Irish Republican Socialist Party will be hosting a series of events in solidarity with Turkish prisoners currently on hunger strike. Spokesperson Paul Little commented that "The events staged throughout the country are a gesture of international solidarity.

"At this time, you have a situation in Turkey were political prisoners of war are on a 'Death Fast' in protest against the Turkish regime and that of the deplorable and inhuman conditions in which prisoners are suffering.

"For republican socialists here in Ireland, this comes at a time in which we are preparing to commemoration the death of the first of three INLA hunger strikers during the 1981 prison struggle. During that period of events, the people of Turkey and the revolutionary organisations to which they belonged to rallied round in solidarity. This continued throughout the hunger strike, which was at vital stage and indeed a historical stage in the history of this island.

"The Solidarity events are as follows:

Wednesday May 16th - Public meeting
Jonathan Swift Memorial Hall, Trinity College, Dublin
@ 7.30pm

Thursday May 17th - Protest at Turkish Embassy
11 Clyde Road, Dublin 4. @ 1pm

Thursday May 17th - Public meeting
Speakers Tony O'Hara (Brother of INLA Hunger Striker Patsy O'Hara) and
Gurkan Gur (Turkish Prisoners Representative)
Rocking Chair Bar (upstairs), Waterloo Street, Derry. @ 7.30pm

Saturday May 19th ­ Public Meeting
Speakers Tony O'Hara (Brother of INLA Hunger Striker Patsy O'Hara) and
Gurkan Gur (Turkish Prisoners Representative)
Red Devil Bar, Fall Road, Belfast

Sunday May 20th ­ National Patsy O'Hara Commemoration, Assemble 2pm,
Creggan Shops, for March and Rally to National Hunger Strike Monument,
Derry City Cemetery.

Prominent Speakers
Guest Speaker Gurkan Gur (Turkish Prisoners Representative).

Mr Little concluded by saying, "The Irish Republican Socialist Party call upon the people of Ireland to rally round in support of the Turkish prisoners and their families, by coming out by publicly condemning the fascist government in Turkey. I doing so we have also to acknowledge the role-played in this by that regimes ally in Europe, which the 26 county administration plays its role, they too must be condemned for their silence!"

STATEMENT ENDS