Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis: Anti-War Demo

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Wednesday October 08, 2003 18:16

by Dominic Carroll - Clonakilty Against the War

clonakiltyagainstthewar at eircom dot net

The Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis in Killarney this Saturday presents a useful opportunity to protest against government collusion in the war against, and continued occupation of, Iraq.

Tralee anti-war group has called a picket, and the Irish Anti-War Movement AGM (held less than a fortnight ago) pledged its support. However, very little is being done to build for the picket (IAWM Website has failed to actively promote the protest – the leading articles concern the anti-war petition and the European Social Forum – and the bus from Dublin has been cancelled due to lack of take-up). The fact that an anti-bin charges demonstration is due to take place in Dublin at the same time will further affect the turn-out in Tralee.

Another problem likely to affect the protest in Tralee on Saturday (as it did the march in Dublin two Saturdays ago) is the defeatism affecting many people – though by no means all – within the movement, though this is being termed/disguised as “burn-out”. For reasons only too obvious, many people – though by no means all – simply can’t summon up the energy for Iraq at the moment. This is not a failing – rather, an understandable state of affairs. However, the circumstances that gave rise to the anti-war movement have only altered in one respect: the US has finished bombing Iraq and “only” bombs Afghanistan periodically. The nature of the problem, then, has changed, not diminished. An example of how the problem persists was given today when the Turkish parliament offered 20,000 troops for the occupation of Iraq, following a deal with the US for the eradication of the PKK in Iraq and a bribe of around 8 billion dollars.

So why the defeatism? Presumably because the US seems to be getting away with it, because our government is being let off for helping, and because the 150,000 who marched on 15 February haven’t marched since. Reason enough to give up, it would seem, unless you believe, as I and many others do, that the situation is so disgusting that not to protest (even in small numbers) is nearly as bad, and that – given a long, focussed campaign – it’s possible to extricate Ireland from its bit-part role in the real ‘axis of evil’ (US–UK–Spain–Italy–Poland–Turkey–etc.).

Everyone of an anti-war disposition need to become self-motived (as has been the case with so much anti-war activity). Simply remind yourself of what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, what’s been done to the people of these countries, what’s being planned for them, and of how this country is facilitating it as best it can. And please make an effort to get to Killarney on Saturday.

Our demands are simple:
* US Military out of Shannon
* No Irish troops for the occupation of Iraq
* Drop all charges of civil disobedience

For transport details:
Dublin: Colm: 087 2947100
Cork: Fintan: 087 1258325
West Cork: Dominic: 086 3667275

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Comments (12 of 12)

Cork transport to Killarney anti-war demo

by Cork Anti-War Campaign

Wed Oct 08, 2003 17:02

corkantiwar at hotmail dot com

087 1258325

The Cork Anti-War Campaign is organising transport from the city to the demonstration at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis in Killarney this coming Saturday. Picket begins at 2pm.

For details of transport from Cork city, phone Fintan Lane at 087 1258325

what is the function of an national organisation?

by barry

Thu Oct 09, 2003 06:49

What's the point in the existance of a national organisation like the IAWM if it cannot underwrite the cost of a single bus to a major anti-war protest opportunity.

The IAWM is now the centralised focus for anti-war fundraising in Ireland, what is the purpose of all that funding if they cannot come up with E500 to gaurantee the cost of a bus to Kilarney from Dublin (especially since it would have to cross half the country and could have picked up passengers along the way).

Would they have been as slow to pick up the credit had the bus been full as they seem to be about picking up the tab in case of a few empty seats?

I trust this issue will be borne in mind when they come begging for funds to support 'Anti-War' candidates in next years Local/European elections.

intelectual giants

by not an idiot, unlike some here

Thu Oct 09, 2003 10:11

"real ‘axis of evil’ (US–UK–Spain–Italy–Poland–Turkey–etc" - tha anti-war muppet who posted this my like to know that tukey oppossed the war with the parliment refusing to allow free passage of american soliders through turkish lands. If the extreme anti-war people make basic mistakes about the war to remove saddam, no wonder everyon in ireland ignores them

Axis of Evil: If the Cap Fits

Thu Oct 09, 2003 12:12

Turkey's refusal to join the 'Coalition' hardly exonerates it.

First, Turkey commanded the ISAF occupation force in Afghanistan from June 2002–February 2003.

Second, its genocidal war against the Kurds led to at least 30,000 deaths and over a million people displaced from their homes.

Third, its incursions in recent years into Iraq to murder and capture Kurds is no secret.

And fourth (the point of my initial posting), Turkey is now preparing to send 20,000 occupation troops into Iraq in return for the US agreeing to ‘eradicate’ (i.e. destroy, murder, call it what you will) the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK).

I think all of the above more than qualifies Turkey for membership of the US-led ‘Axis of Evil’ (the phrase is absurd, of course, but I didn't come up with it).

Strange

by Greedo

Fri Oct 10, 2003 04:28

I cannot see why Burma or North Korea are not in your sights?

Are they out of fashion?

SWP and the anti-war movement

by IMC reader

Fri Oct 10, 2003 12:21

having squeezed their share of raw recruits and paper sellers out of the war issue, the SWP are now jumping on the next bandwagon (bin tax) and working to split and damage another campaign.
with friends like thse who needs enemies?

IMC reader is wrong

by SWP fan

Fri Oct 10, 2003 12:40

We have all the correct answers. Other people advocating tactics that might win this campaign are wrong.
But we will come around to supporting these views when summing up the campaign.
Well that's what we did during the poll tax in the UK and in the IAWM when advocating full support for the direct action people, even though we denounced them at every available opportunity.

action proposal - legal and PR

by Tim

Fri Oct 10, 2003 17:02

under repair at the moment.

one that can be freely discussed without risking the element of surprise.

if ye have a spare five minutes, go to the link, read (and probably amend) the criminal complaint form against bertie, print it off.

bring it to Killarney tomorrow and we can all go down the local cop shop and hand them in.

looks fluffy, takes little effort on our part but it is a serious complaint, (has been looked at and approved by a solicitor, and is in Garda form C8 format) so they have to take it.

Just sign it in front of the desk sgt, have the desk sgt sign as witness and ASK for a photocopy (that way they can't just bin it)

one or two of these already went to the DPP.
I think that pile needs to get larger, don't you?

it would also make good PR.

I'll have a bunch of these forms with me tomorrow too.

see you there.

bus to killarney

by Aoife Ní Fhearghail - IAWM

Sat Oct 11, 2003 18:53

info at irishantiwar dot org

D6W

087 7955013

clarification to barry (no secondname) above, only 1 person booked a seat on the bus by our booking deadline. 1 other person rang up after the deadline had expired. That would have been a lot of empty seats.

Aoife

by -

Sat Oct 11, 2003 19:48

it really is amazing how many times it comes down to empty seats.
breaking news.

Did you book a seat Aoife?

by Jack

Sat Oct 11, 2003 23:07

And if not,why not? What about RBB? Anybody remember him?

Gis an answer Aoife

by Jack again

Sun Oct 12, 2003 22:39

Did you book a seat on Killarney bus? Did RBB? Did Colm Stephens who was taking names? Did Kieran Allan? Did any of aforementioned go?

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Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis: Anti-War Demo

Comments (12 of 12)