Irish hunger strikers TEN WHO FACE DEATH WORLD IN CRISIS Pages 6-12 Socialist THOSE who do not understand why ten Irish political prisoners have gone on hunger strike should take a look at the pictures on either side of this article.
On the left is a young healthy woman. Her name is Mairead Farrell. That picture was taken four years ago. On the right is a woman prisoner in Armagh jail. She looks ill, gaunt and degraded. The woman in that picture is also Mairead Farrell, as she looked six months ago.
Today Mairead is on hunger strike - one of the three women prisoners who, at the start of this week, joined their seven male counterparts in Long Kesh prison who have been refusing food for over a month.
All the political prisoners in Armagh and Long Kesh were tried in 'emergency', juryless courts All were interrogated and convicted by methods condemned by Amnesty International. All are asking no more than to be allowed to live under the conditions in which such prisoners were held in the north of Ireland from 1972-76.
In Long Kesh and Armagh they have lived the type of appalling existence illustrated by the picture of Mairead's cell. Eventually they could stand no more, and so began their hunger strike 'to death if necessary'.
The prisoners' demands have been backed by tens of thousands of people who have. demonstrated on the streets of Ireland. As yet no Victory to the firefighters THE Fire Brigades Union have inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Tory government. On Monday evening the local authorities agreed to give the FBU most of what they had been demanding. The six per cent pay limit, announced by the Tories just a couple of weeks ago received, a roasting.
The FBU won because of their threat of national strike action, the support promised by the TUC, and the solidarity shown by the working class movement - a solidarity particularly evident on Liverpool's unemployment demonstration on Saturday.
This stirring of power has sent the Tories cringing. If the FBU can do it, so can the rest of us.
IN ARMAGH similar movement has been built in Britain. The leaders of the Labour Party - including the leftwing leaders - have been conspicuous by their silence. That silence could well prove fatal for Mairead Farrell and her comrades.
Every reader of Socialist Challenge is urged to do all they can to ensure that such a tragedy does not occur. For a start that means demonstrating in London this weekend.
Don't let the Irish prisoners die. All out 7 December. Assemble Speakers Corner, 1pm.
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VICTORY! THANK THE PUBLIC THE BUILDING WORKERS FOR SUPPORT