Greens To Step Up Anti-War Campaign

by Joe Mon Mar 24, 2003 14:53

Not press stunts to get you 6 TD's and 2 MEP's on the news. Wouldn't be so bad except that the some of these TD's have actually attacked those who have taken direct action against the war.

by ipsiphi iosaf Oas-if Mon Mar 24, 2003 14:57

the first resignation of a Spanish Minister.
I did not draw attention to this, because it is without value.
He resigns now, with TV pictures of the carnage I remember protesters saying would happen.
He chose "to do something" now.
after he voted to support Aznar.
Like so many other politicians he is a spineless coward. We who have been arrested consistently for portesting this War before it began still remember who supported our actions and who did not.
And we shan't forget that.
Some Greenies are cool wonderful activists.
others are hypocrites and cowards.

by 1ofGNAW Mon Mar 24, 2003 15:26

Protest details at
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=37315

by Kenneth Owende Mon Mar 24, 2003 16:29 lion_of_the_left at hotmail dot com

Could someone from the Greens please clarify your party's position on self determination for the Kurds.

And will Paul Gogarty be taking part in any anti-war activities?

by Justin Moran - Sinn Fein Mon Mar 24, 2003 16:42 maigh_nuad at yahoo dot com

I would not claim to speak for the Greens but their amendment to the Government's motion on Shannon specifically stated its support for the territorial integrity of the Iraqi state. Presumably they are then opposed to the creation of an independent Kurdish state.

by Kenneth Owende Mon Mar 24, 2003 16:56

Thanks for that Justin. But the problem is how can they justify that position? As the war intensifies the Kurdish Question will become more to the fore. Will the Greens support the Turks and Americans in putting down the Kurdish people and thier aspirations?

Do the Greens really accept the "territorial integrity" of a state that was created by a few imperialists sitting around a table in the 19th century?

Could someone from the Greens please tell me WHY do they not support self-determination for the Kurdism people?

by Joe Mon Mar 24, 2003 17:01

Ken you have to realise that the Green Party is now serious about being in power. In the old days they were well meaning hippies who seriously wanted to change the world. Now they want to rule the world.

Now if you want to rule the world you NEED people to depend on politicans as the ONLY source of change. You thus NEED to attack those who claim we can change things by acting for ourselves.

And in this world they intend to run the last thing you want is some arkward bastards like the Kurds insisting they have a right to self-determination. The only 'right' the Kurds have is the same 'right' the rest of us, to respect our leaders and do as they say.

You know that bit in Animal Farm where the animals look from the men to the pigs and can no longer tell the difference. Well that's what is happening to the Green Party right now.

by Dan Boyle - Green Party/Comhaontas Glas Mon Mar 24, 2003 18:27 dboyle at oireachtas dot ie 99, Douglas Street, Cork 087-2772701

Looking at a number of posts recently made to Indymedia, questions about Green Party positions have been raised. Some posters have raised legitimate questions, some for their own reasons seem intent to misrepresent. With this posting I hope I can explain some of the positions that have been questioned.

On the question of Kurdish self-detirmination, as Green Party whip in the Dáil I can explain what happened and why in relation to last Thursday's debate. The amendment in question raised by Sinn Féin firstly called on all weapons in the region to be put 'verifiably beyond use' and subsequently went on to talk about Kurdish autonomy.

We couldn't take the first part of this amendment seriously and felt it compromised the second clause. We also feel that Kurdish autonomy should not be isolated by referencing Iraq alone. We are committed to ensure that Iraq's current boundaries are not altered by the current war for reasons established by the belligerents.

Kurdish autonomy involves Turkey, Syria and Iran as well. A Kurdish state should be established recognising the need to redraft all political boundaries in the region. On these grounds we abstained, but did not vote against this rather weak, and somewhat hypocritical amendment.

On Sunday I spent a very enjoyable afternoon with the Kurdish community in Cork celebrating the Kurdish New Year. As I said there I, and my party are as committed as ever to helping to bring about full Kurdish autonomy.

I hope this explains, and while it may not satisfy, and any future concerns people may have can be met openly and honestly.

by iosaf ipsiphi Mon Mar 24, 2003 18:39

but better to hear it from a Greenie.
hi Dan!

Kurdish independence is now being used by many as a new crises point to further pressure Turkey the Baathist state of Syria and provide a justification for further military intervention/presence in the eastern Anatolian area.
I support Kurdish independence and self-determination, though I can not say that I wish jump on the bandwagon presently gathering speed.

It is a sign of the Kurdish communities' wisdom and experience that they have been more than a little cynical at many of their new found friend's support.

All one has really to do is troll back through the newswire and see that the regular contributions from Kurdish groups to this newswire were left without comments or gestures of support, and that only one group picked up on the subjects within.

It is easy for certain nationalist parties in Europe to call now for Kurdish independence as it sits well with their own self-image, but we ought remember that they chose not to push the "anti-War" platform to much when it became clear it clashed with their pro-american policies.

The Kurdish like many of the mid Asian peoples have a drink which is made from fermented yoghurt, though not exactly whiskey, it can get you tipsy- so be careful if you drink it.

by Phuq Hedd Mon Mar 24, 2003 21:02

You can't sit on the fence and be anti-war and also anti-actions-that-stop-war. The Green Party has had a large amount of goodwill for their principled stands on many issues and is in danger of squandering that by attempting to appeal to a mythical waiting-to-be-seduced-middle-of-the-road voter. Those people don't exist.

Anti-war sections of the Green Party should stick to their guns and get involved in whatever level of action their consciences allow and be very careful not to play into the right-wing medias attacks upon protestors.