RSF supports Maura Harrington and her community

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Wednesday September 10, 2008 10:26 by Des Dalton - Republican Sinn Fein saoirse at iol dot ie 223 Parnell St Dublin 1 01 8729747

Republican Sinn Fein supports Maura Harrington

The decision of Maura Harrington to embark on a hunger strike is a brave and completely selfless act which has focussed attention on the theft of natural resources which is being carried out by a mulit-national company with the active collusion of the 26-County state. Maura Harrington has been a tireless campaigner and advocate for social, political and economic justice throughout her adult life and has now taken the ultimate step in upholding the rights of her community and the Irish people. We join the calls for the immediate removal of the pipe laying ship Solitaire from Broadhaven bay - which Maura Harrington has stated is required before she will end her hunger strike

As Maura Harrington has pointed out the campaign against the Shell Corrib gas pipeline is not simply an issue for the people of Erris or Co Mayo, it is an issue for all of the Irish people. What is at stake here is the right of the Irish people to the ownership of their natural resources.

At a time when gas and oil prices are soaring beyond the reach of many ordinary working class people, the action of the Dublin administration in handing over such a valuable natural resource for the profit of a notorious multi-national like Shell is immoral and a betrayal of the welfare and interests of the Irish nation.

Republican Sinn Féin fully supports and applauds the outstanding commitment to her community and nation shown by Maura Harrington and we extend her our solidarity. We call on people throughout Ireland to support Maura and the Shell to Sea campaign by joining the protests, boycotting Shell, lobbying their local public representatives and the media. Corrib gas belongs to the Irish people.