Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - April 30, 1981, Winnipeg, Manitoba 4 Winnipeg free press thursday april inmates say punishment in t justified u Siva of v by Ritchie Gage two prisoners from heading Ley jail have charged that they Are being unjustly punished for their role in a prisoners grievance meeting at the medium Security institution. Brian Amoretti and Brian Morley Are currently serving their sentences in isolation cells at the provincial remand Centre at the Public safety building. The two were moved from Hea Dingley on March 5 and they claim the Transfer stems from their outspoken opinions about jail conditions at a prisoners grievance meeting feb. 27. The meeting in the jail gymnasium followed a four hour work stoppage by about two thirds of heading Ley s 300 prisoners. James Reekie assistant director of corrections confirmed the grievance concern Over Sands mounts continued from Page 1 Sands then the Little known Leader of the hundreds of convicted Irish nationalist terrorists in the Maze prison was instrumental in ending last year s Christmas season hunger strike by seven Young prisoners. He explained to other prisoners the Compromise the Ira militants claimed they had worked out with British officials about changes in rules for those who ended the hunger strike and for More than 400 other prisoners who ended their dirty pro test for political prisoner status a Campaign going Back four years. British officials have insisted that prisoners ending their protest would Only be Given the same privileges As others in the Maze including recreational Freedom of movement within each Wing the possibility of receiving vocational training instead of doing prison work and the wearing of prison supplied civilian clothes for work and their own clothes the rest of the time. Supporters of the protesting prison ers claimed the prisoners had been led to believe by intermediaries that they could choose what to Wear at All times and could opt out of prison work. They also wanted Freedom of move ment through entire prison buildings. Wear Only blankets the 415 protesting prisoners continue to refuse to dress wearing Only blankets although they no longer foul their cells with excrement. As non con forming however they Are still denied fell mail and visitor Privi Leges that constitute the rest of the hunger strikers demands. Vowing he would not Back Down As the others had in december Sands began his fast March 1, the fifth anniversary of Britain s ending of special category incarceration in prisoner of War Type Camps for catholics and protestants convicted of terrorist offences. After that All convicts in Ulster were to be treated uniformly in Ordinary prisons and jails. But More than 300 who were imprisoned before the ending of special status Are still in the old Camps near the Maze where they Wear their own clothes jog and move about freely inside barbed wire enclosures. Sources in Ireland who Are watching events just across the Border with great concern said there is the feeling in Dublin that prime minister Margaret Thatcher s government without com promising principle still could show some Token movement on one or More of the demands. Syria Israel Swap warnings continued from Page 1 syrian helicopter gunships near the lebanese Christian City of Zahl. Syrian forces continued to prevent any movement into and out of Zahl except for red Cross convoys carrying medical and other supplies. The israeli action was seen As a warning to the syrians to Stop their bid to wrest control of strategic mount san nine that overlooks the main Leba Nese Christian enclave on the Western slopes of the Lebanon Range. Syria vowed to confront the grave escalation with utmost and begin warned we will not suffice ourselves with this action to protect Israel s lebanese Christian allies. The Downing of the syrian helicopters coincided with the Start of a new round of peace talks in Beirut Between syrian foreign minister Abdul Halim khad dam and the lebanese government. Haddam also conferred with Pierre Gemayel the Leader of the phalanges party that Fields the main Christian fighting Force for the first time in three years. This development raised Hopes of a breakthrough toward resolving the conflicts dividing Lebanon since Syri an forces ended the 1975-76 civil War Between moslem and christians then began moving against the christians. Meeting took place but denied the allegations about the Transfer made through the prisoners lawyer Barry Sinder. We got information they Amoretti and Morley were muscling up other inmates for a takeover of the Reekie said. He said the free press was naive and was playing into the hands of the two prisoners who he said were looking for notoriety. I m not surprised they re taking this action they re boxed into a Cor he said. Sinder said Morley and Amoretti asked him to try and determine Why they Are serving time in the provincial remand Centre normally used for suspects awaiting court appearances in Stead of heading Ley. Wrote Minaker Sinder says he has written Manitoba corrections minister George Minaker for an explanation. My concerns Are that the men claim they Haven t been brought up on any breaches of jail regulations nor Given any explanation of Why they re serving their time in a remand Sinder said from the information he has it appears the men Are being punished for speaking out which is encouraged by the jail s administration. Reekie said the administration encourages grievance meetings and the complaints from the feb. 27 meeting were general and minor. The grievances Sinder said were about general conditions in the jail including medical counsel Ling and conditions in the exercise Yard known As the Bird when first interviewed Reekie said Amoretti and Morley were among four prisoners transferred to the remand Centre As Security risks after some bars were sawn in the common areas of their cell Block. He said there Are 19 prisoners in the cell Block off the common area and through a process of the administration decided Amoretti and Morley would gain most from escaping. He said Amoretti faces deportation to the United states when he is released shortly and Morley is being transferred to Ontario to face outstanding charges. Amoretti was sentenced on drug trafficking charges and Morley was jailed on numerous charges including break enter and theft and car theft Reekie said. He did not offer any information on two other prisoners of the Ceil Block Jessie Welsh and Steve Breland who were transferred to the remand Centre the same Day. Later in the interview when pressed about Morley s allegations about being punished for speaking out Reekie angrily disclosed that the administration believed the prisoners led by Amoretti and Morley were plotting to takeover the institution. Sinder said Morley has told him that after being transferred to the remand Centre he was without a change of clothes for 19 Days he was not allowed to mingle with the other prisoners and he was Only allowed to see visitors through a Glass partition. The lawyer also said the prisoners Are concerned because they Are not getting any exercise or fresh air. Reekie denied the prisoners were not Given a change of clothes but admitted they were being held in isolation and there were restrictions during visits. Asked if Amoretti and Morley would be allowed exercise privileges and some fresh air he said i Don t know what the plans Are in the immediate fun journalists under fire Hospital workers remove associated press photographer Joa Quin Zuniga of san Salvador from ambulance after he was wounded in the thigh by gunfire near the salvadoran capital. An american journalist was wounded in the shoulder and his salvadoran interpreter killed in the same incident. Source of the gunfire is unclear. Good things came out of fed bashing continued from Page i in a serious Way to discuss problems relative to our provincial and Western regional Economy and then Send Valen it is our obligation and our responsibility As a Check and balance in the Canadian system to respond to Otta Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed added. All four premiers noted at their final press conference that they Are working towards More co operation on common concerns. Inevitably it May Lead to a greater Unity in dealing with and criticizing the Federal government they said. Premier Sterling Lyon cited the Pur Chase of Hopper cars by Saskatchewan and Alberta and the More rapid development of the port of Prince Rupert As examples of successful provincial initiatives. These and other successes started with provincial criticism of Federal inaction he added. Knee Jerk term it May Start off to use the knee Jerk term As fed bashing but by Golly Good things came out of that fed Lyon said. Negligible growth experienced in Canada As a whole last year would have been considerably worse if it was not for the positive contribution of major Western resource the pre Miers said. They called the Western resource industries the most important impetus for economic growth in in that regard they expressed con Cern Over the Federal government s National Energy program which they said completely disregarded provincial ownership rights of resources. They were Adamant that the program must be significantly changed. The seven Public communiques is sued during the closed meeting vowed greater co operation Between the prov inces on such matters As agriculture assistance programs drought Relief and labor Market problems. The premiers also said they wanted to ensure that the West realizes the maximum possible Long term economic and Industrial benefits from major Cap ital projects being planned in the re Gion. Premiers want guarantee of Grain for Churchill port Thompson the four Western premiers yesterday urged the Federal government to set a quota ensuring at least three per cent of All Grain exports pass through the port of Churchill. In a statement at their annual Confer ence the premiers also called on the government to upgrade the Canadian National railway s line to the Hudson Bay port extend the shipping season and examine the possibility of Winter loading of the terminal to maximize throughput. Premier Sterling Lyon said he was pleased with the support of the other provinces in calling for full utilization of Churchill for Grain shipping. I Don t know of any country in the world that has Ever closed Down or tried to diminish the use of a Salt water said Lyon. That almost seems to be the policy in the premiers agreement follows a similar recommendation made by Prairie agriculture ministers in March. The proposal also has the full support of the port of Churchill development Board. The premiers also said they want problems relating to Grain transportation to Churchill from car and up rail sorted out As Well. A meeting will be held in june be tween different Levels of government and organizations to further discuss the Churchill proposal. The premiers also called for develop ment of an adequate port at Prince Rupert to handle vast Western Canad an Coal reserves. Provinces also should be Given a say in any new Federal ports legislation and the planning and management of ports they said. An important matter of co operation Between three of the provinces involves the proposed Western Power Grid but the meeting failed to produce an agree ment or significant headway on the plan. This is a highly complicated matter both in technical terms and in financial terms and All studies which will be necessary to give a definitive answer have not been completed and Ana Saskatchewan Premier Allan Blakeney said. He said it still has not been decided whether the Deal will involve a straight Purchase of Power by Alberta and Saskatchewan from Manitoba or a dedication of All the Power that a particular project he said the proposal if terms can be worked out May allow to defer construction of its next Thermal generating Plant. Manitoba Power Blakeney ruled out the possibility that Saskatchewan would want to make a profit on transporting Manitoba Power to Alberta. The current plan envisages each province owning its portion of the Grid s transmission line and Saskatchewan would seek compensation on a full Cost but no More All the premiers said the Lack of an agreement at this time should not be viewed As a setback and agreed a few More months consideration could be required before a final decision becomes critical. Supreme court termed Constitution guardian continued from Page 1 Irving also placed Quebec s Faith in the supreme court. He said the Federal government if it succeeds will get away with All the things it clearly cannot do by legislative action. This court is your lordships Are ultimate guardians of the Irving said. The Federal proposal encroaches upon the Federal nature of Canada he said. The provinces have contended since the Start of the historic Case that the nation is a Union of provinces and the Federal and provincial governments reflect two Levels of Power neither of which can limit the other without consent. Federal politicians frequently de scribe the country As a nation of individuals with a National government and provincial governments responsible for administering various Terri tories not equal partners. If the Federal principle is accepted parliament could convert Canada into a unitary Schmeiser said. Such action should not be Nova Scotia argued among other things that the amending formula pro posed by the Federal government gives Ontario and Quebec veto Power to change the new Constitution and Ren Ders two Western provinces and two Atlantic provinces irrelevant. The Federal amending formula re quires approval of Ontario Quebec the Federal government and any two of the four Western provinces and any two of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia Deputy attorney general Gordon Coles also argued that the present amending formula of unanimity among the governments on matters affecting provincial Powers works Well. He said it was by Choice that the Power to give final approval to changes in the British North America act was left to Britain. British Columbia and Prince Edward Island yesterday made Brief cases Sim Ilar to those of Manitoba and Quebec. Saskatchewan Alberta and newfound land Are to continue the Case against the Federal government today and will be joined by Manitoba s four nations confederacy. The Federal Case is next followed by new Brunswick and Ontario which Are supporting Ottawa. Manitoba gets a final reply. Botha loses voters but wins election perched High above the City of Zahl lebanese Arab soldiers watch for Christian militia activity., Johannesburg a election returns today continued the governing National party s stranglehold on the South african parliament but a Sharp drop in voter support gave prime min ister p. W. Botha the worst setback the party has suffered since coming to Power in 1948. Unofficial returns from the general election yesterday gave the conserva Tive nationalists 99 of the 165 seats in the lower House of parliament. The Liberal progressive Federal party had won 24, six More than they had in the last parliament the centrist new re Public party had five and 37 were undecided. The government television network predicted the nationalists will get 135 fewer than they held when parliament was dissolved. Despite this overwhelming majority the nationalists were getting Only about 50 per cent of the popular vote compared with 65 per cent in the last general election in 1977. The drop in the nationalist vote was attributed to growing liberalism As evidenced by the progressive Federal gains coupled with Ultra conservative dissatisfaction with Botha s cautious removal of some of the restrictions put on the non White majority by the apart Heid system of racial segregation. This in 3 Digger vote Ultra rightist reconstituted National party and an increase in the number of voters who stayed away from the polls. Although the reconstituted nationalists appeared unlikely to win a seat they were tripling the votes they got in the last election. And in several districts they ran close races. The liberals scored a major upset with the defeat of Dawie de Villiers the minister of Commerce Industry and tourism. He was the first Cabinet minister Defeated since 1948. No official figures on the voter turn out were available but an associated press tally indicated the 1977 figure of 65 per cent would not be reached. About half of South Africa s five million Whites Are registered voters. The 23 million non Whites do not have the vote. Botha 65, told the South african broadcasting corp. That we will now continue with the direction that we have taken and we will not be diverted from our leaders of the vote less non White population considered the election and Botha s piecemeal reforms meaning less. The changes included allowing Blacks to form labor unions and to mix with Whites in some social settings ;