“Support Patxi Ruiz” – MacCoitir

Basque political prisoner, Patxi Ruiz, begins the ninth day of a hunger and thirst strike. He has been imprisoned since 1998 and like most Basque political prisoners he has been in different gaols in Spain.

Pádraic MacCoitir was in the Basque Country in 2017 speaking with ex-prisoners and the families of current prisoners. “I was very impressed with the support groups and after speaking at a number of public rallies I got a far better understanding of how the prison regime treated not only the prisoners but their families.”

“We are only too aware of the system of ‘ghosting’ which Irish political prisoners endured in England and for this system to happen in Spain and France is a disgrace.”

MacCoitir spoke of the hunger strikers Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg and saw many similarities between them and Patxi Ruiz. “The screws in English gaols treated the prisoners very harshly and they were supported by doctors and nurses as they force-fed those on hunger strike. Patxi Ruiz was taken to the prison hospital a number of weeks ago for serious injuries and whilst there the doctors and nurses didn’t treat him properly. They have been verbally abusing him and he has embarked on the hunger and thirst strike seeking better treatment.”

Lasair Dhearg are calling for Irish Republicans to support Patxi Ruiz and his demand for better treatment.