Tsar’s ‘indoctrination’ of children warning ahead of hunger strike commemorations

The NI Commissioner for Children and Young People said all children had a right to “access information in a balanced and open manner”.

A series of events, organised by the Bobby Sands Trust, is scheduled to take place between March and October – marking 40 years since the Maze prison hunger strike of 1981.

They include a junior GAA tournament in the Turf Lodge area of west Belfast, involving clubs from areas associated with the IRA and INLA hunger strikers, talks by former IRA leaders, including Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane, and an evening in south Down where children will perform “music, songs and ballads on the hunger strikes”.

The programme describes the ‘Laughter of Our Children’ event south Down as taking place on May 5.

It states: “Each song will seek to incorporate imagery on the men and woman that were on hunger strike at the time. The use of young people in the event will act as an educational tool for them and others around our history and the sacrifices that were made.”

Ten members of the IRA and INLA had died by the time the prison protest ended in early October 1981. However, dozens of people – including police, soldiers and civilians – were killed as a result of an upsurge in violence as community tensions increased during the hugely emotive hunger strikes.

In the foreword to the programme of events, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald says: “Surrounded by brutality, naked but for a blanket, they refused to be bound by any prison”.

Commissioner Yiasouma said everyone organising commemoration events should respect children’s rights.

“We must all be mindful that children have a right to have a say in decision making, to access information in a balanced and open manner, to participate in cultural commemorations, and most importantly to be kept safe,” she said.

“When involving children and young people, adults must take account of their age and inherent vulnerability. There should always be the clear aim of education and it should never veer toward any form of indoctrination. It should allow young people to interpret what they hear themselves, in the light of their current context in 2021.

“Some children and young people will want to be involved, and they have a right to be. Some children and young people won’t want to be involved – and they have a right to this decision too.”

Ms Yiasouma added: “Others will want to engage in discussions about these matters, but may come to conclusions about the past that do not sit well with their elders in their communities – it is their right to do this also.

“Many of these commemoration events will not involve government agencies and as such are outside NICCY’s remit, but the commissioner trusts parents and guardians will make the right decisions for their children and always have their best interests at heart.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor