World Action Day Republican Prisoners – Update

Republican Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle member arrested at POW picket

At a POW picket in Lurgan, Co Armagh on the International Day of Action for Irish Republican POWs, October 27, Cáit Trainor, Ard Chomhairle member, Republican Sinn Féin, Armagh was arrested and taken to Lurgan barracks where she will be held until Monday. From there she will be taken to Hydebank jail in Belfast to serve a two-week sentence imposed in March this year at Craigavon courthouse. Cait was fined for ‘participating in and organising’ a march through Lurgan in January 2011 in support of Martin Corey, interned without trial in Maghaberry jail, Co Antrim, since his licence was revoked by the British secretary of state in 2010. Cáit refused to pay the fine of €700 imposed on her and so today was arrested after once again highlighting the plight of the POWs interned without charge or trial, and also by remand, in Maghaberry jail.  Pickets took place throughout Europe, in Canada and in the US on October 27 to bring awareness to the plight of the POWs. The ongoing protest in Maghaberry jail will continue to bring people onto the streets until full political status is restored, strip searching and controlled movement ended and freedom of association granted to the men.

Source: Republican Sinn Fein 27-10-2012

RSF condemns repression against protesters in Germany

Hamburg vigil on International POW-Day 2012 broken up by police

Vienna/Hamburg – German police forces broke up a vigil outside the Lithuanian Consulate on Saturday, October 27. The vigil was organised by Irish republicans of the “Maghaberry Awareness Group St. Pauli” to demand the release of Irish republican Michael Campbell who is held in a Lithuanian jail. October 27 was the International Day of Action for Irish republican prisoners 2012. About 50 local anarchists and Chechen socialists joined Irish republicans at a candlelight vigil at the Lithuanian Consulate at Grosse Bahnstrasse in the Altona district of Hamburg, Germany. The vigil lasted less than 30 minutes when it was broken up by German police forces threatening the arrest of all participants. The police said the protest is threatening property of the Lithuanian Consulate.

Republican Sinn Féin International spokesperson Dieter Blumenfeld condemned the repressive actions by German police forces against Irish republicans. He said: “October 27 was the International Day for Irish political prisoners. The arrest of Cáit Trainor at a protest in Lurgan and the breaking up of a peaceful picket in support of Michael Campbell in Germany shows that the reactionary and imperialist forces want to silence Irish republicanism.” “We commend all those taking part in the vigil for Michael Campbell in Hamburg, Germany. Every man and woman has a right to protest against injustice. On October 27 the German state has once again shown that they are the closest allies of the most undemocratic and repressive governments.” “The International Day for Irish republican prisoners 2012 was the most coordinate and broadest action for a free, united and democratic Ireland on an international level in decades. Irish republicans will not be deterred by any repression from their support for the POWs.” RSF International spokesperson Dieter Blumenfeld said.

Source: Republican Sinn Fein 28-10-2012