MORE SHANNON PROTESTS

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday March 03, 2003 22:03 by Bernard Moffatt - Celtic League b.moffatt at advsys dot co dot im + (0)1624 877918

MORE SHANNON PROTESTS

MORE SHANNON PROTESTS There was a massive police presence at Shannon Airport ahead of a peace process today.

MORE SHANNON PROTESTS

There was a massive police presence at Shannon Airport ahead of a
peace process today.

Hundreds of extra gardai, some of them in riot gear, arrived at Shannon
Airport to confront anti-war protesters.

Razor wire was stretched across part of the airport complex to prevent
protesters who say they plan to enter the airport by breaching perimeter
fences

"Grassroots Network", who are organising the direct action have refuted
claims that their actions at the airport today will amount to "vandalism".
The demonstrators plan a mass trespass at the airport breaching perimeter
fence security.

Their spokesperson, Adam Conroy, says that a damaged fence does not
compare to the devastation that will occur if the attack by the US
and UK on Iraq goes ahead.

"Our view is that there is a long-standing legal right that you can
damage property to protect human life and that's what we're doing.

"The latest estimates from the UN say that in the event of war in
Iraq there would be half a million civilian casualties and two million
refugees created and minor damage to a small section of fence really
doesn't compare to that in our view".

The latest protest is part of continuing unease in Ireland about the
use made by the US of facilities in the country as part of its preparation
to attack Iraq.

Bernard Moffatt

Secretary General

Celtic League

25/02/03

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works
to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It focuses
on human rights abuse and civil liberty issues and also monitors the
impact of military activity.

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Internet site at

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b.moffatt@advsys.co.im