URGENT: Demonstration at Israeli embassy tonight

by WCA Tue Jul 15, 2003 19:10

Colm Walsh is a Dublin based activist with Working Class Action and is in Palestine for two months working with the International Solidarity Movement. He is sending back regular reports on the situation there.

ARREST OF SEAN O'MUIREAGAIN IN RAMALLAH (15th July 2003)

Yesterday I was informed of the arrest of West Belfast man Sean O' Muireagain at a checkpoint in Ramallah on Sunday. The details at this point are a bit sketchy but it would appear that Mr O' Muireagain was here in the West Bank on assignment for Belfast-based Irish language newspaper, La, and to work on a school links project.

He is, according to Palestine activists in Belfast, a long-standing member of Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and unaffiliated to any dissident Republican groups.

Why then, only hours after his arrest, is he portrayed by Henry McDonald of The Observer as a high profile member of the Real IRA with extensive explosive-making skills who was in Ramallah to establish links with Palestinian groups opposed to the so-called Road Map?

It has since emerged that he shares the same name as a member of the Reals who has been out of circulation for some time, according to security sources. Fairly slim grounds then for the assumption that Mr O' Muireagain is the same person. Or are there more sinister forces at play here? A quick glance at Henry McDonald's record for a start shows him to hardly be the most impartial or reliable journalistic source.

Further to this, the attempted smear of Sean O'Muireagain may well be proof of a concerted effort by British and Israeli security services to blacken the name of anybody who is willing to observe the conditions under which Palestinians are forced to live under Israeli occupation, with, it has to be said, British and American compliance and support.

Just now 6 internationals are being detained and threatened with deportation for the removal of an illegal roadblock.

Just what is it that the Israeli government is trying to hide by denying access to international observers in Palestine? Are they afraid, perhaps, that they will be exposed for their cotinuing oppression and land-grabbing in the West Bank while the rest of the world is duped into believing that the Peace Process poses the solution to the conflict here.

ENDS.
___________

Colm

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More information on Working Class Action at http://www.geocities.com/wcaireland.

by Sean Keegan Tue Jul 15, 2003 19:20

Why was this man travelling on a British passport ? Does he consider himself British, not Irish ?

by Tadgh Mac an Tsaoir Tue Jul 15, 2003 19:39

and at the same time Sharon visits Blair in London?
Oh, Tony, these pesky Irish.

by Seán Wed Jul 16, 2003 09:54

It is not uncommon for someone from the north to travel on a British passport even they consider themselves Irish.
Many do it as in the past it was less hassle and it still is cheaper to get a British passport.
However in Johnboy's case he was travelling on his British passport as he thought it won't be easier to enter Palestine with it.
He does not consider himself British.