Son Of Hunger Striker In Solidarity With Prisoners

Son Of INLA Hunger Striker In Solidarity With Basque Hunger Strikers

Re: Son Of INLA Hunger Striker In Solidarity With Basque Hunger Strikers


Micky Óg Devine
P.O. Box 1981, Derry,
BT48 8GX, Ireland
02871 262999


March 18th

A Chara,

I would like to draw to the attention of your readers as we enter into the twenty-fourth year since my father, Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) Volunteer, Micky Devine and his comrades died on hunger strike in the gulags of Long Kesh. At a time when we as republican socialists and republicans look back on the significance of that struggle news has broke of a similar pain and sacrifice currently unfolding in the prisons of France and Spain. Following an announcement on the 16th March 2005 by the Basque Political Prisoners' Group (EPPK), it is now estimated that 720 young men and women have begun an indefinite hunger strike.

Following protest after protest within gaol, Basque political prisoners, united for the first time ever through the EPPK have begun an indefinite hunger strike to demand nothing more than recognition of their political status, so that those incarcerated for political activities and that of their people be given a voice within the political arena with which to make their case.

Their struggle, in many ways resembles and even mirrors that which my father and his comrades embarked on twenty four years this year in the a struggle against a policy of criminalisation however this is the criminalisation of the entire Basque population by both France and Spain.

As someone who has been personally affected by such a high profiled hunger strike during the early eighties as a child, I would like to extend my support and solidarity as an Irish republican socialist to the families, friends, loved-ones and comrades of each and every political prisoner involved.

To this day, I am deeply conscious of the fact that our own family and that of the families of other INLA and IRA men on hunger strike back in 1981 received widespread support from the people of the Euskal Herria (Basque Country). Thousands came onto the streets to protest across that country in anger at developments here in a gesture international solidarity with their demands and in sympathy of with the families as lives were eventually lost.

However what gave my family and that of the other families and relatives of 1981 the strength to carry on was the daily support and solidarity from their communities. The action groups and international committees who made sure that we were not alone in the fight for justice.

The political prisoners and the people of Euskal Herria are not alone in their fight for justice. It must also be made clear that both French and Spanish authorities has an obligation to the hundreds of political prisoners they hold. They must dispel themselves of their perpetual arrogance towards the people of Euskal Herria as this has been the trigger for recent developments and those of the past. They have a duty to immediately open up channels already in existence, to meet with the prisoners representatives and enter into dialogue so this situation can be brought to a successful conclusion before any lives are lost.

It is with this in mind that I would encourage everyone, republican or otherwise to play their own small part in a gesture of solidarity with the political prisoners and the people of Euskal Herria at this time.

You can write a letter of protest to the French and Spanish Embassies in Ireland to immediately enter into dialogue before lives are lost.

Demand that these governments respect the human rights of all prisoners and call for them to end the continuous torture and punishment meted out against Basque political prisoners.

You can actively participate in the Basque-Ireland Committees and the solidarity activities which are currently being organised. I call upon both France and Spain not repeat the mistakes of the British government in dealing with the just demands of Irish National Liberation Army and Irish Republican Army prisoners in the past, which led to the death of my father and his comrades on hunger strike in 1981.

In solidarity with the Basque Hunger strikes

Micky Óg Devine,
Derry

Letters Of Protest Should be Sent to:

Spanish Ambassador to Ireland
Mr Enrique Pastor de Gana
Embassy of Spain
17A Merlyn Park
Dublin 4.

Tel 1: +353 (0)1 2691640
Tel 2: +353 (0)1 2692597
Fax: +353 (0)1 2691854.

Spanish Prime Minister

Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Presidente del Gobierno
Complejo de La Moncloa
28071 Madrid
Spain.

Frédéric GRASSET, French Ambassador
French Embassy in Ireland
36 Ailesbury Road
Dublin 4.
Tel. (01) 277 5000
Fax (01) 277 5001
ambassadeur@ambafrance.ie