UPEI

‘ SUN

ARCHIVES U.P.E.L

VOLUME #12

ISSUE //

NOV 20 I980

.12 PAGES

By Maureen Harman

Political prisoners at Long Kesh prison just outside Belfast, Northern Ireland have been beaten semi-starved, and de- graded so much that seven of them began a hunger strike three weeks ago- '

The men are willing to die for their rights, and when one of the seven dies,- another will take his place.

Raymond Crane, a prisoner who was released from Long , Kesh three months ago, outlined Tuesday November 18, at the Chaplaincy Centre, the basic rights that are being asked for. The Irish political prisoners want the right not to wear prison uniforms and not to do prison work, freedom of association with other political prisoners, restoration of remission, and the right to organize educational and recreational facilities, to one weekly visit, one letter in and out per week, and to recieve one parcel a week.

Crane was imprisoned

for three years on a criminal charge of being a member,of the IRA. H spent six months ' awaiting trial and two and a-half years in H—Blcck. In H-Block, Crane joined the Blank- et protest, formed in September 1976 in objection to exchang- ing personal clothing for prison mifom and doing prison work because itwo’uld admit their criminality.

Conditions in H-Block are harsh: prisoners are docked in their cells

24 hours a day, wear no clothing except for

a rough blanket, and sleep on a piece of

damp foam rubber on

the floor. There is _ nothing else in .the cells except perhaps for Bible, a bare ligl" -- bulb in the ceiling, and a cell-mate- The cells are 8' by 9' with one windcw(con—

crete slits in the wall) covered on the inside by a grill and on the outside by a covering cutting down the sun- light. . - The prisoners are allowed a Omminute shower every week, the only time they get to see the other men. In his two and a- half years

in H—Block, Crane was given

one bath. Sane men have not had one in 5 years. Guards forcibly held Crane down while he was scrubbed with a scrub brush usually used on floors. Some men carried marks of the brush for a week. .

"The food is terrible and interfered with so prison— ers do not get it," said Crane. "Disinfectant is put in the tea,‘ food is walked on, and maggots and glass are put in the food." Crane said he lost about a

} CRANE'S CRSUSADE' , “FOR IRISH HUMAN RIGHTS.

POLITICAL PleONERS on HUNGLAR STRIKE in NORTHEN IRELAND

stone and a half, or 18 to

20 pounds, during his stay. He mentioned one wanan in Armagh who lost three stone. received an award in their attempts to spread the Gaelic language, which was almost dead.

The prisoners of H—Block feel that they are being treated inhunanely. 'Ihey are given mirror searches

Time was passed in talking as much as possible, explained

‘ Crane. The men talked to their

cell~mate and shouted quizzes

I and stories out the door to

each other. Days were also spent in learning the Gaelic language. The men of H—Block

before going and after com- ing from Mass and monthly

Visits, with their families. Visitors are also searched, and the men are also kicked and spat upon when going on these visits. Guards stand duty during these thirty

minute visits, so few personal

discussions can occur. The men are beaten for refusing

to undergo the mirror search.

In one case, a man had his nose broken and his eardrum ruptured because of such a beating. It is also common practise for a man in scli— tary to be paraded naked in front of the governor every two weeks. The guards often beat the younger lads, ac- cording to Crane. The aver-

age age of the prisoners is 20.

Crane was conv1cted on being a member of the IRA, although

he vehemently denies having ever been a part of it. As

Crane said, "It doesn't mat— ter over there. The British are only interested in con— victions. Innocence doesn't

matter." . The British conSider the

IRA prisoners as criminals, but the men consider them. selves political prisoners.

"The forgotten prisoners, Where are they? Every deed

dieth if supressed in silence. - Amnesty International

C.|.C. C ON FERENCE

by Jeff SZab')

The Atlantic Secti..m executive of the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) metin Halifax on Nov.15.

Attending from UPEI were Dr. Ieon Loucks and Jeff Szabo, one of mo student representatives sitting on the executive. 'Ibdd MacLeughlan, junior chemistry major, attended as well. The other student representative from the Atlantic Provinces was Sherry Hughes from

' Dalhousie.

Among topics discussed

were the National CIC Conference and the 1982 Atlantic section student conference to be held at UPEI.

The national conference

to be held in Halifax next June is expected to have an attendaance of 1000-1500 people. Sate chem 'stry students will be chosen to work at the conference, and these students will receive free roan and board, and

possibly a stipend of $100.

This also applies to UPEI Chemistry students.

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