Right of People to Demonstrate

national | anti-war / imperialism | press release

Thursday February 26, 2004 17:46

by Michael D - Labour

[ Original title changed from all CAPS. Please don't do this. It even asks you on the submission form not to. Thanks. R Isible] LABOUR UPHOLDS RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO DEMONSTRATE DURING BUSH VISIT

"It is quite presumptuous, indeed arrogant, of the Taoiseach to expect people to set aside all their concerns about U.S. foreign policy, particularly the conduct of the war in Iraq, and not to protest during the planned visit of President Bush to this country in June", says Michael D. Higgins TD

"People have a right to peacefully protest and more than 100,000 of our citizens exercised this right to demonstrate their opposition to the war in Iraq when they marched though the streets of our towns and cities 12 months ago.

"The Taoiseach may indeed regard the visit as 'an honour for the Irish people', but many people will also regard it as an occasion that merits a restatement of the opposition of huge numbers of the Irish people to the current direction of U.S. foreign policy. Certainly I plan to participate in any lawful and peaceful protests that may be held.

"We now know that the basis on which the United States pursued the war against
Iraq was entirely phoney. The United Nations and the international community
were misled. There were no weapons of mass destruction. There was no imminent threat to the region or to the rest of the world. The war against Iraq was illegal under international law and the United States has created a very dangerous precedent by being the first democratic country in recent times to assert the right to launch a pre-emptive strike against another country..

"President Bush's trip to Ireland is not an official visit. It is a working summit between the EU and the United States and it should be treated accordingly. It should be limited to the working agenda and this country should certainly not be used to provide photo-opportunities for George Bush in the run up to the U.S. Presidential elections.

"It is little less than immoral to ask the Irish public to affect an amnesia on the recent war, a war that is taking Iraqi and civilian lives and the lives of young U.S. soldiers every day. Neither should we forget the Irish Government's shameful complicity in this illegal invasion and occupation."

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Comments (6 of 6)

Of course we spied, but what's wrong with that?

by Michael

Thu Feb 26, 2004 18:06

And on the question of the 'justification' for the Iraq war, here's a particularly telling excerpt from a Reuters report. It has to be read to be believed.

------------------------------------------
Experts say they would hardly be surprised if, as [Clare] Short said Thursday, the former international development secretary had seen transcripts of conversations involving the U.N. secretary-general. After all, spies spy.

But what is wholly new is that a former Cabinet member, sworn to secrecy, would reveal operational details openly in a radio interview.

"The surprising thing in this story is not that it was actually going on, but that people in a position of responsibility are speaking openly about it. That is what's unprecedented," said Kevin Rosser, security expert at consultancy Control Risks Group.

-------------------------------------------

Well, isn't it reassuring to know that Mr. Kosser believes it's perfectly ethical to spy on UN diplomats, or even the UN Secretary-general, in order to persuade them to support a war? And that he would speak so openly about it? Clearly he espouses those cherished values of democrary and freedom of speech which the US wish to instil in every nation on earth (especially those with precious natural resources).

i don't know if im bothered

by pc

Thu Feb 26, 2004 19:01

i remember thinking when there was that hooha about the man the ira were supposed to have on the inside at hillsborough
i was like if the ira have someone in there then the uda must have too so all equal?

Oh I'm reminded of a "very british coup".

by ipsiphi

Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:27

"a very british coup" was a short novel written by an unusually leftish member of the British Labour party (before Blair) based on the idea of a Labour landslide victory. Ray Mc Nally played the Labour PM in the TV version.
Anyway, as soon as Ray Mc Nally takes Downing st, all the spooks come out to derail his government. (it was a very cold war plot-line). Mc Nally is in his office talking to Percy the civil servant (who really holds the power).
>if I pick up this phone how many of my own people are listening to me?

whereupon Percy replies:-

by iosaf

>oh we wouldn't do that PM.
The next scene cuts to a reel to a reel (very old fashioned 8 track machine, very recognisable).
Next scene cuts to the equally recognisably eagle which sits atop the US embassy in London's Gloucester Square.

So I suppose MI6 spy on the UN for their masters, no surprise there, but what I'd love to know is who does Bertie in the office and of course who does Bertie at home?
Because amongst those big brown envelopes I have left to my descendents will be precise instructions on how to get such juicy bits of info under 30year, 50year, 60 year and of course 100 year disclosure rules.
And I want my grandchildren to find Bertie's grandchildren and tell them what their grandaddy said in bed about the Iraqi war.

Perhaps someone (a Higgins perhaps) could ask the Taoiseach for clarification of surveliance detection in Government buildings.
We the citizens have a right to know!

& yes I speak in code in bed. -
-don't we all?

what date?

by MC

Fri Feb 27, 2004 12:14

Has a date been announced or is june all we know about the visit/protest?

re date of bush visit - read the bleeding articles !

by aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh

Fri Feb 27, 2004 12:39

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=63581&topic=antiwar

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Comments (6 of 6)