Irish Activist Too Busy Fighting With Each Other To Actually Do Anything

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday June 04, 2002 15:16 by Observer

The leaders of capitalist globalisation meet in Dublin, but the SWP/SP/WP/WSM/GR and now SA miss it

In a shocking development, it was today revealed that Irish activists have spent more time debating on Indymedia.ie than any other social or political activity. This is believed to have contributed to the utter lack of action directed towards a huge gathering of capitalist leaders in a posh hotel in Dublin (news report attached). When questioned on this, leaders of the SWP/SP/WP/WSM/GR/SA alphabet soup reacted by turning to the person on their right and yelling "Sectarian!!".

Tight security surrounds world leaders’ meeting in Dublin
Last updated: 04-06-02, 13:14

Tight security is in force around the Four Seasons hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin today ahead of a gathering of past and present world leaders, businessmen, artists and Nobel Laureates.

Statesmen, including former US President Bill Clinton, will attend the meeting of the Academy of Achievement, a Washington-based group established to inspire "young leaders of tomorrow".

The International Achievement Summit is being hosted by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and there has been speculation that former Russian leader Mr Mikhail Gorbachev will be at the event.

However the Academy of Achievement refuse to disclose any details of its 41st annual summit. The Garda and the Department of Foreign Affairs are also refusing to reveal details.

Mr Gorbachev is expected to build on the business contacts he developed in Dublin when he visited the city earlier this year. During the visit, in which he received an honorary doctorate from Trinity College and was granted freedom of the city, the former Soviet Union leader said he wished to forge stronger bonds between the high-tech industry sectors of Russia and Ireland.

It is understood that high-achieving youngsters from around the world will meet with around 50 delegates later in the week. Planning for the summit has been under way for months.

Afghanistan's interim leader Mr Hamid Karzai is set to join outgoing Colombian president Mr Andres Pastrana, President McAleese and her predecessor Mrs Mary Robinson at the meeting.

Mr Pastrana's attendance will give the Taoiseach an opportunity to discuss the detention of three alleged IRA men in Bogota. Mr Niall Connolly, Mr James Monaghan and Mr Martin McCauley are awaiting trial accused of training Marxist guerrillas of the terror group FARC. Northern Ireland peace broker and US Senator George Mitchell is also believed to be attending.

It is understood the Garda have collaborated with international police and US services as part of the security operation. The Irish Times reported today that the Emergency Response Unit will also form part of the security provision.

It is also understood that a major security operation will swing into action later in the week when Mr Clinton gives the only public speech of the event.

Last year's summit was held in San Antonio, Texas, and was graced by a selection of world leaders, including former Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ehud Barak, as well as authors, artists, sports stars, captains of industry and Nobel Laureates.

PA