Three US warplanes at Shannon

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Saturday April 28, 2007 23:24

by Edward Horgan - Peace and Neutrality Alliance

Make US abuse of Shannnon airport an election issue

Saturday 28 April 2007 was a quiet day at Shannon. Relatively few civilian passengers going through (most civilian customers of Shannon have been attracted to Dublin airport over the past few years). The US military are once again increasing their use or abuse of Shannon airport, in a supposedly neutral state. Three US warplanes were present at Shannon, one North American US troop carrier, one US military executive jet, which could be carrying anyone from a US general guilty of war crimes in Iraq or Afghanistan or prisoners for torture to or from Guantanamo.
Now is the time to make Ireland's complicity in crimes against humanity an election issue.

US military executive Shannon 28 Apr 07

As part of our ongoing monitoring of US military and CIA use of Shannon airport Edward Horgan and Conor Cregan went to Shannon airport on Sat 28 Apr 07. We arrived about 1230 pm and noticed a North American troop carrier at Gate 42 getting ready for take off. It later left the airport at about 1pm. Parked in the centre of the airfield, in the not-so-secure, secure area, being guarded by an Irish army patrol, was a US military executive jet. We drove up to the arrivals building and observed these aircraft from the upstairs viewing areas, and took some photos. As we were leaving, an Omni Air International US troop carrier arrived and proceeded to part at Gate 42.
Because of the ongoing serious misuse of Shannon airport by the US military and its suspected use also by the CIA for the possible transporting of prisoners to and from Guantanamo Bay prison, Edward Horgan went to Shannon Garda station, and requested that the two US warplanes still at the airport should be searched. The statement below was taken down by Garda Lena Standish.

Statement by Edward Horgan at Shannon Garda Station on 28 Apr 07.

I Edward Horgan of the above address request that OMNI Air International US troop-carrying aircraft presently at Gate 42 or thereabouts, and also a US military executive jet parked in the centre of the airfield, under Irish Army guard, should both be searched by Gardai as soon as possible for the following reasons:
1. to ensure that no prisoners are being unlawfully taken through Shannon airport by the CIA or others
2. to ensure that no dangerous munitions including depleted uranium are being transported through Shannon airport
3. to establish whether any US troops who may have been guilty of crimes against humanity in Iraq or Afghanistan may be on board these aircraft
4. to detain any US troops on board these aircraft because they are in breach of Ireland’s obligations under international laws on neutrality, particularly the Hague Convention V 1907.

I have been invited to make amendments and I do not wish to do so. This statement has been read over to me and it is correct.

Signed: Edward Horgan

Lena Standish Garda 31838H

Omni Air International US Troop Carrier Shannon 28 Apr 07