Irish Republican Information Service (no. 81)
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
Phone: +353-1-872 9747; FAX: +353-1-872 9757; e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie
Date: 27 Meán Fómhair / September  2006
 
Internet resources maintained by SAOIRSE-Irish Freedom
 
 
Irish Republican Information Service
THE body styling itself ‘Limerick Republican Information Service’ is not connected with the Irish Republican Information Service (IRIS), 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, email saoirse@iol.ie and has not been authorised either by IRIS or by the body that sponsors IRIS, Republican Sinn Fein. Therefore it is totally unauthorised and should be regarded as such.
 
In this issue:
1. Fermanagh protest held in support of Republican POWS
2. Support for Tara solidarity vigil light increases
3. Basque hunger striker force-fed
4. ETA ‘committed to armed struggle’
5. Pipe bomb found at RUC/PSNI barracks
6. Teenager shot in back in attack
7. Anti-collusion group stage protests
8. MI5 to be represented at Nelson inquiry
9. Club withdraws from Derry soccer league after sectarian incident
10. Gaeilgeoir’s legal ordeal continues
11. ‘Peace’ cash handed to missile company
12. Racial motive for house attacks
13. US invasion responsible deaths of over 250,000 civilians in Iraq
14. UK activists get into French new "mini-nukes" site
15. Throwing good money after bad
16. A message from the Miami Five, Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, Rene Gonzalez, 25 September 2006.
 
1. FERMANAGH PROTEST HELD IN SUPPORT OF REPUBLICAN POWS
 
A WHITE-line picket was held in Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh, on Saturday, September 23. The picket was organised by the Republican Prisoners’ Action Group (RPAG), and was in support of the demands of the POWs currently on protest in Maghaberry jail. In spite of adverse weather conditions a large crowd turned out to demonstrate their support for the prisoners’ demands.
 
Following the white-line picket a rally took place. The proceedings were chaired by Ruairí White from Newry - a member of the Ard-Chomhairle of Republican Sinn Féin - who introduced the national spokesperson of the RPAG and former Independent Republican councillor for Fermanagh, Tony McPhillips who highlighted the conditions faced by the POWs in Maghaberry, adding that the situation in the jail was hurtling towards a crisis point. The Republican POWs had just finished a 72-hour fast. He called on anyone with influence to use that influence in order to resolve the dispute.
 
The Cathaoirleach then introduced Fergal Moore - an Ard-Chomhairle member of Republican Sinn Féin from Co. Monaghan - who gave the main address. Fergal Moore emphasised the need for everyone to support the prisoners in their demand for political status, stating that the best way to prevent the abuse of prisoners was to restore the All-Ireland Republic. He asked those not involved in the Republican Movement to consider taking up an active role within the Movement, helping the Movement to expel the British forces of occupation from Ireland.
 
The proceedings concluded with the singing of Amhrán na bhFiann.
 
There was once again an overt RUC presence on the day. Approximately ten minutes before the demonstration was due to begin, an RUC jeep was observed departing Lisnaskea Barracks. After driving through Newtownbutler several times, the jeep took up a position to monitor the demonstration. The British colonial police remained until the conclusion of the event.
 
2. SUPPORT FOR TARA SOLIDARITY VIGIL LIGHT INCREASES
 
IT was reported on September 19 that despite repeated attempts by the 26-County Office of Public Works (OPW) to move them on, the Tara Solidarity Vigil remain camped out on the Hill of Tara. They have become a focus of opposition to plans to build a new motorway (M3) through the Tara valley. As opposition grows they have received increasing messages of support not just from Ireland but around the world also. Norwegians, in particular, have taken a keen interest in developments on the Hill due to a sense of shared history they have with Ireland.
 
3. BASQUE HUNGER STRIKER FORCE-FED
 
THE Irish Basque Committees reported on September 21 that Inaki De Juana, Basque political prisoner, has been force fed after 45 days on hunger strike.
 
Inaki De Juana expressed his will to continue on hunger strike after he was force-fed last night following orders coming from the Spanish Special Court.
 
Askatasuna, organisation of solidarity with the Basque political prisoners, denounced the situation of Inaki and said that "It’s is very hypocritical for the Spanish state that they are feeding him because his life is on danger when they are trying to keep him in prison for life. We have to remember that Inaki started the hunger strike as it was the last weapon he had to fight against the dirty tricks used by the Spanish authorities when despite doing his time to the full, 18 years, they made up new charges requesting for him — 96 years for two articles he wrote in the newspaper Gara".
 
Protests are increasing all around the Basque Country. Thousands of people demonstrated in favour of prisoners’ rights on September 17. Five rallies under the slogan "We need them alive and home" went by without incidents in the five capitals.
 
Rallies to denounce the prison policies of the Spanish and French Governments
and to claim respect for prisoners´ rights were held after demonstrations were banned twice recently.
 
EPPK, the Basque Political Prisoners Group, demanded pressure increase against
prisoner policies and those responsible. It also wants the prisoners to be brought to prisons in the Basque Country, according to a press release published in Gara on September 21.
 
"Basque conflict will not be solved neither through prison politics nor
through release from prison," the association asserted.
 
EPPK called on Basque society in order to "strengthen pressure against penitentiary politics and to be persistent to get self-determination, territoriality and recognition of the Basque Country".
 
The press release, addressed to French and Spanish States, said that EPPK will reject "any political project that is based in the denial of the Basque Country" and it criticised France and Spain because "they once again make use of prisoners to condition the freedom". Slogans such as, "Prisoners in exchange for peace" or "Prisoners in return for legalisation", are just "the _expression of political fraud".
 
4. ETA ‘COMMITTED TO ARMED STRUGGLE’
 
ON September 24 the Basque separatist group ETA said it will not relinquish weapons until the region gets independence from Spain.
 
Three hooded gunmen told an ETA rally in northern Spain their fight was not a thing of the past, despite a ceasefire announced six months ago. Speaking after the statement, Spain’s prime minister said he would work towards ending 40 years of violence.
 
His government has indicated that it is ready to talk to ETA, but has ruled out Basque independence.
 
The BBC’s Danny Wood, in the Spanish capital Madrid, says this is the sixth communication by the armed separatist group since it declared a permanent ceasefire in March.
 
He says it could be the strongest sign yet that ETA is not prepared to give up the violent struggle for independence - or just a strategy before starting talks with the national government.
 
The Saturday 24 rally was held in the town of Aritxulegi, near San Sebastian.
 
In their statement, reported by Basque media, the hooded gunmen said: "Until we achieve independence and socialism in the Basque country, we reaffirm our commitment to keep taking up arms firmly.
 
"The fight is not a thing of the past. It is the present and the future."
 
After the announcement, the militants fired shots into the air and disappeared into the forest.
 
5. PIPE BOMB FOUND AT RUC/PSNI BARRACKS
 
IT was reported on September 24 that a pipe bomb was found on September 23 in the grounds of Castlederg, County Tyrone RUC/PSNI barracks. The device was made safe by British Army bomb experts.
 
Earlier, three suspicious objects found in County Derry were declared to be hoaxes. Residents were evacuated after an object was discovered at Mussenden Road in Articlave and Temple Bar in Castlerock. A security alert at Freehall Park in Castlerock was also later declared a hoax. The railway line between Coleraine and Derry was closed for a time.
 
6. TEENAGER SHOT IN BACK IN ATTACK
 
A 17-year-old youth was shot in the back in north Belfast on September 23. He was walking along Ardoyne Avenue with some friends when a man appeared from a nearby alley and fired a shotgun at them. The youth - who was hit in the arms, leg and back - was taken to hospital for treatment. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Two other youths were hit with pellets, but did not require hospital treatment.
 
7. ANTI-COLLUSION GROUP STAGE PROTESTS
 
Members of anti-collusion campaign An Fhirinne held a protest outside the Culloden Hotel early in September where a PR event organised by the British Army Presentation Team and billed as a way of allowing the public to find out more about the British army’s activities was taking place.
 
The protesters included several north Belfast members whose relatives were murdered during the conflict.
 
An Fhírinne spokesperson Robert McClenaghan said the protest was held because families of those murdered as a result of collusion between the British state and loyalist death squads were angry about the event.
 
"These events are meant to put the British army in a positive light. As families of those murdered as a result of collusion or state murder we are deeply angered at this PR stunt," he said.
 
"We in Ireland already know of the British army’s activities - invasion, oppression, partition, discrimination, internment, imprisonment, criminalisation, torture, Bloody Sunday, shoot-to-kill and collusion to name but a few.
 
"For decades the British government has denied the role of its army in the murder of Irish citizens and to this day they deny involvement in collusion with unionist death squads."
 
An Fhírinne said they would stage more protests at British army public relations events organised to attract recruits.
 
8. MI5 TO BE REPRESENTED AT NELSON INQUIRY
 
ON September 20 it was reported that the British Intelligence service MI5 is to be legally represented at the public inquiry into the murder of solicitor Rosemary Nelson, the solicitor who died after a booby-trap bomb attack on her car.
.
She died after loyalists planted a booby-trap bomb underneath her car outside her Lurgan home in March 1999.
 
Retired judge Sir Michael Morland is to chair an inquiry into allegations of British state collusion in the murder.
 
MI5 argued that it would have assumed a lead role in the Six Counties by the time of the inquiry next year and should be represented.
 
Rosemary Nelson’s brother, Eunan McGee, said the decision had taken the family by surprise. Their concern is that MI5 might consequently be able to apply to remove sensitive or classified information in the papers.
 
There have been allegations of British state collusion in the killing of the 40-year-old solicitor because of her role as the legal representative for the nationalist Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition and other high profile cases.
 
9. CLUB WITHDRAWS FROM DERRY SOCCER LEAGUE AFTER SECTARIAN INCIDENT
 
IT was reported on September 22 that a Protestant football club had withdrawn four of its teams from a youth league in Derry due to fears of a sectarian attack.
 
The move follows an incident last week in which an U14 game between one of the teams and a local Catholic side had to be abandoned due to sectarian abuse.
 
Both teams had to take shelter in their dressing rooms after around 80 loyalists shouted abuse at the Catholic players.
 
The coach of the Protestant club said members of his teams had since been subjected to further sectarian abuse while on their way to school in the predominantly nationalist West Bank area.
 
He said he hated the idea of caving in to intimidation, but the safety of the players had to be paramount.
 
10. GAEILGEOIR’S LEGAL ORDEAL CONTINUES
 
AN Irish language protest took place at Laganside Court on September 25 to highlight the case of Máire Nic an Bhaird, a West Belfast woman who claims she was arrested for speaking Irish and is pleading not guilty to a charge of disorderly behaviour. The local schoolteacher was arrested outside a nightclub on the Malone Road on May 25.
 
The British Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPSNI) were pressing for the case to be heard as soon as possible, regardless of the language.
 
Máire Nic an Bhaird’s solicitors refused, saying their client wanted the case to be heard in Irish and they are now calling for a judicial review of the status of languages in the courts in the Six Counties.
 
The request for a judicial review will be put before the Crown Court by barristers Niall Fox and Frank O’Donoghue on October 2. The case cannot now be heard until a decision is taken on the review request. If successful, Máire will have the green light to defend herself in Irish.
 
11. ‘PEACE’ CASH HANDED TO MISSILE COMPANY
 
ANTI-arms trade campaigners attacked the British government on September 20 for handing millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money - including European ‘peace’ funds - to a Belfast missiles company.
 
The Belfast Telegraph newspaper uncovered the extent of payments from the public purse to Thales Air Defence in recent years. Details of countries the company exports its products have been kept secret by officials.
 
The multinational firm was offered £899,060 in EU Peace II and Government funds through development agency Invest NI. Invest NI’s appraisal of the project claimed it would "address the legacy of conflict" and identified "some benefit in paving the way to reconciliation".
 
Rob Fairmichael, coordinator of Belfast peace group Innate, said: "The question is what do Belfast and Northern Ireland want to become known for - high precision killing or high precision useful manufacture?
 
"Is Northern Ireland going to export death and destruction after 30 years of enduring internal death and destruction?"
 
Emails between Invest NI and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) reveal payments to the arms company led to a diplomatic query from the Dublin Administration.
Its Department of Foreign Affairs contacted SEUPB in 2005 asking for "clarification" on the allocation of ‘peace’ cash.
 
Documents from the Dublin Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) also show Thales and its predecessor Shorts Missile Systems received more than £1m in EU money between 1996 and 2001 under the Northern Ireland Single Programme Document (NISPD) programme.
 
The stated objectives of that programme were to target social need in the province.
A payment of £3.46m was also approved by then-Stormont Minister Barry Gardiner in 2004, channelled through Invest NI, in relation to a research project with Queen’s Ulster universities.
 
In a statement, Thales Air Defence Limited said: "In 2004 TADL was awarded a grant up to a maximum of £3.46m for a research project from Invest NI. TADL has only claimed a small fraction of this grant to date.
 
"The markets in which we operate are extremely competitive and in many cases are declining. This has been reflected in a decrease in our profits and unfortunately in our headcount."
 
The firm said it was a key Ulster employer, attracting a cross-community workforce.
Thales also said that it only sells to countries the British government permits arms exports to, with exports accounting for only 10% of its business.
 
Earlier this year, Thales Group announced improved profits of €334m (£220m) for 2005.
Eddie McVeigh, head of the European Commission in Belfast, defended the payments to Thales from European funds.
 
He told the Belfast Telegraph: "Projects for successful selection under the EU Peace programme must fulfill rigorous selection criteria. Thales Air Defence was assisted under the Peace II through Invest Northern Ireland to the amount of £899,060 for research and development to support jobs. Thales employs 550 people and the total investment by the company, Invest NI and the EU Peace programme was £4.5m."
 
A Freedom of Information request that Invest NI reveal the countries to which Thales exports Belfast-made missiles was refused - a decision this newspaper is appealing to the Information Commissioner. Invoking exemptions under Freedom of Information, Invest NI argued disclosure "would prejudice relations between the UK and any other state". It also stated that Crown Forces could be endangered and commercial confidentiality breached.
 
12. RACIAL MOTIVE FOR HOUSE ATTACKS
 
SEVEN homes have been attacked in County Tyrone in what the RUC/PSNI believe were racist incidents. The houses in Dungannon were targeted in the early hours of September 24. There have been several attacks on foreign nationals in the town. Bricks with notes attached were thrown through the living room of each house at Blechfield in Moygashel, a loyalist area near Dungannon. No one was injured in the attacks.
 
13. US INVASION RESPONSIBLE DEATHS OF OVER 250,000 CIVILIANS IN IRAQ
 
NEW studies make the Bush administration’s "liberation" argument for a "pre-emptive" war against Iraq seem questionable.
 
The invasion of Iraq in March 2003 by US-led coalition forces has been responsible for the death of at least 150,000 civilians (not including certain areas of Iraq), reveals a compilation of scientific studies and corroborated eyewitness testimonies.
 
The majority of these deaths, which are in addition those normally expected from natural causes, illness and accidents, have been among women and children, documents a well-researched study, that had been released by The Lancet Medical Journal.
 
The report in the British journal is based on the work of teams from the Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University in the US, and the Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad.
 
A similar methodology was used in the late 1990’s to calculate the number of deaths from the war in Kosovo, put at 10,000.
 
The information was obtained as Iraqi interviewers surveyed 808 families, consisting of 7,868 people, in 33 different "clusters" or neighbourhoods spread across the country.
 
In each case, they asked how many births and deaths there had been in the home since January 2002.
 
That information was then compared with the death rates in each neighbourhood in the 15 months before the invasion that toppled president Saddam Hussein, adjusted for the different time frames, and extrapolated to cover the entire 24.4 million population of Iraq.
 
The most common cause of death is as a direct result of a worsening "culture of violence", mostly caused by indiscriminate US coordinated air strikes, and related military interventions, reveals the study of almost 1000 households scattered across Iraq. And the risk of violent death just after the invasion was 58 times greater than before the war. The overall risk of death was 1.5 times more after the invasion than before.
 
The on-going Anglo/US Occupation has also created worsened civil strife as well as mass environmental destructions and related public health problems that is associated with American bomb-related released radioactive and other life-threatening pollutions. The American Occupation has also prevailed over the neglect to the repairing of vital public services-related infrastructure, which include U.S.-led destructions of water systems.
 
The figure of 100,000 had been based on somewhat "conservative assumptions", notes Les Roberts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, US, who led the study.
 
That estimate excludes Falluja, a hotspot for violence. If the data from this town is included, the compiled studies point to about 250,000 excess deaths since the outbreak of the US-led war.
 
Many Americans have complained that more than $200 billion US tax dollars have been diverted from vitally needed public services in the United States, into apparently reckless activities. These activities are resulting in inflicted mass-casualties against totally innocent civilians, which have worsened conditions for political extremism, and ensuing "terrorism".
 
It is well documented that such activities are being viewed by many Iraqis, and other peoples internationally, to undermine a popular feeling of international security in general. Indeed, polls suggest that Americans felt much more secure under the former political leadership of US President Bill Clinton, as compared to the militaristic strategies which are being pursued by the George W Bush administration. (source: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11674.htm)
 
A recent poll in the 26 Counties found that Irish people also believe that the presidency of George W Bush has made the world a much more dangerous place to live in.
 
Trident Ploughshares
Press Release: 23rd September 2006
 
14. UK ACTIVISTS GET INTO FRENCH NEW "MINI-NUKES" SITE
 
PEACE activists from Britain have penetrated the French nuclear installation at the testing centre of Les Landes in Biscarosse near Bordeaux, which is involved in the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons.
 
The ten activists joined a mass citizens inspection organised by the a coalition of NGOs, including ATTAC, Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire, Mouvement de la Paix , Greenpeace, the Quakers. The focus of the inspection is the development of the new M51 nuclear missile which will be a submarine launched high precision weapon with a range of 10,000 kilometres. There is especial concern that the relatively low yield of the warheads it is designed to carry will make its use more likely.
 
Angie Zelter (55), from Norfolk, Lesley Anderson (23), from Clackmannanshire, Mell Harrison (35), from Norwich, Peter Lux (44), also from Norwich and Ludd Appeltans (35), a Belgian currently living in Scotland, have already crossed a " forbidden zone " and entered the site and Lesley Rogers (42) from Beith in Ayrshire, Matt Bury (51), from Faslane Peace Camp and Sam Maher (29), from Norwich, are hot on their heels.
 
The British activists have been determined to show their solidarity with the French anti-nuclear movement as both Britain and France are threatening to continue their dependence on WMDs, to develop new ones, and so to breach their legal commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
 
The action comes just one week before the start of the Faslane 365 continuous blockades at the British WMD base on the Clyde.
 
Contacts at the site :  Angie Zelter 07835354652 or Petter Joelson on ++4670867424;.
Trident Ploughshares : David on 07876593016; www.tridentploughshares.org.
 
14. THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD
 
THE [26-County] Prison Service Annual Report of September 25, 2006, shows need for alternatives to custody, not superprisons, according to the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)
 
Commenting on the 2005 Annual Report of the 26-County Prison Service, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) stated that the Report provides further evidence that the 26-County administration’s superprison plans are both unnecessary and unjustifiable.  The group is calling upon the administration to abandon superprisons in favour of more cost effective non-custodial supervision programmes to deal with the non-violent, short term offenders that comprise the overwhelming majority of prison committals.
 
The report demonstrates the high cost of prisons and data provided in the Prison Service’s Annual Report shows:
* The annual cost of keeping a prisoner in custody is €90,900, nearly a 10% increase over last year’s average of €83,800.
* 85% of all committals in 2005 were for non-violent offences.
* 90% of women committed to prison in 2005 were for non-violent offences.
* 78% of all committals under sentence in 2005 were for 12 months or less.
* 89% of women committed to prison in 2005 were for sentences of 12 months or less.
* 39% of all committals under sentence in 2005 were for 3 months or less.
* 55% of women committed to prison in 2005 were for sentences of 3 months or less.
"Incarceration is the most expensive response available to offending," said Rick Lines, Executive Director of the IPRT. "While Minister McDowell often points to his success at addressing the issue of prison officer overtime, it is clear from today’s figures that this has done nothing to halt the spiralling costs of prisons. Given this tremendous cost, and the poor record of Irish prisons at reducing re-offending, there is a clear basis for the Government to divert significant numbers of non-violent offenders sentenced to one year or less away from prisons as a first option."
 
The Penal Reform Trust has also rubbished attempts by the Prison Service to spin the Annual Report’s findings into an excuse to justify the building of the Mountjoy superprison in north Co. Dublin. A press statement from the 26-County Prison Service claims that the new Mountjoy complex would reduce the annual cost per prisoner by €20,000 through the "economies of scale which can be achieved by locating 30% of Ireland’s prison population on a single site.
 
"Given that the existing Mountjoy complex already houses 30% of the total prison population, one wonders what ‘economies of scale’ the Prison Service is referring to," Rick Lines said.  "Moreover, it is only within the unscrutinised spending regimes found in the Department of Justice that €70,000 per year to incarcerate someone would be seen as a bargain. Indeed, the construction of the two proposed superprisons will increase the overall prisoner population by 800-1,000 persons, which means total spending on prisons will go up even if these claimed savings are realised."
 
"The Prison Service Report illustrates that the Government’s rush to build superprisons is driven by politics rather than need, and is an utterly avoidable example of throwing good money after bad," he said.
 
14. A MESSAGE FROM THE MIAMI FIVE, GERARDO HERNANDEZ, ANTONIO GUERRERO, RAMON LABANINO, FERNANDO GONZALEZ, RENE GONZALEZ, 25 SEPTEMBER 2006
 
"WHEN I remember back on what happened that September 12, 1998 the first thing that comes to my mind are the words of the FBI agent, who in the middle of his efforts to try to turn us into traitors, said: "Cuba will do nothing for you. Nobody will do anything for you.
 
"How far off were he and his fellow officials to imagine what has developed over these years in the struggle to free the Five (to be honest, not even we, the Five, could have imagined!) I really wish that now I could see his face again and show him the message that Fidel sent us recently, or mention to him the words from Alarcón about us in every event that he participates, or about the denunciation of our imprisonment by Cuban officials at all levels and the pleas from members of our own families in the most important international forums raising our case.
 
"I would not have enough time to tell him about all the examples of support and affection that comes to us from the Cuban people, and from all our compañeros from all over the world. Perhaps he knows about the great number of letters that we receive every day, but I would tell him about Andy Daniel, a Cuban child that was born with his little hands deformed and that at six years of age, writes and makes drawings for the Five. Or of the woman in that remote place in the mountains of France, that for years now sends letters to the Five every week. (She even received a response from the Pope’s office, but not from Alberto Gonzales’ office…) Or from the very old couple from London who sell
flowers from their garden to raise funds for our cause, just as many other friends around the world have done, with similar sacrifice. These are just a tiny few examples of the love and solidarity that we receive from around the world.
 
"I am certain that that FBI agent has heard about the people in Miami who, despite the challenge of overcoming the terror imposed by the Cuban American Mafia in that city, have not stopped demonstrating in favor of our liberation. I would tell him about the hundreds of solidarity committees created around the whole world, about the protests in front of U.S. consulates and embassies, or about the compañero from Philadelphia, that despite his health problems has been able, due to his insistence, to publish his letters about the Five in several newspapers. I am sure that I would still have many things to mention to him, but I would for certain tell him about the thousands of friends in the United States that, despite the pressure and intimidation of this administration against the progressive movements and those sectors that struggle for civil rights, that they are not afraid. I would point to those who will take their voices of protest for our freedom to the front door of the White House. I will tell him about all of you that are participating in the solidarity events on our behalf that has gave us so much encouragement.
 
"Without any doubt, on September 12th 1998 that FBI agent was wrong. He was wrong just like the prosecutors in our trial and all the others who lied about our mission and that underestimated you and us. Sisters and brothers: some people may say that our struggle has not been effective because the Five are still in prison, or that we are in a very bad moment because we lost an important point in our appeals. Nothing could be further from the truth. We never thought that this battle for justice was going to be easy, or short. We believe-on the contrary-that the current moment is good, and because of that we should re double our efforts. A year ago we were complaining about the strong wall of silence imposed over our case by the corporate media. In recent months that wall has been opened little by little and nobody should think that it is due to some spontaneous interest coming from the media about the Five. We owe this shift to the work that all of you have been doing and to the solidarity efforts of each one of you from all over the world.
 
On a recent occasion a dear compañera made an observation to us that in all the messages from the Five we always repeat the words "gratitude","appreciation", "thanks". and suggested that it wasn’t necessary. Because I knew she was right about that I borrowed a dictionary with synonyms to find other words, but it was in vain. We do not have any
other way to express how we feel about your support. We are immensely honored and proud for the solidarity of all of you, and we express our most profound THANKS for everything you do for us.
Hasta la Victoria Siempre!
With the revolutionary embrace of the Five, Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo, USP, Victorville, California, September 2006
 
ENDS