Ramsey Clark, President, International Anti-imperialist Coordinating Committee (IACC), and Founder, International Action Centre (IAC) has issued the following statement:

Martin Corey has been held in Maghaberry Prison illegally since April 2010 without any charge ever being placed against him. In fact no one knows why he is there, not even the judges who reviewed his case. Human Rights Judge Lord Justice Colman Treacy ordered in July 2012 his immediate release and placed no conditions upon him. With a blatant disregard of the judicial process the British Secretary of State overturned this order, and Martin remains detained in Maghaberry to this day. He is being victimized in prison in many ways and his basic rights are denied. I have long urged the release Martin Corey and once more reiterate that his detention is a violation of his fundamental human rights and he must be immediately released.

Ramsey Clark

President

Republican Sinn Féin sends solidarity to Turkish Hunger Striker

A Turkish political prisoner is on Hunger strike in a French jail since March 13, 2013, to protest against the inhumane practice of strip-searches against political prisoners in France. Republican Sinn Féin sends greetings of solidarity to him and urges the French government to immediately cease the practice of strip searches.

Nezif Eski is a Turkish political prisoner with Arab roots who went on Hunger strike on March 13. He was forced to went on Hunger strike to demand the immediate ending of strip-searches against political prisoners. The Administrative Court of Melun, Seine-et-Marne, suspended on Friday, March 29, the full body search for inmates which was established by the prison authorities in at Fresnes jail where Nezif Eski is held. Though the prison authorities in Fresnes still don't accept his demands. No statement has been made from their side.

Republican Sinn Féin International PRO Dieter Blumenfeld attended the 10th International POW-Conference, organised by IPAI on March 16 and 17 in Berlin, Germany. The conference was held at the Technical University of Berlin. RSF participate the IPAI-POW-Conferences since 2008. The 2008 Conference, held in Vienna, Austria, was addressed by national secretary and former POW Josephine Hayden, the 2009 Conference, held in London, England, was addressed by President Des Dalton, and the 2010 conference held again in Vienna, Austria, was address by then Vice President Fergal Moore. No conferences were held in 2011 and 2012.

Dieter Blumenfeld addressed the conference on Sunday, March 17, and gave an insight in the situation in Maghaberry and informed about the cases of Martin Corey, Marian Price and Michael Campbell.  A statement signed by eleven international organisations from ten countries from Europe, Asia, Middle East and Central America called for the immediate release of republican internees Martin Corey and Marian Price and stressed their support for Irish republican POWs held in Irish, English and Lithuanian jails.

A chairde is a comradaithe

It is a great honor that we - the Republican POWs  in Maghaberry - have this opportunity once again to address you, the people of Ireland and abroad, on this the 97th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. We extend Easter greetings to our comrades, friends and supporters not just in Ireland but throughout the world. We would also like to thank Republican Sinn Féin and CABHAIR for all the work done on our behalf. We extend special greetings to our families whose support is invaluable.

To our comrades on the outside, we extend hearty congratulations and admiration on your continued defiance of British rule, your efforts to build the Republican Movement in the face of adversity is a testimony to your courage and principles. It is clear to see that the legacy of the 1916 Rising lives on. Only by standing firm to the principles of genuine Republicanism will we see our country realise its destiny as a free nation.

On Saturday, October 27^th, Cumann na Saoirse Ná?s?únta participated in an International Day of Action in support of Irish Republican POWs with a program held at Rocky Sullivan’s in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Protests and events highlighting the plight of the Republican POWs in Maghaberry Prison in the Six Counties; the internment without trial of Republicans such as Martin Corey; the illegal detention of Marian Price; the imprisonment of Gerry McGeough were held in Dublin, Lurgan, New York, Sydney, London, Rome, Manchester, Toronto, Paris, Glasgow, Hamburg, Colorado, Darmstadt, Dusseldorf, Magdeburg, Utrecht and Gothenburg. It was the most significant and coordinated display of international solidarity with Irish Republican prisoners in many years and involved at least 16 protests in 12 countries on three continents.

The program in New York consisted of speakers from several prisoner campaign groups as well as musical entertainment. Speakers included Jim Sullivan, President of Brooklyn AOH; Jane Enright, Cumann na Saoirse Ná?s?únta and the Release Martin Corey Campaign, USA; Martin Galvin, Brehon Law Society and the Free Gerry McGeough Campaign, USA; Sandy Boyer, co-host of WBAI’s Radio Free Eireann program and the Free Marian Price campaign, USA; and Dan Dennehey, NYS AOH Freedom for All Ireland Chairman.