Independent Media Centre Ireland http://www.indymedia.ie

more people arrested at Glengad beach

mayo | environment | news report

Thursday September 04, 2008 23:57

by r

Gardaí announced tonight that they had made eight arrests on Glengad beach earlier this evening (Thursday September 4th).

Once again, it is not clear if the protesters have been arrested or simply "detained" under the public order act.

high security - gardai at the Bellanaboy refinery site

Gardaí announced that they have made a number of arrests during the continuing protests over preparatory works for the laying of the controversial Corrib gas pipeline.

At about 7pm opponents of the Shell scheme to install an expeimental pipeline in an unstable bog landscape, took part in a peaceful demonstration and during this, arrests were made and protesters were transported to Belmullet Station.

Comments (2 of 2)

well done, people

by lulu

Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:22

The bravery of Shell to Sea's activists is a grand example - Irish & international protestors are showing up the Gardai & Shell's lack of regard for human life & safety. Look out Gards! How will you continue to operate without popular support?

Tactics

by tara - people

Mon Sep 08, 2008 19:01

The detention vs arrest tactic is a new and disturbing one. It looks maybe softer, because there is no arrest, though it is a tactic developing, where People's are impeded and not given a reason why. Without an arrest, there is the question of how to go about a legal defense...there was no arrest. Though it is definitely impeding the right of the public to move freely on community beach, and also the right to speak freely for the safety of future generations.

My worry is that the Garda may be following in the footsteps of the US police force, which has become increasingly brutal. As a sovereign country, Ireland has the right to keep Irish natural resources for the future generations of Ireland. Also the history of Ireland is far different than that of US, in that in Ireland, it was a revolution fought by the Indigenous publeachta na hEirin. In the US, it was a revolution fought by colonists resisting having to pay taxes to the British govt. The US constitution was based on the Indigenous Peoples of this nation, where the Haudenosaunee have been practicing the Great Law of Peace long before the US revolution. The US police and military have historically been used in the US to keep down the Indigenous Peoples, continuing genocide tactics today to obtain Indigenous resources by multinational corporations. Now Ireland is again being ravaged for her precious natural resources, and again, the People are only in the way of the profits. The Irish being the Indigenous People of Ireland, have more rights to stand against Shell. It is not an issue of environmentalism, it is an Indigenous issue, and as such, the Indigenous People of Ireland have rights according to the UN declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
http://www.cwis.org/drft9329.html

There for the local fisherman and Indigenous farmers of the region have a tool to invoke and lever against the raiding and pillaging International corporation. As for the Gardai, they are paid by the taxes of the Irish in the hard one republic. Only the Irish know how to best take care of that one.

In the US of America, political pressure was put upon the courts with charges brought against the police, and then by judge, the police were ordered to pay settlements when false arrests or brutality take place. It has not always worked, in many incidents that are race related, there has been no recompense. Recently, video footage of police abusing the laws that they are paid to uphold has been used by relentless lawyers (solicitors) as irrefutable proof.