Siege of Hillsborough

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday April 07, 2003 15:10 by siege of hillsborough

for those arriving

Just to repeat, for those arriving for the *Siege of Hillsborough* we have set up on short notice a centre to come to, a legal support team, and a housing and welcome contact number, and hopefully soon some better internet connectivity. bring your pots and pans! #Housing,Info & Welcome line (General info)07720863770 #Legal Support Contact Line 07773918535 #Media contact 07773918589 #Buses from Belfast info 07817802438

the centre is at 1/5 Donnegal Lane opposite the Front Page pub on Donnegal Str. aka "Giros"

The Daily Mirror published some disinformation that the siege would be moved to the US consulate in Belfast but it is going ahead as planned.

the majority of people will be arriving 6pm with pots & pans at the Sprucefield shopping centre, two miles from the castle which is where the press is being kept [in the parking lot outside a McDonalds]. Closer to Hillsborough now has quite a bit of security including disruptions of motorway traffic.

So far only two minor arrests (Both persons are already out of custody)supposedly grabbed by police sometime late last night somewhere near the City Hall/US consulate while on their way walking home.

In town Belfast traffic is disrupted by Bomb scares phoned in to the authorities. Most of the city is one large traffic jam moving at walking speed.

If you're journalist see also Press Release & additional press contacts below
phone: [+44] 07773918589

PRESS RELEASE
The Siege of Hillsborough Castle
Monday the 7th of April.
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The Arrival of George Bush and Tony Blair at Hillsborough Castle is to be met with little welcome from the public of Northern Ireland. People are already arriving from all over Britain and Ireland to 'lay siege' to Hillsborough Castle.

Some tactics discussed, during the hectic two days of planning since information of their arrival was leaked to the media, include naked pieing of the the president and prime minister, traditional banging of pots & pans, dustbin lids, and lambeg drums.

Northern Irish opposition to the War on Iraq is part of a Global Anti War Majority opposing what continues to be an unnecessary and illegal war. Furthermore, the peace credentials of Geoge Bush are met with serious skepticism by many here who have worked on the ground, long and hard, to establish a difficult and precarious peace.

Media Contact Numbers:

"Siege of Hillsborough" Pressline #1 [+44] 07773918589
("Siege of Hillsborough" Pressline #2 [+44] 07729785327)
Irish Anti-War Movement [+44] 07977924321
Justice Not Terror Coalition [+44] 07715110517

Related Irish Anti-War Movement Contacts:

Shannon Airport Civil Disobedience Pressline [+353] 061365871

For further information on the global anti-war majority:
The epicenter [+1] 415 722 1846

See also Independent Media Ireland at: http://ireland.indymedia.org

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Points for journalists:

1) Beyond its own borders the USA is rapidly using up the goodwill it acquired on september 11th.

2) It is widely acknowledged that war in the middle east will feed oppostition to the United States interests worldwide and birth the next generation of anti-western 'terrorists'.

3) Despite attempts to whip up patriotic fervour and an create an atmosphere where dissent to globalisation can be clamped down upon popular opposition to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) continues to grow.