper trial or prosecution, this is illegal under international law which clearly states that detainees should face proper prosecution and should have their charges read out for them.

“Khader Adnan, 33 years old, was born on the 24th of March, 1978. He resides in the village of Arraba, Jenin. Adnan is married with two daughters; his wife is five months pregnant with a third child. He was arrested on the 17th of December 2011 from his house in Arraba, at 3:30 AM as soldiers raided his house. He is now detained at the Ramleh prison hospital, chained to his bed. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, has the account on the arrest of Khader Adnan:

“Before entering his house, soldiers used the driver that takes Khader’s father to the vegetable market, Mohammad Mustafa, as a human shield by forcing him to knock on the door of the house and call out Khader’s name while blindfolded. A huge force of soldiers then entered the house shouting. Recognizing Khader immediately, they grabbed him violently in front of his two young daughters and ailing mother.

“Khader Adnan’s health is rapidly and seriously deteriorating. Although he has been moved to the prison hospital, Adnan wasn’t subject to any medical checks or treatment; instead his arms and legs have been tied to the bed he sleeps on, along with 3 guards guarding his room. Addameer also reported that his family members were prevented from visiting; the Israeli authorities didn’t grant any of his family members any permits that would enable them to visit. Addameer issued a statement stating that the probable reason Adnan was moved to hospital was to further isolate him from his family, lawyers, and other prisoners.

“Currently, according to B’Tselem, there are about 307 Palestinians held under administrative detention. Israel continues to hold Palestinians without charge and without proper trial. The Israeli paper Haaretz has reported that - to be exact, 99.74% of cases heard by the Israeli military courts in the West Bank end in a conviction, according to data in the military courts’ annual report. The injustice of the Israeli court system is crystal clear to everyone; Khader Adnan is in the process of resisting this terrible injustice. In the last couple of days, it has been reported that a dozen more prisoners have joined Khader Adnan in his hunger strike, and many others are preparing. It is frustrating to know that Palestinians are now resorting to this last method to resist the injustice of the Israeli occupation. Please get their voice heard, and fight this injustice, especially the terrible court system.

“Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association has also issued a call for action, here is how you can help Khader Adnan: Write to the Israeli government, military and legal authorities and demand that Khader Adnan be released immediately and that his administrative detention not be renewed.

To - Brigadier General Avihai Mandelblit, Military Judge Advocate General, 6 David Elazar Street, Harkiya, Tel Aviv, Israel. Fax: +972 3 608 0366; +972 3 569 4526. Email: arbel@mail.idf.il; avimn@idf.gov.il

To - Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi, OC Central Command Nehemia Base, Central Command
Neveh Yaacov, Jerusalam. Fax: +972 2 530 5741.

To - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak, Ministry of Defense, 37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv 61909, Israel. Fax: +972 3 691 6940 / 696 2757.

To - Col. Eli Bar On, Legal Advisor of Judea and Samaria PO Box 5, Beth El 90631, Fax: +972 2 9977326.

“Write to your own elected representatives urging them to pressure Israel to release Khader Adnan and to put an end to such an unjust, arbitrary and cruel system of incarceration without trial.”

Can prisoners become role models ?

Tom Magill and me.

Can Prisoners Become Role Models?

by Educational Shakespeare Co

Edited highlights of panel debate following the screening of ESC's Mickey B at the Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey.
Click here 

Soutenez les détenus des bateaux Tahrir et MV Saoirse

Irish Ship to Gaza

Press release, Tuesday 8 November 2011, 11.45pm

FAMILY MEMBERS OF IRISH DETAINEES DISTRESSED ABOUT THEIR CONTINUED IMPRISONMENT AMID THREATS BY ISRAELI JUDGE OF POSSIBLE TWO-MONTH INCARCERATION

ISRAEL CONTINUES TO DETAIN ALL IRISH PASSENGERS WITH NO RELEASE DATES OR TIMES

American journalist Jihan Hafiz was on the Canadian boat Tahrir, and was among those detained by Israel despite her press credentials. She reported earlier today about her experience during the Israeli takeover of the Irish and Canadian boats:

“There were three warships [...] four Zodiacs, four water cannon boats, as well as four regular gunboats. All of the commandos on all of these boats were heavily armed. It looked like they were taking on an army of a foreign country.”

She added: “Two water cannons started to pour lots of water into the Irish boat, which flooded it, blew their sockets, and cut off all the electricity. And so, at that point, the Irish delegates I spoke to said they told the Israeli army, ‘We’re taking on water. We’re sinking. We’re going to go down at sea if you continue with the water.’"

Jihan Hafiz goes on to describe the violent takeover during which guns were pointed at the heads of the boats’ passengers, how they were roughed up, mistreated, strip-searched, and filmed naked. She also tells of how the journalists’ equipment was confiscated, in a bid to silence any reporting that might contradict the sanitized Israeli account of what happened during the hijacking of the Tahrir and the MV Saoirse.

For the full video interview and transcript, see: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/11/8/israel_deports_democracy_now_correspondent_jihan

Meanwhile, despite Department of Foreign Affairs assurances that the detained Irish activists of the MV Saoirse would likely be released by Tuesday 8 November, there has been no further news of their deportation and return to Ireland. Naturally, the family members of the Irish passengers are extremely anxious about their continued illegal incarceration. They are particularly concerned about reports that the judge dealing with the case of the detainees has threatened to keep them incarcerated for two months.

The lawyer dealing with the case met with Canadian detainees Ehab Lotayef and David Heap on Monday. They informed the lawyer that an Israeli judge threatened to keep all detainees who do not sign deportation papers incarcerated for two months. The Irish activists have refused to sign these papers because they state that the activists came to Israel voluntarily and entered the country illegally. This is not the case, as Israeli naval ships violently seized the Saoirse and Tahrir, and forcibly transported them and all on board to Ashdod.

Furthermore, the lawyer reported that the Irish he spoke with felt isolated and alone due to their lack of contact with the outside world. An Irish consular official reports that he attempted to bring newspapers and phone cards for the prisoners, but these were not allowed in.

Fintan Lane’s father, Jim Lane, said:

“My wife and I are deeply concerned for Fintan’s welfare. We are disappointed by the lack of information we are receiving from the Department of Foreign Affairs. On Monday we were told by the Department representative that Irish consular staff would be meeting all the detained prisoners on that day, but later we were told that they were not given access to the male prisoners. Furthermore, I was made to understand that the 72 hour detention period would be up at 2am on Tuesday morning, and we awaited further information from the Department. However, this afternoon we got a call from the DFA to be told that they had no further news. The family is concerned about the silence that has been brought into the affair. It seems deliberate and we would like information immediately. The few statements we have had have come from Israeli sources, which we find to be suspect based on the account our son was able to communicate in the very brief phone call he was permitted to make.”

“We fully support our son’s participation in the Freedom Waves initiative because the inhumane blockade of Gaza must come to an end,” he added.

Gay Lawlor, Zoe Lawlor's brother, said:

"As a family we are extremely worried about Zoe and the other passengers of the MV Saoirse. Given the passing of the 72 hour detention period and still no confirmation of their release times we think it is shocking that our government, and in particular the Tanaiste, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, are not acting in the best interests of our citizens."

Mark Hogan, Irish rugby star Trevor Hogan's brother, said:

“My brother refused to sign a deportation order, which stated he had entered Israel illegally, since he was effectively kidnapped by the IDF and brought to Israel against his will.”

“A 72 hour period of detention pending deportation elapsed at approximately 3am on Tuesday morning, yet the latest information from an Irish consular official who visited them on Tuesday afternoon is that there is still no confirmation of when they will be deported. So they are, effectively, imprisoned indefinitely.”

“I call on Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore to intervene and secure the immediate release of my brother, Trevor, and all the other Irish citizens of the MV Saoirse.

The family members quoted are available for interview - contact details as follows:

Jim Lane 021 496 2993

Mark Hogan 087 792 7610 or  086 807 0338

Gay Lawlor 083 356 7515

ENDS

For more information, contact:

Laurence Davis 086 360 5053

Claudia Saba 086 393 8821

A woman's tale

IRA O/C’s Armagh Memoir

August 19, 2011

Síle Darragh was the IRA O/C in Armagh Gaol during the hunger strike in 1980 and until her release in 1981. Earlier this month her book about her time in jail during the protest for political status was launched during Féile an Phobail in West Belfast. The launch was chaired by Danny Morrison and the guest speaker was Gerry Adams TD. Below are details of where the book can be purchased and here we print Gerry Adams’s introduction to ‘John Lennon’s Dead’.

It is an uncomfortable fact, and unfair, that the four-year protest for political status by republican women in Armagh Gaol, despite being honoured in song, documentary film and some individual accounts and summaries, has long been overshadowed by the literature and focus on the same protest in the H-Blocks, largely because there ten men died on hunger strike in 1981.

Síle Darragh’s quite personal and powerful story goes a long way towards rectifying and redressing that imbalance with this, her inside account, which is the best description yet of the atmosphere, the emotions and the suffering which the women of Armagh Gaol experienced and endured between 1976 and 1981.

Bhí stádas polaitiúil ag na Poblachtaigh mhná a chuir am isteach i bPríosún Ard Mhacha roimh 1976,, cosúil lena gcomrádaithe sna cásanna sa Cheis Fhada agus i gCampa Príosúin Magilligan. Baineadh agus ghéill rialtas na Breataine an stádas seo (nó stádas catagóra speisialta mar a thug na Briotanaigh air) i ndiaidh stailce ocrais poblachtaí i bPríosún Bhóthar na Cromghlinne in 1972. Ar an ábhar sin, ní raibh ar chimí sa dá áit éidí príosúin a chaitheamh nó obair sclábhaíochta a dhéanamh agus ba bheag coimhlint a bhí ann idir cimí agus an lucht riaracháin. D’athraigh sé seo áfach in 1976 nuair a tharraing rialtas na Breataine stádas polaitiúil siar agus nuair a rinne siad iarracht cimí poblachtacha a chóiriúlú, rud ar theip air arís agus arís eile roimhe seo.

Those female republicans serving their time in Armagh prior to 1976 had political status, just like their comrades in the cages of Long Kesh and in Magilligan Prison Camp. This status (special category status, as the British called it) was won and conceded by the British government after a republican hunger strike in Crumlin Road Prison in 1972. Consequently, neither set of prisoners had to wear prison uniforms or carry out menial prison work, and conflict between inmates and the administration was at a minimum. All this was to change in 1976 when the British withdrew political status and attempted to criminalise republican prisoners – something which in the past had failed time and time again.

But there is no accounting for British stupidity or for its ruthlessness.

As a result of a successful campaign by republican women in the early 1970s women in northern Irish jails had not been required to wear a prison uniform – whereas it was a major issue in the H-Block confrontation. There, the British demanded that prisoners wear a uniform signifying criminality, which they refused to do, which is why in that jail there was a ‘blanket protest’.

In Armagh the protest was one of disobedience – refusal to work or to take orders, maintaining a POW command structure, refusing to be divided and conquered. The administration responded punitively with a rising scale of punishments, mean and petty, and ultimately brutal.

Yet, still they failed to break the spirit or the resolve of the women.

Reading Síle’s descriptions we get a glimpse of the dark and depressing world they inhabited, particularly after the no wash protest is forced on them and their natural revulsion to filth and squalor has to be overcome. Síle jokes that they must all have been slightly insane at that stage!

Perhaps, the most moving descriptions are around events in late 1980 and throughout 1981. Mairéad Farrell stood down as OC to hand over the leadership to Síle as Mairéad, Mary Doyle and Margaret Nugent embarked on hunger strike. Through no fault of the republican leadership they learnt by radio that the H-Block hunger strike had ended, and had ended without resolution, leaving them then to agonise over participation in the second hunger strike.

D’éirigh leis na mná i bPríosún Ard Mhacha agus leis na fir sna H-Bhlocanna sa deireadh – ach ar chostas mhór i saolta cimí, oifigeach príosúin, agus fear, ban agus páistí ar shráideanna an Tuaiscirt. Chuir Mairéad Farrell a cuid ama isteach sa phríosún agus ghlac sí páirt sa choimhlint arís go dtí gur mharaigh an SAS í agus a comrádaithe Dan McCann agus Sean Savage in 1988.

The women in Armagh and the men in the H-Blocks were eventually successful - but at a heavy cost in the lives of prisoners, prison officials and men, women and children on the streets of the North. Mairéad Farrell served out her sentence and rejoined the struggle only to be executed by the SAS in 1988 along with her comrades Dan McCann and Sean Savage.

It is fitting that this book is dedicated to Mairéad and the late Rose McAllister and Christine Beattie.

What kept these young women of Armagh Gaol together were solidarity and comradeship and their loyalty to one another – and, of course, their humour which must have baffled their jailers!

Síle, like many other republican women, has given great service to the struggle for freedom in Ireland, This important account of a part of that history was inspired by her going through old letters and comms from comrades and from digging deep in memory. But even after she wrote it she was still hesitant about showing it to anyone.

“You must be joking! Catch yourself on! Who would read it, it’s not good enough!” were her comments when it was discovered that she had written a personal account of life in jail.

In fact, ‘John Lennon is Dead’ would not have been published if Síle had not been coaxed, cajoled and persuaded that this was a story that needed to be told and read.

It is our history which is recorded here and women, not before their time, are being written into the record.

So, we thank Síle for that, and we acknowledge and pay homage to all the women and their sisters who were incarcerated in other prisons on this island and other places.

Those who inflicted the most and thought that they could win have lost.

It is the republican spirit which has triumphed in the end.

Gerry Adams, Dublin, August 2011

Books are available through the following:
www.amazon.co.uk

‘Beyond The Pale’ in reception area, 5-7 Conway Street, Belfast and/or peter_btp@hotmail.co.uk Tel - 07770811042/02890329646
Republican Merchandising Belfast Ltd., 52/53 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 4PD, Ireland. Tel [028] 90243371

North Belfast Sinn Féin Bookshop, Teach Carney, 291 Antrim Road, Belfast, BT15 2GZ. Tel [028] 90740817

Sinn Féin Bookshop, 44 Parnell Square Dublin 1, Ireland. Tel [353)] 1 8726100/8726932
An Ceathrú Póilí [Culturlann Bookshop] Belfast, Tel [028] 90322811
Read Ireland book distributors – 048 90438630 and website www.readireland.ie and email gregcarr@readireland.ie