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03/04/2006:

"Bobby Sands and Britain's Own Gitmo, 25 Years On"

Why should we be surprised at this violation of the Magna Carta when the nation that wrote the document threw it out a quarter century ago?

The name Bobby Sands is emblazoned on the Irish psyche, 25 years after he began his hunger strike on March 1, 1981. He died 66 days later, on May 5. Nine of his comrades followed him to their graves. It is an irony of history that as we arrive at this anniversary, men have been on hunger strike in Guantanamo, being cruelly force-fed and artificially kept alive. No one wants another Bobby Sands.

Some memories fade, others remain. It was not that long ago that I arrived in Kingston, Jamaica. The first person I met was a combi-taxi driver.

'Where you comin' from, brother?'

'Ireland.'

'Ah, Ireland, Bobby Sands, the IRA is fighting for their freedom!'

I've heard many similar stories over these 25 years. Most have one thing in common: they come from people who have themselves been in struggle in places like South Africa, Palestine, Turkey and Latin America. The example of Bobby Sands still means a lot to such people. When Turkish political prisoners went on hunger strike five years ago, their secret codeword for their plans was 'Bobby Sands'.
zmag.org