South Armagh

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Bernadette McAliskev speaks at a H.Rinck domn EVERY two weeks the H Block Committees hold a demonstration in support of the hunger strikers. Each demonstration takes place in a different part of the six counties.

This Sunday we are to march in South Armagh from Camlough (where the family of dead hunger striker Ray MacCreesh have their home) to Belleek the home of hunger striker Paddy Quinn.

Four coaches are booked from ( ifferent parts of ann исто Belfast but when they meet up on the Andersonstown Road there are only enough people to fill one coach. The expense of coach trip every fortnight is taking its toll, particularly on the unemployed. And there is a growing feeling that the demonstrations are pointless as Thatcher seems as inflexible as ever.

But when we arrive at Camlough there are enough people from other areas to make up a respectable sized demonstration.

This is important as one aim of the demonstration is to boost morale in the area.

As the march forms up with a piper at the front followed by flag bearers carrying the Starry Plough, Sunburst and Tricolour, and followed by a dozen young • women carrying portraits of the hunger strikers the inevitable army helicopter, drones overhead.

The march sets off through the rugged very beautiful countr yside of South Armagh - "B andit Country" as the Brits would have it.

The marchers take up the centre and right hand side of the road. Banners proclaim support for the hunger strikers from Andersonstown, Newry, Short Strand and from all over South Armagh.

We pass the spot where Frankie Hughes lay injured for 15 hours before the Brits finally captured him and sent him on his way through the "H Block conveyor"

Unfortunately there are no villages on the route so the march does not swell very much with supporters along the way. Two hours and six miles later the march enters the village of Belleek A large tricolour hangs from a building in the centre of the village and a lorry trailer serves as a platform.

A variety of flags fly from makeshift poles at the back of the trailer and a tannoy system has been set up around the village.

As the marchers arrive, the towns named on their banners are read out over the tannoy and the helicopter which disappeared shortly after the march began makes its noisy return.

It is impossible to conduct ar y outdoor political activity in the six counties IAN S visited as Mar H-Blor withoul whine of head.

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But it : diction ol Next, brother striker, to fight / British the priso that his other hu live.

He is : MacCree Ray, wi pondent i He hi trom An tives of t have bee for the ca They present i Joe: =1 previous. that it i and not.

people m ed to .

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whole road marching in three columns on the left,