RELEASED BUT NOT SHACKLED

No British licence for Republicans: (left, above) Joe O’Neill greets Martin McGrath and Seán Moore at Portlaoise jail on July 19. (right) Des Long and Josephine Hayden.

Republicans welcomed the unconditional release on completion of their sentences on July 19 of Josephine Hayden, Dublin, Martin McGrath, Bundoran and Seán Óg Moore, Monaghan. As we went to press Robert McGilloway, Derry was also due for release.

These Republican prisoners are not being released under licence as part of the Stormont Agreement. They struggled throughout their imprisonment for political status. In the men's case they undertook a successful campaign to be moved from Limerick jail to Portlaoise where they achieved a measure of political status.

Josephine Hayden's struggle as the lone female Republican prisoner in the 26 Counties did not succeed in winning political status but a campaign for her release on humanitarian grounds because of health problems was successful in publicly exposing the atrocious conditions for women prisoners in the 180-year-old 'C' Wing of Limerick prison.

While we celebrate their freedom we remember that there are a number of Republican prisoners still in Portlaoise. We call for support for the Republicans in Maghagerry jail in Co Antrim who are being denied political status and separation from the loyalist prisoners and are currently being punished by lock-up for refusing to do prison work.

In relation to Republican prisoners the British government seems hell-bent on repeating the mistakes of the past. In this they have the support of the Dublin administration, the SDLP and the Provisionals, who have not opened their mouths about it. This situation will not go away.

Republicans are naturally glad of the release of the remaining Provisional prisoners. We regret that the releases are under a British licence which restricts them from certain political activities.

During July these licence conditions were illustrated by the threats of British supremo Peter Mandelson to return UDA/UFF figure Johnny Adair to the H-Blocks for his loyalist death squad displays at Drumcree.

The releases of Provisional and loyalist prisoners are materially different to the freeing of the four Republicans who have been unconditionally released. The four retain their freedom of action. They have not agreed to shackle themselves.

Some of those shackles concern the acceptance of a renamed British police force and the return of a Stormont assembly. The bottom line remains: you can change the name RUC but the boss remains the same. Stormont will not effect real change because the English government is still in control. As happened on February 11 last the English colonial rulers can remove Stormont at the stroke of a pen.

The reality in 2000 is that none of the historic three demands of the Republican Movement since 1970 have been met:

1. A British declaration of intent to disengage from Ireland;
2. A New Ireland negotiated by the Irish people themselves; and
3. The unconditional release of all political prisoners.

Measured against these three demands -- trumpeted from the roof-tops from 1970 on -- what we are witnessing on the part of the Provos are treachery and defeat.

The banner is still being upheld, however, by true Republicans such as those we welcome home from Limerick and Portlaoise.

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