Irish Republican political prisoners at Maghaberry contacted the Irish Freedom Committee today to deliver the ominous news that an ongoing protest at the jail has escalated, with 32 republicans of three different organizations now refusing to eat in their cells.

As documented in our earlier IFC Report from Maghaberry (06/21/06), the selective and inhumane internment conditions at the jail order that republican prisoners eat their meals next to open toilets while confined in their airless cells -- a filthy and inhumane provision, and one which the republican prisoners have now united in refusing to accept.

A republican prisoner has today told us :

"Whole organizations (in the jail) have come together... nobody is eating food in their cells at all. There are 32 republicans on landings from three different organizations who are refusing to eat their dinner in their cells. We are looking to eat in the canteen and they are not letting us down to eat in the canteen. They’re trying to make us eat it in their cells where there’s a toilet and all. Morale is good among everyone... it’s good to see that everyone is doing the same thing, singing off the same hymn sheet. We’re just waiting for the next stage... Please tell everyone from the IFC we’re keeping our spirits up. We won’t break or we won’t falter... We’re OK."

We ask that all of our members and supporters write TODAY to the addresses below and demand an immediate end to the barbaric practice of having men confined in a bathroom to eat. These men are held in one of the highest security jails in Europe and there is no reason why they cannot take their meals in the canteen as other prisoners are allowed to do.

TAKE ACTION

Copy and paste the sample letter below or use your own words. Please send one copy to the Northern Ireland Prison Service at info@niprisonservice.gov.uk, and enter one copy in the contact form at the NIO offices at http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/contact-us/enquiry-form.htm.

Also please send signed HARD COPIES of all letters to each of the three addresses posted in the sample letter.

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MAGHABERRY PRISON Mr. Alan Longwell - Governor Upper Ballinderry Road Lisburn, Co. Antrim BT28 2PT

NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE Mr. Peter Hain - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Block B Castle Buildings Belfast BT4 3STGTN

NORTHERN IRELAND PRISON SERVICE Mr. Robin Masefield - Director General Room 321 Prison Service Headquarters Dundonald House Upper Newtownards Road Belfast BT4 3SU

June 30, 2006

Dear Sir,

I am writing to protest the barbaric and inhumane requirement of forcing the republican prisoners at Maghaberry Prison to take their meals next to open toilets in tiny cells.

These men are held in one of the highest security jails in Europe and there is no reason why they cannot take their meals in the canteen as other prisoners are allowed to do.

I have recently become aware of a number of other extremely unsanitary and inhumane conditions at Maghaberry Jail and I will continue to monitor this situation very closely.

As an Irish American I sadly remember the hunger strike twenty-five years ago that needlessly cost the lives of ten men at Long Kesh Prison, on protest for their basic human rights. I strongly urge you to immediately address the worsening conditions at Maghaberry and prevent the situation from taking a grievous turn for the worse.

Please advise. The favor of a reply is requested.

Thank you ;

YOUR NAME/LOCATION HERE

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