US Navy ammunition ships cry off Cork visit

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday August 11, 2002 15:11 by John Jefferies - The Workers' Party (Cork) wpcork at eircom dot net 15, Fr. Mathew Quay, Cork. 021-4270409

Opposition deters tank carrying ships

According to Ireland on Sunday (11th August 2002) the two US Navy ammunition ships bound for Cork have changed their mind about the visit.

The Workers’ Party has welcomed reports in today’s Ireland On Sunday newspaper (11/8/02) that the two US Navy ammunition ships which had been due to dock in Cork on 29th August have cancelled their proposed visit.

Cork Workers’ Party spokesman Ted Tynan, who had led calls for the ships to be banned from Irish waters, said he was delighted with the news and has called on the government to ensure that Ireland would cease to be an “aircraft carrier” for the United States, including the cancellation of refuelling facilities at Shannon Airport.

“This is a major victory for those who oppose the militarisation of Ireland. Next week there will be a mobilisation at Shannon Airport in opposition to the use of this civil airport as a military base by the United States or any other nation. The cancellation of the visit by these two death ships is a great encouragement to our campaign to defend Irish neutrality”, said Mr. Tynan.

The ships in question, the Eugene A. Obregon and Lt. Harry L. Martin carry spare parts, ammunition and military hardware including M1-A1 Abrams battle tanks and howitzer trucks. The M1 Abrams tank is described by the US military as having ‘sufficient capability to successfully close with and destroy any opposing armored fighting vehicle in the world’

“While we do not know the details of this u-turn came about, the proposed visit totally contradicted the governments’ claims to have guaranteed Irish neutrality under the Seville Declaration which was designed to dupe people into supporting the Nice Treaty. However, as long as Shannon and the Irish ports continue to be used as quasi-military bases, Irish neutrality is severely compromised”.

Mr. Tynan also noted that a number of French naval corvettes are presently tied up on Custom House Quay in Cork city centre. “The Fianna Fail / PD government have a very strange view of neutrality and cannot be trusted on this issue”, he stated.