38 ANNI DI INTERNAMENTO
Agosto 1971 – Agosto 2009, niente è cambiato se non il nome
E’ stato svelato in queste ore, un mural presso il Free Derry Corner in commemorazione dei 38 anni dall’introduzione dell’internamento, avvenuto il 9 agosto del 1971.
Alla manistestazione voluta dal Republican Network for Unity, sono stati invitati a partecipare gli ex internati ed i familiari anche di chi lo è ancora.
Danny McBrearty, parlando a nome del RNU, ha dichiarato: “Il RNU sente che è importante ricordare e rendere omaggio al sacrificio ed all’impegno degli internati di quel tempo che hanno affrontato, dando fondo a tutta la loro forza, la repressione dello Stato britannico.
Non dobbiamo dimenticare la crudeltà, le barbarie e la disumanità che questi uomini hanno dovuto affrontare quotidianamente, lottando per sopravvivere. Questi uomini hanno subito pestaggi, le torture, il sovraffollamento, la mancanza di strutture mediche e delle condizioni minime di vita, nel campo di concentramento di Long Kesh “.
Doveroso il ricordo agli internati degli anni ’70 e degli anni a venire fino al giorno d’oggi facendo un nome per tutti, quello di Terry McCafferty.
Mc Brearty ha aggiunto e puntualizzato: “L’iInternamento è immorale, come lo è stato nel 1971 e, successivamente, lo si può vedere dalla natura del procedimento o addirittura la menzogna e e da chi si adopera per coprirla. Il diverso modo di definirlo e il diverso linguaggio usato dal governo britannico e ora la nostra ‘casa’ che cresce i ministri britannici, lo dimostrano chiaramente. Ora la chiamano ‘revoca della licenza’, ‘carcerazione preventiva’ o ‘detenzione dei 28 giorni’, ma sempre di questo si tratta: è internamento!”
Republican Network for Unity remembers the anniversary of Interment (Republican Network for Unity)
Speaking on behalf of the Republican Network for Unity, Danny McBrearty, said:
“The RNU will be unveiling a mural at Free Derry Corner on Friday 7th August at 1.00pm to remember the introduction of Internment on 9th August 1971. We invite all internees and their families to attend this event.
The RNU feel that it is important to remember and pay tribute to the sacrifice and plight of internees of that time who faced down the full force of British State repression.
We must not forget the cruelty, barbarism and inhumanity that these men faced on a daily basis as they struggled to survive. These men endured beatings, torture, overcrowding, lack of medical facilities and sub standard living conditions, in the concentration camp of Long Kesh”.
Mr Mc Brearty went on to say:
“In remembering the sacrifice of the internees of the 1970’s we too are conscious that the iniquity of internment persists in Ireland today. We must stress that this official oppression continues to exist despite the assertions of the British government and our local politicians who go to great lengths to convince us that this injustice no longer occurs.
Irish men today have been arbitrarily detained as a result solely of their political opinion.
Terry Mc Cafferty, a republican, has been re imprisoned and had his licence revoked without any recourse to legal process or legal representation. No charge has been levelled against him, no opportunity has been given to him to conduct a defence and no court procedure was applied upon re imprisonment. In short, Terry Mc Cafferty was arbitrarily detained and imprisoned at the whim of a British minister.
This form of British injustice and arbitrary detention is an injustice in every way as it is impossible to provide safeguards against capriciousness, vindictiveness, prejudice and discrimination on the part of the imprisoning authority.
Internment is as immoral as it was in 1971 and thereafter, this can be seen from the nature of the procedure or even the lies and deceit employed to cover it up. The changes of name and language used by the British government and now our home grown British ministers have shown this clearly. They now call it a revocation of licence, remand or 28 day detention, but it is what it is, it is Internment!”
The RNU believe that on this anniversary of internment Republicans should remember the sacrifice of internees of the past. We also believe that we have a duty to begin to demand that our political representatives stand up and be counted on current injustices.
As Republicans we have a duty to lobby, take to the streets and demand an end to internment and all practices of injustice.
Internment has manifestly failed in Ireland and we call at this time for an end to all legislation which promotes or facilitates this immoral crime.”
Statement Ends.
The Five Demands 