Demonstration against militarist celebration

antrim | anti-war / imperialism | press release

Wednesday October 29, 2008 11:36

by Belfast WSM

Anarchists organise Anti-War Demonstration
Politicians of all sides show hypocrisy

The Workers Solidarity Movement,(WSM), an anarchist organsiation, will be holding a public demonstration this Sunday in opposition to the Ministry of Defences decision to hold a march celebrating the occupation and continued atrocities in Afganistan

Spokeperson sean Matthews said today.

“The Ministry of Defence has deliberately sought to manipulate existing divisions within Northern Ireland, in an attempt to bolster support, at any cost, for its massively unpopular wars of aggression. Several council authorities across the UK have refused to allow military parades that essentially seek to legitimise the murder of hundreds of thousand of civilians, and which the vast majority of citizens oppose. We stand in solidarity with such opposition and with over 150 soldiers of the RIR who refused to partake in these war by going AWOL. Serving soldiers should be publicly encouraged and supported to disobey orders and refuse to be cannon fodder in the interests of imperialism, careerist politicians and generals”

Commenting on the reaction from various parties sitting at Stormont, he said
“As our elected political elites continue to squabble over the realm of sectarian politics in the north, this showcase of militarism provides a useful deflection from their failure to improve the lives of working people in the midst of an economic recession. Billions spent on militarism could be spend on our health education and social housing. It is hypocritical and opportunistic of Sinn Fein to oppose this parade considering their eagerness to wine and dine, and roll out the red carpet for their commander in chief George Bush and Gordon Brown during their last visit”

As anti-militarists the WSM reject the scaremongering and gun-boat diplomacy and Matthews pointed out the inconsistency and duplicity from unionist politicians, who he said are “creating an climate of fear and intolerance, and recently traded support for the failed attempt to intern individuals for up to 42 days in back door deals at Westminster so that women cannot have full reproductive rights over there bodies. The hypocrisy of mainstream parties suggests that they all see some lives are worth more than others as unionist support for this march clearly demonstrates”

Referring to others planning to oppose the RIR March, Matthews said
“WSM have nothing in common with rival republican organisations seeking to ‘outgun’ each other over the reactionary mantle of nationalism. The WSM is equally opposed to the oppressive role of imperialism under the British Army and the blight of militarism still endured by working-class communities at the hands of paramilitary organisations”

Calling for cross-community action against both wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the spokeperson commented“We ask anyone who opposes sectarianism, nationalism (either British or Irish) and imperialism, to join us in opposition to the parade this Sunday 2nd November at 11am sharp. Assemble outside the front of Tesco’s supermarket on Royal Avenue in Belfast city centre. Bring banners and make some noise”

ENDS

www.wsm.ie

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Comments (7 of 7)

question

by francis hughes

Mon Nov 03, 2008 21:55

thats a really great way of getting people to support your ideology... talkin about them 'up north', very partitionist and equating republicanism to sectarianism, what? im sure the people up there who defended themseles against the british war machine through the years would love to hear that they are branded as the same as sectarian. Dont know what angle your tryin to approach the whole thing here. Probably the same as the Irish Anti War Movement whose silence on the issue is deafening. everyone should have opposed this march together, republican, socialists, nationalists anarchists all together. its one of the only things that the left usually link up for and they couldnt even do it for this.

Fair play to WSM

by From a distance

Mon Nov 03, 2008 17:45

"Even while recognizing that the purpose of yesterday’s parade was to “legitimise the murder of hundreds of thousand of civilians” the WSM statement panders to imperialism by equating the republican opponents of the RIR march with the British state murder machine:

“The WSM is equally opposed to the oppressive role of imperialism under the British Army and the blight of militarism still endured by working-class communities at the hands of paramilitary organisations”

Republicanism ,nationalism sectarianism are lumped together by the anarchist WSM as if they are the all same thing - basically mad Irishmen fighting one another and allowing the Ministry of Defence to manipulate “existing divisions” within Northern Ireland . As if the Ministry of Defence had nothing to do with creating those divisions."

Not sure how or why you think the WSM statement above is pandering to imperialism. It pretty clear too that nationalism, republicanism and sectarianism are not the same thing, but its not exactly like they all all seperate entities. A lot of republican actions are sectarian, just as much as loyalists are. Yesterday was a disappointment for republicans both in overall turnout numbers and the pissing conest between the republican alphabet soup. At least the WSM have the sense to not try and paint the simplistic picture that republicans did.

The Sinners where a total mess, with Peter Robinson saying he pitied Adams yesterday, and eirigi ensured that no other banners or flags but their own where 'allowed' at the public demonstation they called. Meanwhile RSF and IRPS 'protected' the Markets, eg the fucked off to the pub or made the most of peoples hospitlaity in the Markets waiting for the boogey man

I'm not sure of WSM's take on the north, and perhaps they could make things a bit clearer for us, but i'm gald that some one made sensible arguments. An as anarhcists they have been pretty clear about the role of British MOD etc, not to mention Militatry use of Shannon too, though they have been a biot quite on that recently. For your ordinary indymedia reader like me, i'd trust WSM take on things more than any other left group (though in ireland that aint great).

I'd be reluctant to call myself an anarchist, but for all the talk of socialism coming from some quarter of republicans its hard to take any of them seriously watchin what they are at up the north, i guess time will tell what the real deal is!

Any chance of an update???

anarchy

by joemcivor

Mon Nov 03, 2008 16:29

Even while recognizing that the purpose of yesterday’s parade was to “legitimise the murder of hundreds of thousand of civilians” the WSM statement panders to imperialism by equating the republican opponents of the RIR march with the British state murder machine:

“The WSM is equally opposed to the oppressive role of imperialism under the British Army and the blight of militarism still endured by working-class communities at the hands of paramilitary organisations”

Republicanism ,nationalism sectarianism are lumped together by the anarchist WSM as if they are the all same thing - basically mad Irishmen fighting one another and allowing the Ministry of Defence to manipulate “existing divisions” within Northern Ireland . As if the Ministry of Defence had nothing to do with creating those divisions.

protest

by interested

Mon Nov 03, 2008 01:09

how'd it go?

Newslink

by Link

Wed Oct 29, 2008 16:50

News link to some Irish News reports

Scan of Irish News?

by @

Wed Oct 29, 2008 16:07

Anyone?

Anti War

by Reader

Wed Oct 29, 2008 12:19

Good statement and today’s Irish news gives a three page round up and map of all the protests taking place.
In what the police calls the largest security operation since the height of Drumcree

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Demonstration against militarist celebration

Comments (7 of 7)