RULES OF THE BELFAST CENTRAL RELATIVES ACTION COMMITTEE FOR THE RETENTION OF POLITICAL STATUS FOR REPUBLICAN AND REPUBLICAN SOCIALIST PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE SIX OCCUPIED COUNTIES OF IRELAND.

(1) The Relatives Action Committee was set up on Easter Monday 1976. The committee was established to defend the political status of Republican and Republican Socialist P.O.W's. Our immediate demand is that political status should be retained and extended to all prisoners who are in jail because of their opposition to British interference in Irish affairs. We further demand that there be a total amnesty for all Irish political prisoners. We finally demand the withdrawal of all British troops from Ireland and the re-establishment of a 32 county Republic as proclaimed in Easter 1916. In making these demands we are asking that Irish and World opinion recognise that a war of National Liberation is being waged in Ireland. The demands for British withdrawal and amnesty are therefore an inseparable part of a campaign to secure Irish freedom.

(2) The R.A.C. should concern itself with all matters concerning the arrest, interrogation, trial and sentencing of prisoners and their rights and conditions pending a general amnesty. Recognising that all these matters relate to the British policy of "CRIMINALISATION".

(3) The R.A.C. seeks to mobilise National and International opinion behind these objectives.

(4) The R.A.C. is organised in local branches which will carry out the agreed tasks of the organisation. Membership is open to persons who support the aims and objects of the R.A.C. Branch meetings are held weekly and voting at branches is left to the discretion of local committees. Branches where attendance at meetings falls below 3 over a period of one month should inform the centre and ask for help to build up local branch. If however strengthening is impossible then the branch should amalgamate with its nearest branch.

(5) The Central committee shall consist of not more than two voting delegates from each area branch plus elected officers and shall organise and go-ordinate activity to secure the aims and objectives of the R.A.C. The officer board shall consist of Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and P.R.O. who will carry out the usual duties of such officers. The officers will be elected for a period of six months. They will be elected by the central committee. Only branch delegates and elected officers shall be entitled to vote at central meetings.

(6) The central committee may appoint sub-committees as may be deemed necessary, to carry out particular tasks. Each sub-committee shall report an their activities each centre meeting.

(7) Political parties who support the objectives of the R.A.C. are permitted to send an observer as liaison officer without voting rights.

(8) The officer board are responsible for maintaining effective contact with other R.A.C. groups and any other groups and parties who support the struggle for political status.

(9) Responsibility for carrying out the decisions of the Central Committee rests with the Chairperson and the officer board.

Central Relatives Action Committee