Edward Horgan "Disturbing the Peace" Civil [dis]Obedience and our duty not to remain silent.

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | event notice Wednesday March 24, 2004 13:17 by Anto - none punkcyclist at dublin dot ie

Edward Horgan "Disturbing the Peace" Civil [dis]Obedience and our duty not to remain silent. [provisional title]

2pm March 31st C115 2nd floor Henry Grattan Building, DCU

Edward Horgan, is a retired officer of the Irish Defence Forces and decorated UN Peacekeeper, last year he took a High Court case against the Irish government over its decision to allow US military planes to overfly Ireland, and refuel in Ireland (specifically at Shannon Airport) en route to the war in Iraq, claiming the compromising of Irish neutrality and warning that this country runs risks of being a party to war crimes.

He has a distinguished history of service to the State, including service on United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Cyprus in 1966, 1971 and 1973, and in the Middle East in 1973/74. He left the army in 1986, since which time he has held positions in Trinity College, Dublin and Aughinish Alumina Limited in Co. Limerick. He has been engaged in full time education and research as a mature student at the University of Limerick where he completed a B.A. in History, Politics and Social Studies in 2001. He was awarded an M. Phil. (Peace Studies) degree by Trinity College in 2000. Over the past 10 years he has also worked as a civilian United Nations volunteer on election and democratisation missions with the United Nations and the European Union in the following countries: Bosnia, Croatia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and East Timor.

After previously undertaking to do so, on 27th September 2003 Commandant Horgan returned to the Irish Government, his military medals awarded by the United Nations, and the Irish Defence Forces as a symbolic gesture, in protest against Ireland's participation in the war against Iraq, and the loss of Irish neutrality. Commandant Horgan at that time issued the following statement:

“While I have held each of these items as treasured reminders of my service to the people of Ireland and to United Nations peacekeeping, I feel obliged in conscience to return them because of the dishonourable conduct of the Irish government in abandoning Irish neutrality, contrary to international law, by participating in the war against Iraq in March 2003, thereby actively assisting in the commission of crimes against humanity. Today, 27th September 2003, the war is still in progress, Ireland is still participating in this
war, by facilitating the passage of US troops and munitions through Ireland, and by providing a de facto US military base at Shannon airport. Our participation in this war against Iraq, and this loss of Irish neutrality has not been approved by the Irish people, and poses a very serious threat to international peace and global justice. Irish neutrality and our commitment to global justice must be restored. The smaller countries of the world must reform and improve the UN, and support UN collective security. We must rein in the dogs of war let loose by terrorism, and by states operating beyond the control of international law. International jurisprudence is vital to protect the majority of the world's individuals against terrorists on the lunatic fringe, and against the abuse of power by super-states.

An Taoiseach announced in the US that Ireland is considering offering Irish troops to the UN mission in Iraq, where they would serve under US command. This would be the equivalent of sending Irish troops to the Lebanon in 1982 under Israeli command, after that army had committed crimes against humanity
in Palestinian refugee camps. Irish troops should only be sent on genuine UN peacekeeping missions and not as cannon fodder for the US occupation force in Iraq. He also stated that Ireland is a neutral country. The Irish High Court found, in April 2003, that Ireland had contravened the Hague Convention and customary international laws on neutrality by allowing US troops and munitions to pass through Ireland on their way to the Iraq war. Mr Ahern should either withdraw his statement that Ireland is a neutral country, or appeal the High Court case of Horgan V Ireland, et al, to the Supreme Court.

In his address to the UN on 25th September, Mr Ahern did an amazing U-turn when he stated that he condemned the principle of "pre-emptive" military strikes against potentially dangerous regimes. This statement contradicts the reality that, in March 2003, Ireland shamefully failed to support a United Nations approach to the crisis in Iraq and backed an illegal war by US led forces against Iraq. Irish participation in this unlawful war helped to kill over 20,000 Iraqi conscript soldiers, and about 10,000 innocent civilians. We helped to murder little children who were incinerated in front of their parents, and parents who were shredded by weapons of mass destruction in front of their children. These crimes against humanity cannot be obliterated by a few well-chosen words in front of the UN.

My action in returning my military emblems and medals is to highlight the shameful crimes committed in our names, in the so-called Irish national interest, and the fact that Shannon airport is still being used as a virtual US military base.”