BY LINDA HARRIS
SYDNEY, Australia - More than 300 people packed the Gaelic Club here on May 16 to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the deaths of Irish republican fighter Bobby Sands and nine of other hunger strikers.

The 1981 hunger strike campaign, organized by Irish republicans, was aimed at rebutting the British government's attempts to criminalize the struggle for Irish freedom by changing the status of republican inmates from political to criminal status. As part of this protest they refused to wear prison uniforms, and forced by London to wear only their blankets. By 1980 around 400 young men and women were "on the blanket."

The high point of the evening was a telephone link-up with three republican activists in Belfast who had been part of the blanket protest in Long Kesh Prison, which culminated in the 1981 hunger strike. Leonard Ferran, Brendan McFarlane, and Tom Holland responded to questions from a panel of Australian Aid for Ireland members.

Ferran served 15 years in Long Kesh until his release in 1991. He described how the blanket protest began in March 1976 when the British government withdrew the political status of republican prisoners and the atrocious conditions they faced as a result. "The bond between the blanketmen was an experience you never forget. Seventeen years since the death of Bobby Sands, [those who died] are always with us," he said. Our struggle "is going to be successful."

McFarlane was the Officer Commanding the republican prisoners during the 1981 hunger strike, taking over when Sands started the hunger strike. "It was not simply a protest about conditions alone - it was a turning point in the struggle. It was make-or-break time for the [then British prime minister Margaret] Thatcher regime." He also explained how he had worked with Gerry Adams, now Sinn Fein's president, in the H-Blocks. "He was always encouraging us to read, to learn about political struggles throughout the world," he said.

Holland spent 18 years in prison. Released in 1991, he now works in Sinn Fein's International Department.

While on hunger strike, Sands ran for the British Parliament on the Anti-H-Block/Armagh ticket, with Sinn Fein's support. On April 9, 1981, he was elected with more than 30,000 votes. Holland described the impact on the prisoners when they secretly learned of Sands' win in the British election. "Everyone started banging - we couldn't hold our delight." A gauge of success of the decision to stand, he said, was the national and international support.

In response to a question about the Northern Ireland Agreement, Holland said, "It's not a settlement - no one believes that." A lot of republicans disagree with parts of it, but the question is, "does it give us a position to push for real change and equality?" He explained that at the May 10 Ard Fheis (national conference) everyone was able to put their point of view forward and then about 95 percent supported the strategy that the agreement could be used to push the fight around issues like ending discrimination in employment, release of the political prisoners, strengthening voting rights, and disbanding the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Holland thanked everyone for attending and concluded, "The struggle for us continues. It depends on people like yourselves."

Linda Harris is a member of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union in Sydney, Australia.  
 
 
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