Belfast Says No to New Internment

29/03/09

More than 100 people – republican ex-prisoners, community and political activists, young and old – yesterday (Saturday) gathered on Belfast’s Falls Road to oppose the most recent internment of Irish citizens by the British government.

Thousands of leaflets were handed out to supportive members of the public during the hour-long picket.

éirígí spokesperson Seán Mac Brádaigh said: “The level of feeling about the implementation of 28-day detention legislation in the Six Counties was clearly demonstrated yesterday, through both the numbers that attended the éirígí picket and the visible and vocal support of hundreds of members of the public.

“Many Belfast people have vivid memories of being locked away without trial; they are determined that the British government will not be allowed to get away with interning people yet again.”

Seán continued: “Events of recent days have shown that the nationalist and republican community is totally opposed to the repressive tactics of the PSNI. Those parties who granted support to the PSNI on the basis that they were going to end political policing need to take that fact on board.

“The British government’s policy in the Six Counties over the last decade has been one of tinkering with and modernising its occupation. The public reintroduction of British army ‘special forces’, the granting of millions of pounds to update the PSNI’s paramilitary arsenal and the introduction of 28-day detention provide plenty of proof that this is indeed the case.

“Despite reports to the contrary, non-jury Diplock courts remain a key part of British policy in the Six Counties. In the time ahead, we may well see the increased operation of these discredited entities.

“In the time ahead, éirígí will continue to expose and oppose the human rights abuses of the British government, we appeal for others to do likewise.”