IAWM Press Statement

by MichaelY - iawm Thu Feb 15, 2007 14:06

Check report by Irish Time's Paul Anderson in the following link:
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0215/bre...1.htm

by kaaren Thu Feb 15, 2007 14:12

Good place and time to protest - would be good to see the entrance to their little schmooze-up/lovefest being blockaded or the pat on the back nonsense for Bertie being drowned out by anti war chants. Hope its a success.

I also think the FG and Lab conferences should be a focus of attention - especially Labour - Rabbitte is very ambiguous on his statements about ending the use of Shannon as a US Military stopover were he to enter power.

by MichaelY - iawm Thu Feb 15, 2007 14:39

Here's the poster - pls contact the iawm if you want to take part in postering.
It goes in A3 and A2 sizes and there is also a leaflet that accompanies it.

March 24th poster - available for distribution

by antiwar activist Thu Feb 15, 2007 15:09

This query is seriously meant and not an attempt at shitstirring: Was there any attempt made by the IAWM to involve Anti-War Ireland and other anti-war groups like Cosantoiri Siochana in this protest?

Before we are brought down sideroads, I'm not asking if you will now - after the decisions have been made - call on AWI etc. to support your demo. I'm asking if they were invited to participate at the planning stage. And, if not, why not?

Is the anti-war movement still this plagued by sectarianism that the IAWM refuses to cooperate on an equal basis with AWI? No doubt the recent Caoimhe Butterly meeting will be held up as evidence that this is not the case, but in reality that is the exception that proves the rule. When it comes to the annual "national demonstration", we see no effort to work on an equal footing with one of the major anti-war groups in the country. Do I smell SWP sectarianism or is it something more complex than that?

by MichaelY - iawm - per cap Thu Feb 15, 2007 15:27

This query is seriously meant and not an attempt at shitstirring the message above says - I take it that this is meant in earnest.
My reply is as follows: PANA, the NGO Alliance and the iawm, have been meeting for a while now, under the 'Stop the Bush Campaign' heading, trying to make Shannon an election issue - and this demonstration is part of that campaign.
Today's Press Conference, with the participation of the Labour Party, the Greens, Sinn Fein and Tony Gregory representing the Independents in the Dail was also part of the same campaign.
Anti War Ireland, to our knowledge, has had a discussion or two with PANA "thinking whether it's worth joining...." This is where the issue stands....furthermore, comments such as "side streets" and SWP this and that etc are off the mark and don't deserve a response - see comment re: query above.
The FF Ard Fheis is happening on the 24th March - a demonstration is called. The rest is up to you comrades!!

by antiwar activist Thu Feb 15, 2007 15:42

The "Stop Bush Campaign" (IAWM & NGOPA - who? - & PANA) is focused, or supposed to be, on getting candidates to sign a pre-election pledge that they will refuse to join a government that would allow the continued use of Shannon by the US military. AWI have backed that pledge but left it to their individual branches to decide on how much time they put into it. However the reality is that the antiwar movement, including all the groups, don't have the resources or people-power to intervene in every constituency in the state in the way the IAWM thinks (or pretends to think) is possible. The question for individual antiwar activists is simple: with limited energy & resources, how much time should be put into electionaring?

The "Stop Bush Campaign" (what an awful name for a campaign around Irish complicity!) has never - to my knowledge - suggested doing anything beyond this pledge. Maybe if instead of focusing on the election pledge, the SBC (IAWM & PANA) had approached AWI and suggested joint street demos (such as this one), the response might have been more enthusiastic. Were joint demos ever suggested by the SBC? the answer is NO.

The IAWM is a very slow learner, it seems. Sectarianism rules.

by lop Thu Feb 15, 2007 15:56

Now its you being the sectarian one. They've (the IAWM) called a demo themselves, you are more than welcome to join it, and get involved - or not at all. Stop being a record stuck on the same groove and either join in or even call your own protest, or else just drop it and focus on something else you think needs doing instead of slating other people's efforts. At least the IAWM are doing something concrete instead of bickering on indymedia, can you (as an anarchist, I'll hazard) actually do something too? Or is it to be all talk and no action when it comes to antiwar actions - the US Military are still landing here all the time but I aint seen any "Grassroots" bus down to Shannon in a long, long time.

by x Thu Feb 15, 2007 15:59

the more people that show up to this the bettter - because then the stewards cant marshal the crowd secret-police style, and the protest actually achieves something or gets noticed rather than just standing around chanting.

("no placard for me please, I'm trying to quit")

by Uncut Thu Feb 15, 2007 16:24

Your comments would actually be spot on, if it wasn't for the small matter of statements made by Michael Y on this site. He talks a good united front but obviously not good enough to sway the IAWM S.C.

by antiwar activist Thu Feb 15, 2007 16:26

lop - the IAWM haven't called this "national demonstration" by themselves; they've done it in conjunction with their "allies" in the NGOPA & PANA. For whatever reason they decided to not ask AWI or Cosantoiri to be among the organisers. That's fine. They are entitled to call their own demos and work with who they wish. Good luck to them. I'm simply noting that, yet again, they've chosen selectively from among the extant anti-war groups. AWI is easily one of the most active and voibrant antiwar organisations in this country and the fact is that, for sectarian reasons, the IAWM or SWP refuse to ally with them. That's disappointing and shortsighted and damaging to the broad antiwar movement.

I'm simply noting this for future reference. The IAWM are free to do as they please. So is everybody else. Just a shame that things have to be like this.

by MichaelY - iawm Thu Feb 15, 2007 18:03

I am not going to respond to the choice language as "misleading" this and "bull" that and "slow learners" the other......of allies in " ...."....that's at best childish.

I will simply state the facts as I see them
In the last meeting of the 'Stop Bush Campaign' [and there I agree it's not a great name}, last Saturday week it was, iawm comrades put the proposal for March 24th to the meeting. Discussion took place, there were Workers Party, LY, SF, a number of Trade Union people there....along with PANA and the NGO Alliance bods....the ins and outs of the march, the occasion, the location, the feeder buses were discussed. From the messages above it would appear that no AWI branch, nor any AWI prominents, nor members were there. There was unity at the meeting. Btw, will AWI comrades take part in the National Street Collection Day for the Stop Bush Campaign on Thursday March 15th - don't say now you didn't know.....
The Press Conference today re-asserted the strategy and the tactics - it was great to see JG from the Greens and AO'S from SF as well as Tony Gregory allying themselves with the proposal both for the 'Make the War an Election Issue' and the pledge that goes with it as well as the march.
These are the facts......if the concept of 'United Front' means anything this morning was the closest I have seen it work on the anti-war issue since the 2003 historic march. With perhaps a couple of early meetimgs of the Anti war Network when we were all fresh and ready for action. Now, none of us in the iawm, the 9 non-SWP members in the SC, the 3 from SWP, none of the local groups in Dublin, nor our comrades in Derry, Belfast, Sligo, Athlone, Galway, Kerry or Cork, and more recently in Wexford/Enniscorhy, have any problem with the activity or the vibrancy os its links with specific political orgs or the whatever else you like of the AWI....as the message said above, the more the better.
We had the Raytheon meetings in Dublin and Cork recently - the rooms were packed - AWI is having David Rovics soon, I'm sure many of us will be there....Caoimhe's meetings were successful - some of them were jointly organised some of them not....little matter.
Sniping and griping....is useless. We're doing our best, I'm sure you are too. Lets combine our forces if we can....as I said earlier....Fianna Fail will try to have their jamboree....we will try to show that our people are against complicity and collaboration. This is our gambit - and we're here, there's still plenty of time - let us hear your proposals.

by an awi'er Thu Feb 15, 2007 18:32

Michael complains that no awi members attended the last 'Stop Bush Campaign' meeting. This is a joke almost beyond comment! As pointed out above, most awi'ers have shown little interest in the ludicrously named 'Stop Bush Campaign' because of its narrow focus on lobbying politicians. The 'Stop Bush Campaign', incidentally, was set up in 2004 when Bush was coming to town and, at the time, the iawm actually went out of its way to try to sabotage the awi demo at Shannon airport itself - but no matter. The reason awi heads haven't been drawn to this 'campaign' is because it was set up with the express intention of focusing people's energies on the upcoming elections. Why not focus on mass demonstrations? Not a word of these. What we see now is the iawm not wanting to repeat the poor turnout at the last Dublin anti-war march and, consequently, the annual 'national demo' becomes a picket on the Fianna Fail ard fheis. No problem. Good luck to youse! I'll be there. But your talk of 'unity' is hot air and bullshit.

by awi'er Thu Feb 15, 2007 22:26

Maybe I wasn't clear enough for you Michael? Let me spell it out: my understanding was that the 'Stop Bush Campaign' was re-established for one purpose alone - to lobby politicians around the election. Now, individual awi members have different opinions on this but it's not my cup of tea.

The idea that the 'Stop Bush Campaign' would organise joint demos or mass rallies etc. was never communicated - as far as i know - to awi. Cooperation on that level would have interested me for sure. My guess is that this demo was organised - even though such events were never on the 'stop Bush Campaign' agenda - because of the low numbers at the last Dublin anti-war march. An annual 'national demo' has been called by the iawm and Pana for the end of March for the past few years. So, it switches this year to the FF Ard Fheis. Business as usual. Business as usual again in the sense that no effort was made to get other antiwar groups in as co-organisers. You're not interested in 'unity'.

by MichaelY - iawm Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:51

A third person from awi posts a message - different handle this time - "clarifying" things for us all.
Over and above cups of tea etc a few facts remain:

1. The 'Stop Bush Campaign' will try to do its best to get anti-war activists to make Shannon an election issue and picket the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis on March 24th. To this end the campaign will have a Street Collection day on March 15th. Will you contribute? The Campaign meets regularly - will awi people take part?
2. We didn't choose the month of March by accident either in the last few years or now. It is the month the US invaded Iraq!! And there will be demonstrations all over the world during March - the 4th anniversary of the invasion. Is that clear enough?
3. Finally, what has not been clarified by the awi messages above is whether you think the plan to picket the Ard Fheis is a good one and if, over and above the co-organisation thorn, you are willing to take part, organise for etc.

Simple questions - and as they say in certain places, a yes or no answer would do for now!!

by concerned observer Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:08

MichaelY, you're completely avoiding the points that were made, but that seems to be your modus operandi. I'm puzzled though as to why you think non-IAWM anti-war activists would feel obliged to join a tin-rattling collection for the IAWM and PANA. I'm sure AWI, Cosantoiri Siochana, Afri and other groups have their own fundraising to do. They have their own events to pay for. For my part, I think that a protest at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis is a good idea. On the other hand, the IAWM, as usual, has clearly indicated a lack of serious interest in working equally with other anti-war groups. The IAWM represents a minority of anti-war activists in this country (despite the grandoliquent name) and it is very odd indeed that it won't work properly with Anti-War Ireland on "national" marches and demonstrations. If the SWP stopped carrying the IAWM, it would disappear in moments. Despite this reality, the IAWM persists in its efforts to convince the media, the public and itself that it represents the broad swathe of anti-war activists in this country.

I humbly suggest that you get your act to together, learn a bit of humility and make a genuine effort to work with other significant anti-war groups. The anti-war cause is suffering because of your behaviour.

by Roger Cole - Peace & Neutrality Alliance Fri Feb 16, 2007 16:21 pana at eircom dot net 17 Castle Street, Dalkey 01-2351512

In response to antiwar activists I would like to make the following points.
The National Executive of PANA has consistenly opposed the invasion, conquest and occupation of Iraq and Ireland's active participation in that war. PANA held it's first protest at Shannon Airport in May 2002.
The NE of PANA approached the IAWM and the NGOPA over four years ago to see if we could work together in organising a major anti-war demonstration under a broader alliance. The meetings were successfull and under the banner of the Stop Bush Campaign together we helped organise the massive anti-war demonstration on the 15th of Feb 2003.
We have continued to work together on campaigning against this Imperialist war, while at the same time campaigning against the militarisation of the EU.
Last year we again sought a meeting with the IAWM and the NGOPA to see if we could work together again on making the war and Ireland's participation in that war an election issue.
The meetings were successful and the Stop Bush Campaign was re-established. The campaign included the option of a protest at the FF Ard Feis. At a meeting of the SBC, PANA stated that it would like AWI be asked to join the SBC and it was agreed. PANA meet AWI and asked them to join some time ago. We are still waiting a response. These are the facts.Accusations of political sectarianism have no basis in reality.
Let us all be clear what is happening. The Irish political/media elite decided to integrate Ireland into the US/EU military structures in order to ensure Ireland's full and active participation in the resource wars of the 21st century. The decision to join NATO's PFP, the decision to back the war in Iraq and the decision to integrate the Irish Army into the Battle Groups of the EU are all part of the same process. With a very few exceptions the Irish corporate media exclude the Irish anti-war movement,( and I mean that in the broadest sense, not just the IAWM) from debates on the issue of the war, because that is their job. This site is very valuable because it is one of the very few that facilitates debate on the process of building a broad anti-imperialist movement in Ireland. For example TSN/MRBI conducted a poll of the 50plus age group(25% of the electorate) on what were their concerns. The issues covered health, crime, immigration, global warming and the war. The poll showed that they were concerned about the war more that any other issue. Yet the the corporate media and the mainstream political parties, FF,FG.PD's hardly ever mention the war in the context of the upcoming election because they support the war and are totally opposed to it becoming an issue in the election. But the war is not going to go away. Bush has increased the number of troops in Iraq and is building up a massive aircraft carrier force in the Gulf providing real evidence that a major bombing campaign of Iran is now a real possibility. In these circumstances, it seems reasonable that all the groups that are opposed to war seek to work together rather than spend their time attacking each other.
Finally, this war will go on and on. The Pentagon has declared it a "long war". We need to build a movement in Ireland and throughout the world committed to "long peace".
PANA is absolutely committed to building a movement that will create the long peace and we will talk to everybody in pursuit of that objective, so if "antiwar activist" wants to arrange a meeting to discuss the issues in more detail, I would be glad to meet .

by antiwar activist Fri Feb 16, 2007 16:46

I think that's a constructive post from Roger Cole. Here's my take, speaking as an individual member of AWI.

I'm not especially interested in the electoral focus being taken by PANA and the "Stop Bush Campaign". I don't think I could summon up the energy to chase politicians for the next few months cos, frankly, I think I could use my time to more effect elsewhere. I don't believe in promises from politicians and don't think they should be prioritised. However, other members of AWI feel differently and that's why, when we endorsed the pledge at our recent national meeting, we left it up to the branches to decide how much time & energy to put into it. Some people might feel completely differently to me.

If, on the other hand, SBC was about mobilising people on the streets (i.e. more of the type of demo organised outside the FF conference), I could see the merit of AWI getting involved. That said, the internal structures of SBC (how are decisions made?) would need to be clarified. In any case, if the decision making was done in a genuinely democratic way and the focus was on agitation, then I would argue within AWI for a formal involvement.

As of now, the general AWI attitude to SBC seems to be lukewarm simply cos people don't feel like lobbying career politicians. Been there, done that, never again.

I wish PANA the best with their efforts, but an electoral focus is not my thing. Others, obviously, feel different, maybe even within AWI. Anyway, the branches are free to decide how much time they put into this.

by antiwar activist Fri Feb 16, 2007 16:49

Should also have added that the name "Stop Bush Campaign" is awful and inappropriate. Cork AWI, for example, is about to picket a BRITISH warship next Tuesday. More to the point, it's IRISH complicity we should be focused on.

by Anarchy Rules - Cosantoiri Siochana Fri Feb 16, 2007 18:16

I'm a member of Cosantoiri and I'm speaking on my own behalf here, as all others members of Cosantoiri are known and expected to do.

I have no problem whatsoever with the IAWM organising this event without asking my permission on the subject. To think that they should need my permission is ludicris. Every group is independant, that's the nature of things. For instance (in opposition to other members of my group) I don't agree with making Shannon an election issue - simply because, the powers that be and the powers that want to be have already abdicated the right to form a government. Practically speaking this view allows very little room for operating. Other anti war groups and indeed other members of Cosantoiri, feel that the next government will be formed from the crop currently on display. This is a realistic view and I admit that my stance is solely based on ethics (this is not saying any group or person is unethical, only that my stance is based on an ethical fact, I recognise that the other groups and individuals too recognise this ethical fact).

So I wholeheartedly support the IAWM and PANA and the others involved in this action. Long live the idea of diversity. Power to the people and respect to the recognition of the individual.

Let's not get bogged down in semantical arguments. Less talk - more action.

by more anarchy Fri Feb 16, 2007 18:32

Perhaps you should read these posts again. Nobody has suggested that the IAWM & PANA haven't a right to call demonstrations. Where, my congenial friend, did you see anybody argue for such a veto? Please point them out to me. The issues that have been brought up relate to the need for greater unity when national demonstrations are being organised. Some people believe in this and others don't, but arguing for a more cohesive strategy by the anti-war movement is hardly an unusual thing.

In several of the posts above, it is stated explicity that the IAWM and everybody else is entirely free to do what they want. How could it be otherwise? Nobody can tell anybody what they should and shouldn't do. AWI, for example, are holding a picket against a warship in Cork next Tuesday. That is organised independently of the IAWM and PANA. So, this is not about giving anybody "permission"; it's about whether or not anti-war groups should be working in tandem for NATIONAL protests.

I believe they should be. You obviously don't hold that view, but, if so, please don't try to close down this discussion with misleading accusations that people are denying groups the right to do their own thing. Diversity is a positive thing in the anti-war movement, but there are moments when we should come together to achieve the best possible result and turnout. NATIONAL demonstrations are such a moment. I think, when a national march/rally/demonstration is called, ALL of the groups should be in at the planning stage and we should all work together to achieve the best possible turnout.

Diversity is a positive thing, but disunity is a different ball game altogether and damages our capacity for mobilisation, whatever tactic is being deployed.

by Against was Sat Feb 17, 2007 02:08

As Michael and Roger have made clear, the door is open to the AWI to co-ordinate with other.
They have been invited to SBC which includes IAWM, NGO PA, PANA plus the anti war political parties. How much more inclusive can you get?
Charges of not co-operating therefore cannot reasonably to made of IAWM, PANA etc.
AWI has been invited and not so far come in. It is hardly credible then to attack the IAWM, PANA etc for AWI's not being in on the organising of March 24.
The rest is smoke and mirrors.
Let's ALL make M24 big and stop the childishness.

by antiwar Sat Feb 17, 2007 22:06

Do you really want a long list of IAWM misbehaviour towards other antiwar activists & groups over the last few years? I couldn't be arsed so I suggest you just do some digging in the indy archive.

With regard to this thread, and leaving aside a general distrust of the iawm, the points raised are very clear and have to with organizing national demonstrations on an inclusive basis. The Iawm line is that they do the planning, make the decisions and then demand that other groups mobilise and do the dog work. No more. The iawm is not representative of most Irish antiwar activists.

This "just get on with" line is a pretty typical manoveour to move the focus away from awkward questions.

The questions raised on this thread will never be properly addressed by the iawm because they are obssessed with pretending to the media that they are representative of the antiwar movement in Ireland. This is all about PR and media spin. Remember folks that an election is on the way.

by antiwar2 Sat Feb 17, 2007 22:39

PANA & IAWM exist. What is this third wheel - the NGO Peace Alliance - that always has its name added? My understanding is that it is Brendan Butler and maybe one other. Is it a real organisation? Perhaps Brendan Butler could clarify if he's reading this thread.

Re. the demo: despite the way this has been (mis)organized, I'll be there. Its a shame the opportunity for cooperation has allowed to pass.

by Non-aligned activist Sun Feb 18, 2007 21:00

I see this demonstration is scheduled for 2.00 p.m. What time is the Ard Fheis starting.? To achieve maximum impact and effect demonstrators need to be there at the time the delegates are going in and ideally should be there throughout the day and late into the night when they emerge. Bear in mind that there will probably be lots of other protest groups picketing at the same time. Tenacity and endurance are called for!

by MichaelY - iawm Mon Feb 19, 2007 15:27

The Ard Fheis, according to FF Central Office, will start on the Friday evening and will continue for the whole day on Saturday 24th.
We called the demo/picket for 2pm to give activists coming from across the country, by bus, train or car, plenty of time to get there.
We will stay for as long as it is necessary - the Conference Centre is across the road from the hotel and we'd expect delegates to be coming and going back and forth the whole day.

PS If activists coming over need a place to stay for Saturday night pls let us know - through Indymedia or the iawm website.

by MichaelY - iawm - per cap Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:40

Good to see we agree on a few things awi'er. I am following with interest a few threads - particularly with the ipsc activity in Galway, your organisation's courageous effort down in Cobh and, of course, Rossport.... There seems to be a concerted effort in every thread to get a couple of 'concerned' or 'independent' posters ranting about violence, fanaticism and trying desperately to sow confusion and disunity.....one attacks the 'leadership' while another attacks the 'rank and file'......and, as mentioned before, there is a whole host of trolls on anything that concerns Palestine and Israel. And they're not based in Ireland at all.

We need patience, we need to tell and sing the truth (Rovics - perfect) , we need to respect diversity and work together where possible. We will never agree on everything but we can pull together. And Indymedia, with all its shortcomings, is a key focus.

Thanks for the message anyway - I appreciate it.

by MichaelY - iawm Sun Mar 18, 2007 16:13

As the invasion of Iraq and the Empire’s war in the region is entering its fifth year, tens of thousands, over the last few days, marched to the Pentagon reminding us all of the massive anti-Vietnam demonstrations four decades ago.

"We're here in the shadow of the war machine," said anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. "It's like being in the shadow of the death star. They take their death and destruction and they export it around the world. We need to shut it down." Smaller protests were held in other U.S. cities, from San Francisco, San Diego and Hartford.

As the iawm is preparing our own march next Saturday 24th, against the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis in City West, tens of thousands marched in Madrid calling not only for the U.S. to get out of Iraq but to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Smaller protests were staged in Greece and Turkey.

At a slightly different but linked level, Saturday’s Irish Times, in its Weekend Review section (p.11) carries a review of Scott Ritter’s book ‘Target Iran: The Truth About the US Government’s plans for Regime Change’. Ritter, a former US weapons inspector, a US Marine, and self-described conservative, was squarely on the money when, in 2003, he challenged the Bush and Blair lies about WMDs in Iraq. He says that while the neo-con clique around Bush have clearly had Iran on their dance card ever since 2002 [remembers the Axis of Evil along with Iraq and North Korea?), the mainstream US media gives more coverage to a spat between Hilary Clinton and Barrack Obama or the death of Anna Nicole Smith. In the meantime, we are told, prepartions for attacking Iran go on, while a number of senior US military commanders are ready to resign if Bush goes to war on Iran.

I hope Ritter is wrong this time round – yet…….worth reading!!
The book is published by Politico's/Methuen and costs £16.99

See you all at the march next Saturday.

by AWI member Sun Mar 18, 2007 19:06

100,000 people marched against the war in Spain today. Big numbers also in the US. The numbers out internationally these days, though, are very uneven, with tiny numbers in some countries and huge numbers in others. It's difficult not to see the big turnouts as the outcome of domestic particularities and the small turnouts as reflective of a movement that is less globally attuned than it used to be.

Cosantoiri Siochana are holding a wreath-laying ceremony at Shannon and the IAWM/PANA are organising a picket of the Fianna Fail ard fheis. Here's hoping both events have excellent attendances! La lutte continue.

by MichaelY - iawm Sun Mar 18, 2007 20:25

Good to see an awi comrade respond in such a friendly and co-operative manner. Great!

Can I suggest that if a member of awi would like to speak at the demo in City West next Saturday, (s)he would be more than welcome.

Speakers agreed so far include Declan Bree, David Norris, Gormley from the Greens, probably Jack O'Connor from SIPTU, a Sinn Fein speaker and an iawm speaker. Ed Horgan has also been asked - awaiting confirmation.

Thanks to Danielle for the French above....

How about it awi friends?