H-Block 3 Harassment Increasing Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Wed, 22 Oct 1997 08:21:03 +0000 Paddy Newell H-Block 3 - More harassment! Included in this post: Update on H-Block 3 harassment Addresses for letters and prisoners Sample letters Information/Addresses/websites for Congressional Committees Recently, mail to the prisoners has been returned to senders marked "unauthorized" although the prison administration failed to even open the envelope. The envelopes contained internet versions of APRN and Andersontown News only. Complaints have been filed with the attorneys. If you have any mail returned to you, please save the parcel, but do not open. Contact me at: paddyn@erols.com Please number all parcels and indicate what is inside the envelope to eliminate any excuse for returns. This does not seem to satisfy authorities, but is suggested by prisoners. Kevin has seen the dentist, and is awaiting surgery. RTE visited Terry in prison on 21 October. Later they interviewed his family and friends. The tape is scheduled to run next week. ************************************************* All of the following is also available at: http://www.gmu.edu/org/ireland32/ A chairde, Irish America wants the Clinton Administration, Members of Congress, Tony Blair, the Irish Consulate General and the Irish Ambassador to know that we will not stand by and watch the H-Block 3 become a 'sacrifical lamb' or a 'political football' to pacify unionists. The H-Block Extraditions: Irish Republican political refugees Pol Brennan, Terry Kirby, and Kevin Barry Artt remain in prison after their bail was revoked by US District Court Judge Charles Legge on August 11. Despite the three men having demonstrated that they did not pose flight risks during lengthy periods free on bail, the judge revoked their bail upon sentencing, again separating them from families and friends. Since their return to prison, the men have been separated from each other, Kevin Artt being sent to Oakland County Jail. He is allowed only one hour of daylight a WEEK, and can seldom receive visits from his legal counsel or family. Pol has been in and out of solitary confinement since his incarceration, and both Pol and Terry have suffered severe racial discrimination and mistreatment from the prison guards and officials where they are being held. Please join Irish America and express your support by writing a letter on behalf of Terry Kirby, Kevin Barry Artt and Pol Brennan. All three men face extradition to the north of Ireland at the request of the British government. The H-Block 3 should not be extradited to the very system that has been condemned by the United States Congress and 5 international Human Rights organizations, and is currently under investigation by the United Nations. We want these extraditions stopped and bail restored. Remember all three men were unjustly convicted and have suffered human rights abuses in accordance with European and International standards. *All three men are POW's. *All three men were convicted in a non-jury Diplock Court. *Denied right to remain silent. *Denied access to attorneys during interrogation. *None are charged with any crimes in the United States. *Kevin and Terry were housed together for one year+ and posed no threat of escape. *All three men voluntarily surrendered to authorities. Please highlight the following dependent on who the letter is going to: *Restoration of bail so men can be with their families.(Clinton) *British government drop its opposition to bail.(Blair letter) *Suspension of extradition proceedings by US government.(Clinton) *British government drop request for extraditions.(Blair) *Official visit with all 3 prisoners together and Declan Kelly, the Irish Consulate General in San Francisco.(Kelly and Irish Ambassador) ******************************************************* Sample letters: Dear Mr. Blair, As an American supporter of peace with justice in Ireland, I'd like to draw your attention to a most urgent matter. Presently three men are facing extradition from the United States at the request of your government. Irish Americans are keeping a close watch on developments and a letter writing campaign has been organized to express our objection to this situation. Extradition requests by your government is not perceived by the American people as a sincere quest for peace. In light of my government's recognition of the human rights abuses and lack of a fair judiciary and policing system in the north of Ireland, and the investigation this month by the United Nations, I encourage you to immediately withdraw your government's request for the extradition of these three men as a positive step to enhance the peace process in Ireland. I urge you to express to the appropriate authorities in Washington DC, your sincere desire to see these men released on bail immediately. Hon. Bill Clinton President The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Sir, As a supporter of peace with justice in Ireland, I'd like to draw your attention to a most urgent matter. Three Irishmen being held in California jails while they await appeals on extradition to England are suffering inhumane treatment that reflects poorly on your administration's commitment to do whatever it can to enhance the peace negotiations in Ireland. In September, Kevin Barry Artt was transferred to North County Jail in Oakland, where his visiting privileges were cut in half and went from open to closed visits. He is also now only permitted one hour of outdoor exercise per week. Pol Brennan and Terry Kirby remain in the Pleasanton Federal Detention Center near Dublin, Ca., but have been separated. Mr. Kirby has been the subject of alarming verbal abuse by prison staff who have referred to him as "Irish scum" and a "terrorist." I cannot remain silent while these men are abused by representatives of the United States judicial system. This sort of treatment on American soil fails to generate support for peace. Recent hearings held by the Subcommittee on Operations and Human Rights have confirmed that our government has no justification for extraditing anyone to a country that fails to provide a fair and even-handed judiciary and policing system. The evidence is such that the United Nations is investigating the numerous charges of collusion, intimidation and corruption. I encourage you to immediately suspend the extradition proceedings against these three men as a positive step to enhance the peace process in Ireland. I urge you see these men released on bail so they may rejoin their families in California. Hon. Tony Blair Prime Minister 10 Downing St. London England fax 011-44-171-925-0918 (email: TONT.BLAIR@poptel.org.uk) Hon. Bill Clinton President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Ph# (202) 456-1111 Fax# (202) 456-2461 email: President@whitehouse.gov Declan Kelly, Irish Consul General San Francisco (fax) 415-392-0885 Sean O'huiginn (cq) Irish Ambassador Embassy of Republic of Ireland 2234 Massachussets Avenue NW Washington, D.C., 20008 (fax) 202-232-5993 __________________________________ Write to the prisoners: Kevin Barry Artt UFN 852 North Couty Jail 1E11 556 6th Street Oakland, CA 94607 Terry Kirby 885 33-011 Federal Detention Center 5675 8th Street Camp Parks Dublin, CA 94568 Pol Brennan 875 71-011 Federal Detention Center 5675 8th Street Camp Parks Dublin, CA 94568 _______________________________ Recent Articles and Statements: The Irish People http://inac.org/IrishPeople/ Noraid: http://inac.org Sinn Fiin http://irlnet.com/sinnfein/ Home Page Congressman Chris Smith http://www.house.gov/chrissmith/ Congressman Chris Smith Addresses: WASHINGTON, DC 2370 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 phone: (202) 225-3765 fax: (202) 225-7768 MERCER/BURLINGTON CONSTITUENT SERVICE CENTER 1540 Kuser Road Suite A-9 Hamilton, NJ 08619 Phone: (609) 585-7878 Fax: (609) 585-9155 TTY: (609) 585-3650 OCEAN/MONMOUTH CONSTITUENT SERVICE CENTER 100 Lacey Road Suite 38 A Whiting Shopping Center Whiting, NJ 08759 Phone: (908) 350-2300 Fax: (908) 350-6260 ****************************************************** SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS B358 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 http://www.house.gov/international_relations/hr/iohr.htm Christopher Smith, NJ, Chairman Republican Members William Goodling, PA Henry Hyde, IL Dan Burton, IN Cass Ballenger, NC Peter King, NY Matt Salmon, AZ Lindsey Graham, SC Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, FL Democratic Members Tom Lantos, CA Cynthia McKinney, GA Gary Ackerman, NY Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, AS Donald Payne, NJ Earl Hilliard, AL Robert Wexler, FL Subcommittee Staff: Grover Joseph Rees, Subcommittee Staff Director/Chief Counsel Douglas Anderson, Counsel Robert R. King, Democratic Professional Staff Member/Staff Associate **************************************************** Congressman Benjamin Gilman Chairman The International Relations Committee Congressman Benjamin Gilman Home Page: http://www.house.gov/gilman/ Congressman Benjamin Gilman Addresses: WASHINGTON OFFICE 2449 Rayburn Building Washington, D.C. 20515-3220 Tel. (202) 225-3776 DISTRICT OFFICES 407 East Main Street P.O. Box 358 Middletown, NY 10940-0358 Tel. (914) 343-6666 377 Route 59 Monsey, NY 10952-3498 Tel. (914) 357-9000 32 Main Street Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706-1602 Tel. (914) 478-5550 The Committee on International Relations Benjamin A. Gilman, NY, Chairman Lee H. Hamilton, IN, Ranking Democratic Member The Committee on International Relations 2170 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5021 HIRC@mail.house.gov The Committee on International Relations Hearing Notification Line can be reached at: (202) 225-3184. http://www.house.gov/international_relations/ Republican Members William F. Goodling, PA James A. Leach, IA Henry Hyde, IL Doug Bereuter, NE Christopher Smith, NJ Dan Burton, IN Elton Gallegly, CA Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, FL Cass Ballenger, NC Dana Rohrabacher, CA Donald A. Manzullo, IL Edward R. Royce, CA Peter King, NY Jay Kim, CA Steve Chabot, OH Marshall "Mark" Sanford, SC Matt Salmon, AZ Amo Houghton, NY Tom Campbell, CA Jon Fox, PA John McHugh, NY Lindsey Graham, SC Roy Blunt, MO Kevin Brady, TX Democratic Members Sam Gejdenson, CT Tom Lantos, CA Howard L. Berman, CA Gary L. Ackerman, NY Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, AS Matthew G. Martinez, CA Donald M. Payne, NJ Robert E. Andrews, NJ Robert Menendez, NJ Sherrod Brown, OH Cynthia McKinney, GA Alcee L. Hastings, FL Pat Danner, MO Earl Hilliard, AL Walter Capps, CA Brad Sherman, CA Robert Wexler, FL Steve Rothman, NJ Bob Clement, TN Bill Luther, MN Jim Davis, FL ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-10.22.97-20:18:27-262