RSF

                                                     East Tyrone Republicans

Day 18:

Four Irish Republican prisoners continue to hunger strike in Maghaberry prison for the right to be housed on a Republican landing. These men in question requested to be put on a Republican landing only to be told by the prison authorities that there was an objection from another organisation.

While this was been discussed an attempt was placed on the lives of the men. Loyalist paramilitaries aligned to the LVF had placed an areosol connected to batteries in a microwave that was turned on fully only to be discovered by one of the four lads while he was preparing food . Thankfully the device did not detonate, as it was discovered in time. The four men had been confined to their cells as the screws blamed them on the device.

Since then they were not allowed access to the canteen to prepare there own meals, so they decided to withdraw from eating prison food as of fear there food would be contaminated. The four men continued to eat from the tuck shop as access was granted from the screws until a dispute broke out over regaining access to the canteen. The men wanted to prepare there own food again and because of this the four men have now been seperated. Dessie Hamill and Austin Creggan have been placed on one landing while Tommy Hamill and Mark McGilloway have been placed on another, as a result of this the men went on FULL hunger strike on 14/08/2012.

A phone call was recieved from Dessie Hamill on friday 31/08/2012 in which he gave an update on how they are:

"All four lads are still on full hunger strike, our spirits are still high in the hope of a resolution and gainning access to the Republican landing. We dont have much access to each other as the threat on our lives remain from the LVF, so we dont leave our cells except for visits and phone calls. We may have short conversation when passing each other. Tommy was weighed by the doctor and he has lost 23lbs in 2 weeks". A short coversations continues and as the phone goes dead he says "keep the flames lit lads". These are the words of an Irish Republican on his 17 day of hunger strike.

The road to freedom is paved with suffering, hardships and torture; carry on my gallant and brave comrades until that certain day. Tom Williams

We the family, friends and members of The Irish Republican Prisoners Committee are calling on all Republicans to support these men, regardless of personal opinion or agenda. These men are at the mercy of the British, it is your duty as Irish Republicans, to bring attention to their plight. They were incarcerated on charges of a political nature and as such have earned the right to be classed as Republican POWs. We will keep you updated on any further news and dates of protests if this matter is not resolved.

Thank you all for your support ..... "victory to the POWs"

If you strike at, imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you, and perhaps, raise a force that will destroy you! We defy you! Do your worst! James Connolly