It is now nearly five months since the Prevention of Terrorism Act was arriedly passed by the House of Commons without a single vote pinst, in the wake of the Birming• bombings. At the time Red Weekly warned that this Jegislation was designed not to uncover bombers but to intimidate the Irish comunity as a whole, and weaken the sp ant inh feeling Subsequent events have fully justitied those warnings NOT ISOLATED The case of James O'Rourke was tardly an isolated one. Last month, coording to the Home Secretary s own figures, no less than 221 other copic were wetamice witnout wal rant under the Ace's provisions and beld for up to seven days without access to a solicitor. Only one out of all these people was actually charged with an offence yet almost all were forcibly finger-printed and plotographed. In addition, several were deported under exclusion orders-a fate James O'Rourke only escaped because of the trade union pressure brought to bear on his behalf.
North of Ireland methods of coping with opposition are now being brought home with a vengeance. The Prevention of Terrorism Act is only Another is the way in which Irish people have been churged with involvement in bombings, been interrogated over a period of months, and then had the charges against them dropped without explanation.
This happened to four of those ford pub bombings-three of then National Labour Movement Delegate Conference Starts: 10.00 am. Enda: 5.30 pm approx. Creche available.
Lawiess (Troops Out Movement).
ORGANISED BY THE TROOPS OUT MOVEMENT Sponsored by: Joan Maynard MP.
Trades Councll; Wendsworth and Battersea Trades Counch haranche ONLY LAST THURSDAY James O'Rourke, a Transport & General Workers Union shop steward, was released from Brixton jail after being held in custody for nearly four weeks. At no time was he charged with any offence. Yet all the same he was lucky not to be deported. The pretext he was suspected of terrorism'.
charged, indeed, with murder. When they appeared in court on 13 Febtuary, the prosecution simply announced that it did not intend to proceed with the case against them.
TORTURE Interrogation methods are diso coming to resemble those used in the North of Ireland. At the Old Bailey on 20 February Eddie O Neil, charged with plotting explosions, gave a detailed account of what his counsel described as 'softening up' treatment by the police.
He said: "I was made to stand for hours with my finger-tips to the wall and my feet as far back us possible.
There was a whistling sound like wind escaping and lights were flashing on and off. After a while I collapsed.
I was picked up and put back in the same position. If I refused, the usual procedure was to kick me in the private parts Next, C' Neill said, he was placei alternately in a refrigeration room and between two convector heaters so that eventually he lost control of all his muscles and couldn't use his Hands or legs. Finally, after five days of torture during which he was allowed no sleep at all, he was put in an empty detention room flooded with water, his clothes were taken one measure in this web of repression. from him for forensic examination, and he was told to lie in the puddle to sleep.
Otber alterpts to intimidate Ibose who support Irelands right to selfTHESE OUR OE TEC CUTENE prosecution of 14 pacilists under the Incitement to Disatiection Act charged with taking part in the Guild (with the catch-all "conspiracy"
charge included for good measure), and the banting of "Troops Out' THE BRITISH LABOUR MOVEMENT AND IRELAND Saturday 24 May, Collegiate Theatre, Gordon SL, London, WC1.
Speaker: Include: Senator Michel Mutions (General Secratary, lifth Trensport and General Union, Earnone McCenn (Auther varand an irish Towm), Dr. Tim Shallice (Neurologist, National Hospil; Joan Maynard, MP: Harry NcShane IPres John Mack. can Societyl, Michael Knowims (Sec, Hackney Tradar Councili, Gery off Hooker, MP; Frank MoGuire, MP; Maloen olguhoon, MP: Sed Bidwell, MP (Chalemen of Tribunel: to Richardion,MP /Bec Tribunet, Dennis Cansen, MP: Stan Thorne, MP: Lab Abse, MP, William Wilson, MP, Andrew Bennett, MP: Marcus Lipton, MP; David Thornley (Labour TO, Dail Eiraann), John O'Connell (Labour TD. Dail Eireunni: LP O'Connor (GLC Alderman) and Hackney Trader Council, Lood: Trades Council, Luton Trades Council: Harrow Delegates are allowed from: Trada Union branches, Trades Councils, Shop stowards committees, Labour Party and LPYS branches and National Union of Students Credentials from TOM, 103 Hammersmith Road, London, VE.14. Deleve demonstrations from using Trafalgar Square is, of coure, supposed to be only a "temporary measure. But such legis lation has a habit of prolonging its stay. When the Special Powers Act for Northern Ireland- from which some of the features of the Prevention of Terrorisme Act are drawnwas introduced in 1923, it was sup posed to last for one year and no longer unless Parliament otherwise determines'. But Parliament regularly did otherwise determine". until in 1933 it was formally made perma pient.
of the Prevention of Terrorism Act unless the working class novement organises now to prevent its renewal at the end of May. And the longer it lasts, the wider its net will be spread. The arrest of James O'Rourke, following that of Bletchley Trades Council member Joe Gallagher in February, shows the way the wind is blowing It is instructive to recall that in 1936 the National Council for Civi Liberties commented of the Special Powers Act that, 'there is abundant evidence of the daily use of such powers against individuals active in the working class movement, parti cularly on its left ring' CAMPAIGN Prevention of Terrorism Act bas come entirely from the rank and file workers on several building sites that Roy Jenkins realised he had to release him.
class, however, virtually no action is being taken against the Act-with sion of the T&GWU national execuAct. In particular only one Labour MP-Lco Abse, not even a "left"'-has said he will vote against renewal.
working class action can force the "anti-terrorisn' law off the statute book. Every Labour Ml must he instructed to vote against renewal.
Council to circulate trade union bodies with a view to setting up a broad based committee against the Act can be a vital first step in the class law.
Martin Meteyand working class movement, seo the NCCL bus leve coneD cobrainable crom Rod The Prevention of Terrorism Act arms smessling.
The same may well become true Martin on 01-837 9987 So far the fight back against the of the labour moventent. It was when went on strike in support of O'Rourke WC1.
In the leadership of the working the honourable exception of the decitive to campaien for the repeal of the mont (220 1156l Only a coordinated campaigo of The decision of Hammersmith Trades campaign to defeat this anti-working For a detailed analysis of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and its implestions for the pampblet, The State, the Low, ond freiand Back: Q7 Calalarian Road London Nil.