Belfast Anti War Movement

antrim | anti-war / imperialism | news report Saturday November 29, 2003 11:15 by Davy Carlin - W/Belfast SWP carlindavid at hotmail dot com

Last nights protest against Tim Collins

On a wet miserable Friday night about 70 protesters braved the elements to 'welcome' Tim Collins. Trade unionists who had played the leading role in the days mass walkouts of civil servants joined other anti war activists at Queens University.

Below is a summary of the report in todays Ulster Newsletter.

Anti War protesters gave British army officer, Col Tim Collins a raw reception last nights at a Queens University alumni dinner where he was guest speaker.

An arrangement agreed with police beforehand for leaflets to be handed out behind the tight security cordon { handed out behind it anyway} was called of as protesters stormed across the front lawn of the university that had been of limits. Around a dozen security staff with police held back the protesters at the cordon.

Anine Fox spokesperson from the Belfast Anti War Movement said,

'I think it is important to be here because Tim Collins is here. And I think we as anti war activists have to make our voices heard,'. Bush and Blair lied about the existence of weapons of mass destruction'.

A spokesperson for Queens said the event was organised by the graduates association, not the university and that the association was making no comment.

An MOD spokesperson said Tim Collins was atteneding the event as a 'private individual'.