Scorpion Tanks Deployed At Shannon

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Thursday June 24, 2004 13:37 by AmBush info at amubush2004 dot org 087 6277606

Provocative and dangerous, says former army officer

Seven Scorpion tanks have arrived at Shannon Airport in advance of tomorrow’s visit by US president George Bush.

The tanks are part of the Irish army’s First Tank Squadron, according to anti-war activist Edward horgan, who is himself a former commander of that very squadron.

Mr horgan, who followed the tanks from Limerick to Shannon between 10 and 11 am this morning (Thursday), described it as “provocative and dangerous” and called for their withdrawal.

“It is absolutely inappropriate that tanks would be used for riot control,” Mr horgan said.

“The only other case I’m aware of where tanks were used for riot control was by the Indonesian military in Aceh, when the tanks were used to kill hundreds of protestors.”

AmBush spokesperson Dermot Sreenan pointed out that “the European Convention on Human Rights Act, which Bertie Ahern signed Ireland up to on January 1st this year, guarantees the right to peaceful protest. The Act actually obligates the police to facilitate peaceful protest.”

"What kind of facilitation of peaceful protest is it to deploy tanks against a group of protestors living in tents? Tanks against tents is more a case of intimidation than facilitation.”