Government accused of using army to intimidate anti-war campaigners

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday February 04, 2003 15:25 by Justin Moran - Sinn Fein maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

Also, party reaction to protest in Shannon yesterday morning

Speaking at a press conference organised by Ogra Shinn Féin against the war on Iraq Sinn Féin spokesperson on International Affairs Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has slammed the proposed use of the Irish Army for duty at Shannon Airport as an act of "intimidation" designed to frustrate the anti-war effort in Ireland and to defend the breaching of Irish neutrality. Praising the efforts of young people in showing their opposition to the war and the use of Shannon Airport by the US military he said, "Ógra Shinn Féin, the Peace Campers, and all other young anti-war activists should be commended for the courage of their convictions."

Deputy Ó Snodaigh said: "It is always young people who lead the way and take
the first stand against war and injustice. Young anti-war activists in this
state and throughout the island, in America itself, and all over the world who
are mobilising to stop this unjust war are to be commended for the courage of
their convictions. This government has grossly underestimated the breadth and
depth of Irish and international opposition to this impending war.

"It is incredible that the Cabinet is this morning considering the deployment of
Irish troops against Irish citizens to protect foreign war planes. Such
intimidation of the anti-war movement is unacceptable."

Commenting on yesterday events at Shannon Airport he said, "it is wrong to
characterise the actions of these protestors as violent. They were purely
symbolic. Nobody was harmed. Trevor Sargent has described the incidents as
regrettable. What is regrettable is that these activists felt compelled to
resort to such direct actions because their own government is not listening, and
refuses to acknowledge that opposition to this war is growing. There is nothing
wrong in a campaign of civil disobedience if those engaged in it are morally
justified in doing so.

"The real wrong in all of this is that the Government is pursuing a policy
against the wishes of the people of this state and in violation of the
Constitution and the laws of this land. It is a policy that the Taoiseach
himself acknowledges is all about money and not principle. Put simply Irish
neutrality and an independent foreign policy are being exchanged for 40% of the
business of Shannon Airport. Irish wages are to be paid for with the blood of
innocent Iraqi men, women and children. That is the real crime in all of this ?
not some minor damage to a plane that shouldn't even be here in the first
place."

Commenting further on the fact that the Dáil is today considering new
legislation under which yesterday's protesters could be charged as terrorists
the Dublin South Central TD went on to say, "Sinn Féin will be opposing the new
Terrorist Offences Bill as a draconian piece of legislation that is being rushed
through the Dáil with undue haste."