Clonakility Town Council Rejects Anti-War Motion

national | miscellaneous | news report

Wednesday February 05, 2003 10:43

by Justin Moran - Sinn Fein

maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

All local councillors should be at least trying across the State

Clonakilty Sinn Féin Councillor Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin has expressed his disappointment and shame that his colleagues on Clonakilty Town Council last night refused to support a motion for peace at their February Council meeting.

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin proposed a motion in his name, calling on the council "to oppose the drive towards war on the Iraqi people and to support dialogue as a means to resolve the conflict". The motion also called on the Government to maintain "a policy of military neutrality and to deny the use of Irish facilities for passage or use by military personnel or equipment of belligerent states". His motion was supported by Cllr. Michael O' Regan of Labour, but opposed by Fianna Fáil councillors who were joined by Fine Gael to defeat the motion. The 2 Independent councillors abstained on the vote.

Having thanked his seconder for supporting the motion, Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin said:

"We all know why this motion is before our meeting tonight. Similar motions have been passed in Galway, Derry and Sligo City Councils and unanimously in Dublin City Council last night, as well as in 58 United States cities. More than likely, there are many other local authorities around the country that have also passed it.

We know from tonight's news that 160 U.S. warplanes carrying 18,000 armed soldiers have passed through Shannon Airport in the month of January alone. We have seen over the last week how civilians can easily penetrate the perimeter. Our collaboration in the U.S. war effort now means that Shannon Airport could be a target by terrorist organisations.

Over the last few weeks I have met many people of all political persuasions and none and this topic came up. Not one person I know agrees with our government's stance. And now we have our own army on duty at Shannon, clearly there to facilitate the United States armed forces as they make their way to make war. Our neutrality is a sham.

It's not good enough that Bertie Ahern says that 40% of the business of Shannon is now refuelling these planes. Is that the cost of Irish Neutrality today?

As a State, we are now clearly complicit in what will happen over the coming weeks to thousands of innocent men, women and children in Iraq. I am most disappointed but not surprised that this motion for peace and Irish neutrality is being opposed and will more than likely be lost here tonight."

Earlier in the meeting, Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin raised the issue of the Peace Camp at Shannon Airport (which he visited last Saturday), saying that the council should congratulate those involved over the last month. Their stance he said had raised great awareness and prompted public debate about the use of the airport by U.S. warplanes and armed soldiers. However, an acrimonious debate followed, with the other eight councillors voting against his proposal - the first time ever that a vote of congratulations went to a vote on the council!

save preference

Comments (5 of 5)

Henry Ford is alive and well

by James McKenna

Wed Feb 05, 2003 11:22

jimmymac61 at hotmail dot com

Well done councillor O'Suillabhain and shame on the rest of you .

Did anyone know Henry Ford , a famous and celebrted son of the Clonakilty area wrote a book called "The International Jew", in which he posited a world conspiracy of Jews to control banking, media, the military and other areas.

Adolf Hitler was so pleasd by the Clonakilty mans book that he gave him one of four special medals he had made. Mousselini and two of Hitlers top officers got the other three. Ford accecpted it with great pride.

No mention of this in the Henry Ford museum?

We'll be sure to send the members of Clonakilty Council pctures of the dead Iraqi children as Mr Bush bombs his way to his and their new four wheel drive and fatter guts.

Does anyone have a list of the members and their contact details so we can register our disgust at their utter disregard for human life as opposed to ignorantly following a bully in his bleat for war?

I guess they should shut up about the famine then because the government and people of the US and Britain and the time considered the "Oirish" dirty and lazy. Their media told them so and painted cartoons of us as gorillas. They left us to die by the millions . And now we side with them against another poor and starving people being driven from their land for the good of the descendants of those self same landlords and their kind.

I am astounded.

by iosaf

Wed Feb 05, 2003 13:25

This is the first European city/town council that has rejected such a vote that I know of.

Perhaps this means we only discuss our victories.

The 58 US cities took a while.
But they are cities.
And one would not expect many US cities to adopt such measures.
But across Europe Feb15 is gathering snowball support. We now see daily planning of actions and setting up of assemblies not only for Feb15 but the days before and after.
Clonakillty says no.

Who else has said no?
Have any other Irish Town councils said no?

64 cities

by Janus

Wed Feb 05, 2003 13:37

According to citiesforpeace.org it's up to 64 cities now, seems to be more every day.

What else would you expect from FF and FG?

by Terry

Wed Feb 05, 2003 15:26

I see that both FF and FG rejected the motion. But then what else would
you expect from them. They are the equivalent of the Republicans and the
Democrats in the USA, both of whom largely support the war.

It is no coincidence that both of these parties have strong anti-environment
streaks in them too.

Don't let it bring you down, It's only Clonakilty

by depp

Wed Feb 05, 2003 18:01

Politicians (especially those in power) choose the side of those they see as winners. Especially ones like Ahern/Blair, cowardly types who have no real policies, no ideals. They just follow the leader, follow the powerful. Like US war on Iraq.

It’s like the ordinary person in the street feigning over a celebrity, governments worldwide feign over USA because they think some of the USA gold will drip into their hands.

They are all f*ckin dictators – Ahern/Blair/Aznar /Berlusconi etc. - do what they like once they are in power.

Humpty Dumpty sums it up;
Mr. Humpty Dumpty, was quoted, (back in the 19th century) in the book, 'Through the Looking Glass,' (chapter 6) as follows:
"'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'"

Challenged with the response, 'The question is whether you can make words mean so many different things,' Mr. Dumpty replied as follows:

"'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which [of us] is to be master -- that's all.'

Are Irish people in general arse-lickers, or cowards, afraid to go against the flow? (e.g. backing US murder, no-one supporting Roy Keane in Saipan, afraid to vote left – afraid to throw out F Fail.)?

Have we forgotten the famine? Imperialist rule?

People only care about ‘jobs’. That’s all they pretend to care about anyway! As a writer said, when the NAZIs lost, the SS were out of a job, what a pity. Prioritise. Lives are worth more than jobs.

Some members of the public are so wrapped up in the media hypnosis, it would take a year to persuade them. They won’t be persuaded in a five minute argument.

Bring Bush/Blair to REAL justice for their crimes.

Upcoming Events

New Events

Other Press

User Preferences

Feeds

Blog Feeds

The Saker

Public Inquiry

Human Rights in Ireland

Lockdown Skeptics

Clonakility Town Council Rejects Anti-War Motion

Comments (5 of 5)