THAT Republican Prisoners of War in Maghaberry Prison have commenced a dirty protest against the continued denial of political status by the British government and lack of segregation from loyalists and other criminals; and

THAT incidents of violence against Republican Prisoners of War in Maghaberry are becoming more frequent; and

THAT each incident of violence increases the danger not only to Republican Prisoners of War but to other prisoners and prison staff by increasing the risk of further violence and potentially even the loss of life; and

THAT the prison struggles for political status of the 1970s and the 1980s, which culminated in the deaths of ten men on hunger strike in 1981, are in the process of resuming via the dirty protest in Maghaberry and the possibility of a new hunger strike;

THEREFORE, we call upon you to re-introduce segregation of Republican Prisoners of War from loyalists and other criminals; and

FURTHER, we call upon you to establish organisational wings and restore political status to Republican Prisoners of War.