Anti-war movement condemns heavy handed policing

national | racism & migration related issues | press release Friday May 19, 2006 12:56 by Irish Anti War Movement - Irish Anti War Movement

Calls for political asylum for hunger strikers

The Irish Anti War Movement condemns the heavy police presence at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Hundreds of police arrived this morning at what has been a completely peaceful protest by the Afghan hunger strikers and by protestors maintaining a vigil outside the Cathedral.

Irish Anti War Movement
Po Box 9260, Dublin 1. Tel: (01) 872 7912

Press Release
19/05/06

Anti-war movement condemns heavy handed policing
Calls for political asylum for hunger strikers

For comment contact Richard Boyd Barrett at 0876329511

The Irish Anti War Movement condemns the heavy police presence at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Hundreds of police arrived this morning at what has been a completely peaceful protest by the Afghan hunger strikers and by protestors maintaining a vigil outside the Cathedral.

This is particularly galling as many of these hunger strikers have been traumatized by torture and intimidation at the hands of the military and police in their escape from the war-zone that is Afghanistan. In 2005 1500 civilians were killed in Afghanistan, security is worse now than it has been in the previous two years as evidenced by the increase in the number of attacks on US troops.

If anyone on the planet has a claim to asylum it is the Afghans. Afghanistan is a country where according to the UN 70% of the population is malnourished. It is a country where every 30 minutes a woman dies from pregnancy related causes. 600 children under the age of 5 die every day. 20% of all children die before the age of 5, most from preventable diseases.

Amnesty International reports that returning refugees number 1.6million from Pakistan and 350,000 from Iran. There is no basic infrastructure like housing or schools to support for them. The Irish government will condemn these 41 people to the most barbaric and insecure existence if it deports them to Afghanistan.

At a time when Bertie Ahern is calling for an amnesty for illegal Irish emigrants in the US, it beggars belief how the Irish government is treating these asylum seekers.

For comment and confirmation phone Richard Boyd Barrett 0876329511