Photo report from the IAWM/Pana march on the 5th anniversary on US invasion of Iraq

by bawm Mon Mar 17, 2008 16:02

of belfast demo

by tomeile Mon Mar 17, 2008 15:59

The gardai used to stop traffic at O'Connell St bridge whenever there was a demo .That allowed people who may not have been on a march but who were generally sympathetic to its aims to join in at the end . I've noticed at the last few IAWM organized demos that marchers have been ushered onto the middle island and off the street The police told somebody I was with that it was "to keep the traffic flowing". Whatever the reason , the new policy has the effect of isolating demonstations from supportive or curious Saturday afternoon strollers and shoppers .The barriers last Saturday will become permanent features for demos in the future if there isn't a protest from march organizers.

The presence of the Greens and the Lisbon supporting Labour Party at the demo should be welcomed . The IAWM policy of becoming an eratz political party with politically correct positions and lines on every conceivable issue has weakened the movement and driven away the people who just want to be part of a broad anti war movement. People who might be in favour of the bin tax for instance.

The Saturday speakers were of course correct to address the appalling suffering that Zionism has brought the people of Gaza ,but the IAWM isn't the IPSC . It should be paying serious attention to the legitimate concerns of millions of ordinary Irish people if they want to mobilize the sort of numbers that can't be hemmed in by police barriers . There is no doubt that the Irish people do have genuine sympathy for Palestinians ,but it wasn't simply sympathy that brought out thousands of marchers on Feb 15 2003 . It was the fear of war .

by BAWM Mon Mar 17, 2008 15:44

Belfast "World Against War" demo

by bawm Mon Mar 17, 2008 14:37

Iraqi Citizen speaking at Anti-War Demo in Belfast - outside city hall on 15 March 2008

by BAWM Mon Mar 17, 2008 14:28

Approx 350- 400 people demonstrated in belfast, as part of the international "World against War" day of action.

Organised by the Belfast anti War Movement , the demo was supported by the Irish congress of Trade unions, NUS-USI, NIPSA and the Ireland Palestine solidarity campaign.

Around 150 people stayed to hear speakers from the anti war movement, IPSC, ICTU, Belfast Trades council

Troops out of Iraq & Afghanistan
No Attack on Iran
Freedom for Palestine

by Jacqueline Fallon Mon Mar 17, 2008 14:08

Comhghairdeas to the organisers and to all who participated in this march in solidarity with the Iraqis, Palestinians and the Afghanis.

I was also on the march and I was shocked to see the Green Party there, I had to do a double-take to confirm it was actually themselves that was in it! Once I had gotten over their bewildering presence, I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised to see that at least a few of their members have not totally abandoned their principles, although its apparent by their party’s actions that the issue of the US military’s use of Shannon and Baldonnel Aerodrome was not important enough for them to refuse to share power with Fianna Fáil (power never fails to corrupt - sin fíor!).

I have one complaint about the crowd control barriers that were erected by An Garda Síochána - they were unnecessary and a great insult to the peaceful marchers. I felt it was very distasteful and it also left a very bad impression on a peace activist who I was standing with at the GPO (we both refused to be treated like this). The anti-war marchers were herded and hemmed-in like cattle between these crowd control barriers in a very confined space, some looked very uncomfortable - I thought this was a disgraceful way to treat peaceful people who were on a humanitarian march and who certainly were not in need of crowd control barriers!. I believe this was deliberate tactic used by the US’ lackeys to attempt to undermine the protestors and show them whose boss.

Beannachtaí Lá Fhéile Pádraig chugaibh!

by MichaelY - iawm Mon Mar 17, 2008 13:50

Thanks for your honest reply. Good to hear that you were in other anti-war marches in the last, though your 'surprise' kind of surprised me. Let me explain:

I will start with a response to your quip that "There is a word for people who keep doing the same things over and over again hoping that they will have the different outcomes...." Words that come to my mind for such people are: "Committed", "Obstinate", "Hopeful", "Dedicated", "Believers in justice", "People who have few other choices"......yes, we will continue marching and demonstrating hoping and believing that our people will force the FF/Green/PD Government to buckle and stop collaborating....believing in people power and democracy, you see pc, go hand in hand. And that' what activists who came from Cork, Galway, Mullingar, Athlone, Kildare and various parts of Dublin, along with our Palestinian, Spanish, Catalan, French and English comrades think. Plus those who marched in Derry, Belfast, London and thw world over.

Now, however, implicit in your argument are also two other angles:
One, that there is another political strategy, other type of actions which may be more effective than marching. May be you're right. Think of Spain, for example....how quickly the Aznar Government collapsed and withdrew its forces from Iraq.....think of the courageous actions of Mary Kelly and the Ploughshares...is that what you have in mind.? Prey tell and illuminate us....take a lead on this one and I'm sure many of us in the iawm will follow.

Two, the main Government and media strategy on the war is to argue that marching, demonstrating, being anti-war is really " a waste of time"....it doesn;t work. This is an attempt to discourage, to disorganise, to make apathy a watchword. I come from a generation pc that marched 10 long years against the Vietnam War. From a generation that marched for Civil Rights and an end to Unionism in the 6 Counties since the late '60s.....I hope you get my drift.

So don't be surprised that 500 plus were there. Reflect and explain why you weren't there, the value of what you were doing while we marching and getting soaked to the bone and draw a few conclusions. Up to you, of course, if you want to share them with us.

by pc Mon Mar 17, 2008 13:26

I was not. I went on one of the anti war marches before. I even heard Michael D speak at the GPO. So what? Do you think I should keep marching year after year even though no one cares?

There is a word for people who keep doing the same things over aned over again hoping that they will have the different outcomes...

That's why I'm surprised that there are 500 people who are willing to show, and in the rain too!

by MichaelY - iawm Mon Mar 17, 2008 13:18

Three different people, one from Pax Christi, one from iawm and one independent counted. Were you there? How many did you think marched?

by people counter Mon Mar 17, 2008 13:10

over 500? really?

by MichaelY - iawm Mon Mar 17, 2008 13:00

First and above all a big massive well done to all those (just over 500) who braved the rain and the wind and stayed until the end. Another huge well done and thank you to those, about 80, who came to the Royal Dublin Hotel meeting afterwards. Those who spoke from the platform and the floor,, those who asked questions, those who signed up, those who gave what they could.
I, as much as the messages above, was surprised to see a Green Party banner in the march. The Party had declined to send a rep to speak from the platform but there were a few members present.....they have courage, they have beliefs and they should be supported.
For, if you think about it, if the polls are right saying that nearly 60% of our people are againsr the use of Shannon by the Empire troops , then there must be quite a number of Government Party members in that 60%. Not just GP but also FF - don't know about FG I must admit. So, as a movement, they are welcome to march with us....to support us.....to push their leadership to respect the democratic wishes of our people....to make the war an election or a referendum issue!
Which brings me to the Labour Party.....their leadership but particularly their MEP de Rossa are hell bent in arguing for a YES vote in the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum....Michael D, who I have no doubt honestly believes that Shannon should be discontinued and has been close to the iawm from the beginning, is also arguing for a YES position. Was listening to him, arguing forcefully from the platform in the GPOO, and was wondering. While, at the same time, a whole set of Labour Party members are very active in the NO Campaign......and welcome they are too!!
So as a movement, because that's what we are and not a political party, as a broad campaign because that's what we are and not a political party, we must be prepared to work with people whose entire political outlook may not be shared - whose views on certain issues, to quote the message above, may "irritate us"!!

IAWM members are very active in the NO campaign [http://www.caeuc.org]. Some of us are going to the Cairo Conference at the end of this month. In April the iawm will be having its AGM - details to follow soon, And we keep our ear to the ground in case the Bush cabal decide to cook another military adventure re: Iran now thet got rid og Admiral Fallon. Lots to do and mountains remain to be climbed.

Hope you can join us.

by - Mon Mar 17, 2008 00:45

Happy National Day! you don't need to be anti-snake or explain the trinity to be Irish.

shona lá náisiúnta dhoibh

by marcher Sun Mar 16, 2008 22:14

In fact the Greens and the war reminds me of Bertie Aherne after the big Feb 15th march in 2003 - he ludicrously claimed that people were marching in support of government policy!

The Greens are part of the government that allows the US to use shannon airport. Shame on anybody that remains a member of that blood-soaked party!

by grandpa Flynn - "keeping an eye on you" Sun Mar 16, 2008 21:40

At least that's what it looks like on the Photo Gallery page. Jolly good for ye. Put a skuil in the centre & you'll really be jolly & get the youth vote.........

__________________________________

Amnesty International released a report on Yemeni Khaled al-Maqtari ".........who told Amnesty International he was held in isolation for more than 28 months without charge or access to any legal representation. He said he first became a US "ghost detainee" at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq after being arrested there in 2004. The US has not acknowledged detaining Mr Maqtari. CIA spokesman George Little told the BBC: "Apart from transfers to Guantanamo, the CIA does not, as a rule, comment publicly on allegations of who may - or who may not - have been in its custody.
"The agency has run its terrorist detention and interrogation programme in accord with US law." US President George W Bush did acknowledge the existence of black sites in 2006. He said the prisons were a vital tool in the US "war on terror" and insisted that the CIA had treated detainees humanely and had not used torture. In July 2007, Mr Bush issued an executive order which banned "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" of terrorist suspects by the CIA, but not its operation of secret facilities. The agency has since declined to say whether it still uses them. In his first interview since being released by the Yemeni authorities in May last year, Mr Maqtari described the torture and ill-treatment he said he had suffered at the hands of the US military and CIA while in secret custody.........."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7292974.stm

According to tippy toppy expert on dark prison & military base sites, the Californian geographer Trevor Paglen, the Afghan dark prison is located 45 minutes drive in all terrain vehicles outside of Kabul. It was built by Halliburton Dick Cheney's corporation which last year moved its HQ from Texas to Dubai. http://www.paglen.com/
It does not appear on Google Earth not because it carries a blacked out square which tells you it's secret ( c/f this article which shows you a Google earth snapshot of a top secret underground miltary base in my neighbourhood where Franco tried to build an atomic bomb http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=...=1022 ) but because nobody is interested in looking at uninhabited mountainsides just outside of Kabul & instead the good folk of Google just repeat the same pixel pattern of harmless mountains to save computing power.

by den Sun Mar 16, 2008 20:55

It's like the character in Father Ted who didn't know he was a priest.

Patricia McKenna, it seems, opposes the giveaway of Irish natural resources to Shell, Exxon and the rest of Big Oil. John Gormley opposes the M3. The Dublin Green Party think the war should not be supported. Trevor Sargeant thinks the whole food industry should be changed, and Eamon Ryan is opposed to climate change.

Is it possible (and I'm being serious here) that they don't actually realise that they can change these things?

by DM - Labour Party Sun Mar 16, 2008 20:39

Eamon Gilmore also sent out a press release on this.

by MDH - Labour Sun Mar 16, 2008 20:35

Higgins tells anti-war rally
Labour Party President and Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Michael D Higgins TD, has again called on the government to halt flights by the American military through Shannon Airport, in light of a report published by Amnesty International today. Deputy Higgins was addressing a rally in Dublin at the end of a march to mark the fifth anniversary of the illegal invasion of Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of the country.
Deputy Higgins criticised this illegal war whose invasion did not receive approval from the UN, and did not have a UN mandate.

He said:"Ireland is complicit in war and torture- also referred to as 'extraordinary rendition'- by allowing the US military use of Shannon Airport and Irish airspace. The Labour Party was the first party to oppose the war, and this is a position which we still hold today.

"Over 650,000 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the illegal conflict. 37 people were killed just yesterday. As the Amnesty report states, 'There can no longer be any doubt that Shannon is being used by those involved in kidnapping and torture, dressed up as part of a war on terror'.

"It is right that we should mark this anniversary of a shameful collapse of any pretence towards diplomacy by some of the strongest nations on the planet, just as it is right that the Irish people's ongoing disapproval of the Fianna Fail/PD/Green government's acquiescence to this disgraceful and wholly illegitimate imperial adventure be underlined at this protest march."

Labour Banner

Michael D Higgins

by DM Sun Mar 16, 2008 19:05

While I admire Green members trying to salvage their parties principles by turning up to the demo, the line of "we still oppose the war, just not in government" really irritates me. If you're in Government, you're part of the Government, and if it's a government that allows torture flights etc. well then you're apart of that too.

That said, we should always concentrate on attacking the right not other parts of the left.

by Auntie War Sun Mar 16, 2008 18:05

If you had been on the march you could have asked them. I was and I approached them. They made it clear they did not support the US terror in tjhe Middle East and that the Greens as a party didnt either. Anyone who opposes the war should be welcomed into the movement. They turned up you didnt.

Beware of those who try to split us and drive people away. You never know who they are working for.

by marcher Sun Mar 16, 2008 17:53

Why are these photos all copyright? Doesn't that go against the ethos of indymedia?

Regarding the march, a dreary affair. I'm glad I went because I would have felt guilty otherwise but there was no focus on Shannon and the speeches were just the usual weak rhetoric. Is the IAWM just a one-trick pony? Same old march every year, same old meetings to hear the same old patronising speeches (we are the 'converted' - we really don't need to hear what we already know...over and over again), which are either from the same old heads or people who follow the same dull SWP line, even if not actual members.

Dunno. I found it all a bit dispiriting. The Labour Party or Green Party could have organised this event - it certainly felt like it was designed to appeal to that audience. Safe stuff with an occasional infusion of rrrrrrrevolutionary rhetoric.

by Bazooka Joe Sun Mar 16, 2008 17:53

What were the Greens doing there? They are part of a government that is complicit in supporting the war and the kidnapping and torture of 'terrorist suspects'. They may not have a spine, guts or nuts but you have to hand it to them for having the neck to show up.

by Paula Geraghty Sun Mar 16, 2008 17:19

More images all copyright.

Was the rain mentioned? It rained and it rained.
Happy Paddy's weekend to all. Irishness does not mean complicity.