Shannon Peace Vigil among the warplanes

by GNM (Green No More) Sun Sep 20, 2009 23:08

There are undoubtedly members of An Gardai Siochana with a real grasp of international law and human rights, men and women who know the UN Convention off by heart. Members of the 'force' as it is called who would not be afraid to uphold international law.
But where are they? They are not on duty in Shannon, or it seems in Rossport for that matter.
Are these informed and enlightened members abroad in Cyprus with the United Nations? In Kosovo? Are some of them returned from UN duties and engaged in human rights training in Templemore? Talking the talk. Undoubtedly, some of them are studying in our universities.

I wish we could see them on active duty in Shannnon.

The reputation of An Gardai Síochána has been damaged over the last decade, especially by corruption and cover-ups in Donegal.

The Gardai’s reputation has also been diminished by its violent support for oil companies in Mayo.

Across Ireland, the reputation of ordinary members of An Gardai Síochána has been damaged in the eyes of many right-thinking members of society by the Garda's co-operation with CIA operatives using Shannon Airport. In fact, CIA international kidnap crews had (have?) little or no fear of being arrested in Ireland so long as the Irish police manage to keep civilians from getting close enough to make a citizen’s arrest.

The US army continues to use Shannon Airport to ship recruits out to kill foreigners and to ship some of those same men and women home in bodybags.

Shannon Airport is attractive to the US not least because of its distance from a major city (and therefore protest), but also because of the connivance of the national police force.

Can we kindly see some change here? Someone to stand out from the crowd and strike a different pose, a Garda with a knack for cracking international war-crimes.

I’ve heard people asking, ‘When will the Gardai stop arresting peace-campaigners and begin targeting the CIA rendition flights?’

It will happen some day, if just one Garda cops on to his real duties as a cop.

Though – with the Greens and FF leaving what’s happening to continue, it will take a brave and determined person to do so.

We’re waiting.

by d Fri Sep 18, 2009 22:54

Terrible photos of some class Military aircraft.

by John - Shannonwatch Thu Sep 17, 2009 15:50

Experience has taught us that the Gardai and Airport Police at Shannon invariably try to impede anyone highlighting the complicity of the airport in torture and war activities. This includes telling people who are wearing orange jump suits or carrying signs/banners of protest that they "have no business" in the airport and are therefore not permitted to be there. When challenged, they resort to feeble attempts at quoting the Air Navigation and Transport Act or mentioning byelaws.

The attempts are feeble because there is usually no real basis for suggesting that the Act or the byelaws are being violated. In particular section 33 of the Act is often cited by the Gardai ... it states that an authorised officer may order any person (i) who refuses to give his name or address, or to produce other evidence of his identity, or (ii) who refuses to state the purpose of his being on the aerodrome, or (iii) who refuses to account for any baggage or other property in his possession, or (iv) who gives a name or address or states a purpose of his being on the aerodrome which is known, or is reasonably suspected, by the authorised officer to be false or fictitious, or (v) whom he knows not to have, or whom he reasonably suspects of not having, a lawful reason for being on the aerodrome, to leave the aerodrome.

I have always given my name and address, and stated the true nature of my lawful business at the airport - which is to usually to look for evidence of potential breaches of national and/or international law. But our Gardai seem to think that that this is not lawful.

I know that the Gardai may seal off a suspected crime scene to protect evidence and may direct someone not to enter. Wouldn't it be great if this was why we were not allowed to enter Shannon airport when a US military Hercules C-130 sat on the tarmac!

by Coilín Thu Sep 17, 2009 14:41

By what lawful authority did the garda order you to leave the set down area?
is there any law to prohibit wearing an orange jumpsuit at Shannon Airport?

by Sarah - N/A Mon Sep 14, 2009 23:55

Couldn't make it well done to all the shannon crew for keeping this on the agenda.
The Greens should be publicly pushed to get some action on this put on their new programme for misgovernment again...thats if they are still there ...