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Hunger strike by Afghan asylum seekers ends after tense week in St Patricks Cathedral dublin |
racism & migration related issues |
feature
 Monday May 22, 2006 00:17 by Jon, Revolt, Emma, Elaine, MarkG, RichardW, - Paula, Dunk, Anthony, Madam K, Fintan, MichaelY, Sheila, Jim, Ciaran, MAC.T.K.13, Deirdre, Justin also Seedot, Joe, Chris, Chekov, Kevin, Robbie, Shutterbug, Sovietpop, Taj, Laughlin, Redjade and all others.
 A summary of the week, gathered by the IMC Ireland Collective.
asylum seekers removed by gardaí
On Sunday May 14th, a group of up to 41 refugees from war-torn Afghanistan occupied St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin city centre after the Sunday Service. At least seven minors were among the group of men. The group were seeking refugee status in Ireland and decided to go on hunger strike after losing confidence in the asylum application process. Indymedia Ireland began its week-long coverage of this action with this report. Last night, Saturday May 20th, at around 9:30pm, a large contingent from the Garda Public Order Unit, aka the riot squad, moved into the vicinity of the cathedral. Vans were parked in St Patrick's Close, obscuring the view of the cathedral entrance. The minors, who had previously been made 'wards of the court', i.e. taken into state care, were firstly removed by ambulance. The tension mounted at this point, as the hunger strikers had previously indicated they were prepared to self-harm if any attempt was made to forcibly remove them from St. Patrick's. However, after several hours of negotiation, the Afghans reluctantly came out without resorting to such drastic actions. As the Garda vans arrived, a small crowd of counter-demonstrators had gathered near the entrance, chanting for the asylum seekers to be kicked out (audio). They were soon outnumbered by supporters of the Afghans, who quickly made their way to the cathedral when the news emerged that the Garda were preparing to move in. The men were put into Garda vans and driven away to chants of "let them stay". One man lay down in front of the vans as they were driving away, but was gently removed by Gardaí (audio). The counter-protestors at this point had been hurling missiles at supporters, and were separated from the main crowd by Gardaí.
The Afghans were brought to a special late night sitting of the Bridewell Court on the northside of the city. Proceedings eventually wound up around 6am, when all men were remanded on bail until their court hearings on Thursday of this coming week. They were all granted free legal aid. The week long hunger strike sparked intense debate both here on Indymedia and on the streets. The appearance of recognised fascist agitators caused alarm in some circles, while every day outside the cathedral tempers were running high as opposing viewpoints were aired at daily vigils. The IAWM came out publicly early on in support of the hunger strike. On Day 3, fellow students of the minors involved had come down to offer their support, while two of the men removed to hospital suffering from dehydration were reported to be doing alright. At this stage, it was still possible to go inside the cathedral to talk to the men (photos). The matter was also raised in the Dáil. In an ever-increasing storm of media hyperbole and mis-reporting, the men explained their reasons for their action in the cathedral. By the 4th day, the pressure was beginning to build as Michael McDowell indicated he was not going to bargain with the men (video). A solidarity picket took place in Belfast. On Day 5, the situation intensified, with Garda limiting access to the men, and the appearance of racist hecklers at a solidarity vigil. (more photos: [1] [2]) On Day 6, crash barriers were moved into St Paticks Close at 12:30 am. At 2:30am a camera operator from the Revolt Video Collective was approched by plainclothes Special Branch officers and told not to film. No independent observers were allowed access including Residents Against Racism, who had been consulting the men inside. At this point many were expecting a forced evacuation. A large amount of Gardaí were assembled around the cathedral. (images) On the 7th (and final) day (Saturday), tension was high as the threat of self-harm and suicide by the men still hung in the air. An afternoon vigil at 2pm at the junction of St Patrick's Close drew a crowd of roughly 250 supporters, with approximately 30-40 counter demonstrators, who held signs with slogans such as 'send them home' and 'the inn is full - close the door'. As the riot squad moved in, it was obvious the end of a week of high drama in St Patrick's Cathedral was drawing to a close. Supporters outside hoped that whatever way it ended, there were no fatalities. The men will be appearing in court on Thursday morning in Kilmainham. Residents Against Racism have called for people to come down and support the hunger strikers in court. On Thursday evening, the Revolt Video Collective will be screening a new comprehensive documentary of the weeks events at the Indymedia Film Night in the Connolly Room, Liberty Hall. This event starts at 7pm, and admission is only five euro. Thanks to everyone who contributed text, photos, audio and video to Indymedia Ireland over the past seven days, including (but not limited to!) Jon, Revolt, Emma, Elaine, MarkG, RichardW, Paula, Dunk, Anthony, Madam K, Fintan, MichaelY, Sheila, Jim, Ciaran, MAC.T.K.13, Deirdre, Justin, Seedot, Joe, Chris, Chekov, Robbie, Shutterbug, Sovietpop, Taj, Laughlin, Redjade and all others. |
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Comments (20 of 20)
Jump To Comment: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1What would happen if illegal immigrants and Irish Christians were occupying a mosque in saudi Arabia ?
Oh, yes, of course, let's not tell the truth to the people, they could start having funny ideas.
Illegal immigration is a crime. These people do not flee war, they come here for economical reasons or worse (see Brussels islamic terror attacks).
It's time people open their eyes in Europe before it';s too late.
What happens in Ireland now is what happened in France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, 30 years, 20 ears ago.
Look at the situation in these countries now ? Are the Irish jealous of the chance the Belgians have to have place like Molenbeek ?
Are people in this country totally oblivious of their own history ? Don't they realise that Europe is under an organised invasion ?
Deport these illegal migrants and don't let them occupy our churches. WHAT THEY DO IS POLITICAL AND IS PART OF THE PLANNED COLONISATION OF IRELAND AND EUROPE.
WAKE UP
Not only do we have the usual anonymous "sources" but the whole story doesn't make any sense at all.
The Taliban are currently restricted to rural areas of souther Afghanistan and are fighting intense battles with US troops. Are their commanders taking time out to try to influence Ireland's asylum process? Is an Afghan cave a good place from which to direct an occupation of a cathedral on the other side of the world? What possible orders could they be giving? If these men were Taliban, why do they have no beards? Why do they not pray? Why would a Taliban controlled outfit draw attention to themselves by occupying a cathedral?
Mick McCaffrey should be proud of himself. Writing moronic shit that's only possible purpose is to put the boot into asylum seekers. Stupid race-bating bullshit.
The article is by their crime correspondent Mick McCaffrey. Where does he get his information from, you say? A "source". Not even a garda or political source, just a source. Extremely low rate journalism, just what you'd come to expect from the Herald really.
TRUTH OF AFGHAN HUNGER STRIKE.
Anonymous front page story, with anonymous Garda sources who "believe" that the hunger Strike was directed by mobile phone by Taliban generals in Afghanistan. (wouldn't they be busy with more pressing matters than Irish immigration policies?)
The journos were too ashamed to even put their names on the story.
Of course they can and do make up their own minds....based on the information that they are given. That information is mainly gotten from the corporate media. When that information is exceptionally biased against the hungerstrikers it is hardly surprising that people don't support the hunger strikers either. RTE in particular made no attempt to show a fair and unbiased reporting of the hunger strike and their camera crew were perfectly happy to have the facists posters stuck to the back door of their van.
Sea,
Good to see someone add a dose of reality to these discussions. Now some facts:
The Afghanistan voluntary repatriation from Pakistan and Iran is UNHCR's largest return programme ever, with over 4.5 million Afghans (including 1.47 million from Iran) going home over the last four years.
According to a recent UNHCR Afghan human rights survey: “Even though certain parts of the country are still troubled by insecurity, only 4 percent of respondents cited security as a priority concern………. around 80 percent of those surveyed said they were optimistic about the future, while 83 per cent of returnees were happy to have returned to Afghanistan".
If people do not wan't to see the the abuse of the immigration system continue, then they have a right to voice this concern.
So the public are not able to make up their own minds ? The lack of support among the general population is down to biased media - I mean it couldnt be down to say - a lack of support among the general population - there has to be a scapegoat for that doesnt there ?
What nonsense! How enlightened of you to see through the bad media people - give yourself a good pat on the back.
During the past week our camera’s captured powerful images of the views and actions the Afgan Hunger Strike inspired, from human rights activists campaigning for justice, to fascist agitators inciting young kids to entertain themselves with xenophobia slogans.
For people who were connected to the reality on the situation it is only too clear that the Main Stream Media were feeding a lot of the aggression on the streets. Their sterile and subornation response shows yet again the importance of Independent media to document events and not depend on the archives of Main Stream Media to record our history.
The lack of understanding and empathy for these desperate people opens ups even more windows to how far racism is rooting in to our society. The people who controlled the information allowed on the airwaves and T.V screens should but held accountable for the damage they have done.
All people are welcome to the Indymedia Film Night (25t May, See events list) for an alternative view of current events.
The men have ended the hunger strike but it is important to know that the state have not won and also the men decided to leave voluntary and were not taken out by force and always respected the cathedral, clergy and anyone that went in to see and help them out.
RAR have and will be meeting with the men to see how their general well being is and to see how we can assist them in anyway we can.
I am not very coherant at the moment and anything I remember I'll try and post with updates but so far they are doing as well as can be.
Thanks to everyone who showed up to support them.
the following are the 18 audio clips that were recorded over the week, 4 transcripts have been done, cds for stereo players soon available, really appreciated if people can do transcripts, preferences: 6, 15,8, 12, 13, 3, 4, 7, 11.......
thanks to all for assistance, cds will be given to the men asap.
tracklist:
1- Osman Hotak briefs media about situation with Afghani hunger strikers in Dublin-day 3
2 - Fr Joe Mc Culloghs views after visiting the men "it’s a disgrace, it would make you ashamed to be an Irish citizen.", - day 3
3 - Tahir Khan gives report after visiting the men - day 4
4 - update from Afghan men - day 6
5 - rar_update_and_background - day 6
6- indepth description of present immigration policy - day 6
7 - Sultan asks to be allowed back into join the hunger strike - day 7
8 - corporate media vulture - day 7
9 - violent_racists - day 7
10 - splitting_the_men - day 7
11 - random_inquisitive_people - day 7
12 - sounds from the heart of the city - final day
13 - perspective from an inner city kid who on monday supported the men and now doesent - final day
14 - i am not afraid of the racists - final day
15- ireland is getting like africa under the apartheid system with its racism - final day
16- sin fein take the floor- final day
17 - swp take the floor - final day
18 - RAR roseanna flynn - final day
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
1 - Osman Hotak gives a brief summary of how things stand at 8.00pm (night 3)
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2 - Fr Joe Mc Culloghs views after visiting the men - day 3
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3- Tahir Khan gives report after visiting the men - day 4
11.42 mins, interviewed by imc-ie volunteers, "we are the media"
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4 - update from Afghan men - day 6
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5 - rar_update_and_background - day 6
10mins, the background to the whole build up of this, the faults with the irish asylum process, the situation in afghanistan if they are sent back
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day 6 - indepth description of present immigration policy
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7 - Sultan asks to be allowed back into join the hunger strike - day 7
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8 - corporate media vulture - day 7
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9 - violent_racists - day 7
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10 - splitting_the_men - day 7
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11 - random_inquisitive_people - day 7
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12 - sounds from the streets, heart of dublin city (Henry St and Moore St. junction)
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13 - perspective from an inner city kid who on monday supported the men and now doesent
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14 - i am not afraid of the racists
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15 - getting like africa under the apartheid system
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16 -sin fein take the floor
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17 - swp take the floor
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18 - RAR roseanna flynn
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_________________________________________________________________________________________________
transcripts of some audio files:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2 - "it’s a disgrace, it would make you ashamed to be an Irish citizen.", Fr. Joe McCullough
full transcript of discussion with catholic priest Fr. Joe McCullough after visiting the men night 3
on why the irish people who consider themselves "christian" have a duty to support these men, and where is Mc Dowells conscience.
length- 6.42
D - You have just come out from visiting the men, can you just tell us how they are?
Fr Joe. - Well, I was very moved by their determination and their courage, a few of them are obviously quite ill, I think seven of them have been to hospital today and come back, thankfully most of them are taking water, I just assured them as a catholic priest and a member of a missionary congregation here in Ireland that we were very much in solidarity with them, that we recognized their plea for justice. And that we hope that Mr. Mc Dowell, if he is a lawyer, and if he is a Christian, that he will show some humanity and compassion. He made a preposterous suggestion that they were just escaping trouble in Afghanistan, but who cased the trouble in Afghanistan and the situation in Afghanistan going back hundreds of years. It is ironic that there are 2 plaques in this cathedral to the British soldiers that died during the British invasion of Afghanistan. So the people in there who are fighting on their behalf, residents against racism, noticed the irony of that, but I was met with nothing but absolute warmth from these people, especially these young men, and they are very determined. So we hope now… It would make you ashamed to be an Irish citizen, we hope that the government and the dept of just will get sense, and even if there is some interim solution. 1 young man, he’s living in a hostel, not able to work, not able to study, what kind of an existence is that, would mc d like an existence like that, and then given the history of this country too, and its emigration and all that’s been happening, it’s a disgrace.
D - You’d think we’d remember having gone through what we went through.
Fr Joe. - You think we would remember that, but no we forgot because there is a preoccupation with money and wealth and that’s all that occupying even the government, and a sense of justice, of humanity, irrespective of what peoples religious beliefs are, humanity, will the justice ministers not come up and meet these people.
D - Do you think that if more Irish people come out and support these men that they can put pressure on mc d to come up and meet them?
Fr Joe. - Absolutely, if the Irish people, they have a tradition of getting behind a just cause, this is a just cause, this is a truly just cause that these people have, so we hope that the Irish people will get behind it in the name of humanity and the name of god if we are a Christian nation, if were a Christian people. Why doesn’t Mr. McDowell come and meet these people, and see their sincerity, their warmth, their cause. Even the lawyers that are acting on behalf of residents against racism have said there hasn’t been due process in relation to their appeals for asylum. So you know threes lots of injustice upon injustices, upon in, as I said it would make you ashamed to be an Irish citizen.
D - We all see how much Irish society has changed in last generation, you can see it turning into a more greedy me me country, but I’m hoping that people will come out, but do you think that they will or is it starting to split between people who support them and people who are against t them. Already we’ve had people saying "get the Taliban out" wave had young people coming up and just shouting in racist taunts at people who are here supporting the men.
Fr Joe. - I think that’s down to a degree of ignorance about the whole suggestion, I’ve seen a man here with a placard saying "throw the Taliban thugs out", but sure they are not. Number 1 they are not Taliban, number 2 they are anything but thugs, if he met these young people. Unfortunately a lot of this is driven by a section of the media that get behind the anti immigrant cause that stir it up for a minority, I’m convinced that its a minority, but you know it can be a dangerous thing too.
D - If people are made afraid I suppose you’ve seen it all the way through history and you’ve seen the results of that.
Fr Joe. - Well you know what fear can do, it can do terrible things. Sometimes it can lead to extreme violence, all this abuse and the killing of young people is what racism does.
D - going back to the men though, some of them stopped taking food and water before Sunday evening and its now Tuesday evening, and its just a few hours ago if not an hour that they started to drink water again, as Far as I know and that was a big step because without taking in the water its only 3 or 4 days before the bodily insides start to give up, they did meet with some people and they have started taking the water but still it will take time to get back to, not a normal state, but a better state, where the insides have water again, but when you were there and you saw them take water you saw that they were still definite about this, still absolutely firm in their fight to carry and to continue with this hunger strike.
Fr Joe. - Yes, I spoke with their spokesperson and he said they are absolutely determined to see it through, even though that they are taking water, and thankfully they are in small amounts, but he said they are absolutely determined, well I said that as a priest and as a Christian that I hope nobody will die and that they will come off this hunger strike. But they said that they were determined because of the cause that they have.
D - I met a lot of Afghani people in Pakistan and I saw how gentle they were, how humble they were, but also how strong they were and how firm they were, and history has shown then as being a very strong group of people.
Fr Joe. - They are very resilient.
D - If they say they are doing this, they are doing this; there is no half measures with the Afghanis.
Fr Joe. - I would accept you’d know, you’ve been and you have met them in Pakistan, I’ve been very moved by their warmth and their sincerity and id also say their resilience.
D - Ok, well thanks very much for your time and for your support for the men.
Fr Joe. - You’re very welcome, thank you very much.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
5 - rar_update_and_background - day 6
Interview with member of RAR
by Margaret Sat May 20, 2006 00:15
This is the transcipt of the first half of the interview dunk did with the member of RAR who has been speaking to the men.
D: Duncan
R: RAR spokesperson
Report recorded by Dunk sometime around 8-9pm Day 6 Friday 19th May
D: Okay, so we’re outside St.Patrick’s Cathedral again, the men are still inside, it’s past 7 o’clock and it looked like there was supposed to be a raid by the police to take the men. There were reports that ten of the Afghani men were threatening to commit suicide if that happened and apparently they were ready with nooses and stuff like that. So I’m here with someone who has been in over the last few days. So can you tell us a bit about the situation at the moment, it’s now 8 or 9 o’ clock?
R: It’s now around 9 o’ clock and basically it doesn’t look like they’ll be any action to remove the men tonight and the basis for that is because it’s a Friday night and the Gardai will be doing their drunk patrol around town. We’ve heard runours from a few journalists that it’s not going to happen until some time in the morning and we’ve also heard from someone who has contacted the Gardai that it wouldn’t be until 4 o’clock in the morning. so whatever time it’s going to happen it’ll happen late at night rather than now.
D: So you’re convinced that there are going to storm and try to pull out the men?
R: Yeah, well I mean I don’t think they’ll storm..….the media have reported that the men have barricaded themselves in which is nonsense. The Gardai have had a presence since the very beginning. Basically the situation at the moment is that the men are back on thirst strike since about 6 o’clock today. At the same time they were telling us that they were saying they don’t want to talk to anyone any more, they are just preparing themselves for death. Now their state of mind is such that we really, really fear them. We believed them since the start that they were more than prepared to starve and dehydrate themselves to death. We remain even more convinced, especially considering that they’ve been on this hunger strike for 6 days, 3 of which they’ve been on a thirst strike. Their state of mind, it’s very very worrying. Their determination added to their state of mind just convinces us that there will be deaths.
D: Okay, I definitely feel that as well from talking with all the people that have come out, they’re saying that they will definitely do it. They are absolutely committed to this. The argument that we’re hearing is that the men have taken this drastic measure because they fell that if they’re sent back to Afghanistan they will face torture and then death. For people who don’t understand the background and what’s going on, can you tell us a bit about the actual process, the asylum seeking process, and what these men have gone through and how they’ve ended up taking such drastic measures?
R: Okay, to directly quote one of the men from inside, they’ve described the asylum
system as emotional and psychological torture. Most of them have not gone through the full procedures of the asylum system, what they have done, they’ve been left in limbo, they’ve held protests….
D: This is for a number of years?
R: Some of them have been here for a number of years, some are only here recently but they are all here in solidarity with each other. They are all here because they know what the situation is like in Afghanistan and they are all here because they have been brutalized by the asylum system. They have campaigned since December. They have had protests in December. They contact the Department of Justice, they’ve contacted government TDs, they’ve contacted Michael McDowell. This has been a process that has been ongoing for a quite a few months. They didn’t come to this decision on the spur of the moment. They came to this decision to go on hunger and thirst strike because they felt that they were being ignored and because they felt that they had no other choice. They are adamant that they would rather die in Ireland, in a church of God, rather go home to Afghanistan and be tortured and then killed. They are not members of the Taliban. They are not Islamic fundamentalists. The Taliban are still active fighting in Afghanistan, if they were Taliban they would be there. If they were Islamic fundamentalists they would not step inside a Christian Church. It is utter nonsense what has been put out there by some of the media. The worry is that some of their personal stories haven’t some out because the men are wary of putting their personal stories out in the media and word getting back to Afghanistan and worried that there would be repercussions for people they know, or their clan, or their local area.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
14 - "I'm not afraid!" - un-named African origin Dubliner speaks out against Racist Hecklers.
by big ears & noddy Sat May 20, 2006 18:20
transcript of "African migrant" who took on racist hecklers in the crowd at this morning's concentration in support of the Afghan & other refugees and all migrants to the Irish state and against racism.
I don't care. I'm not afraid of anyone. ok!?!?
[heckle]
I'm not afraid of the racists.
[heckle]
I'm not afraid!
[heckle]
[abuse]
[insults]
[F and C words]
[N word]
[2nd unknown person intervenes]
Most people welcome you. We are all brothers & sisters.
[racist heckler disagrees.]
[ car noise, beeping horns, the anonymous big city, cockles & muscles, no bangers 2 for a Euro because Mc Dowell banned them... ]
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
18 - transcript of Rosanna, spokesperson of RAR (residents against racism) independent observer/ mediator
by iosaf Sat May 20, 2006 18:02
(transcript of Rosanna spokesperson of RAR, who has been very busy trying to defuse this situation and has now given interviews globally (including the BBC and Sky News) speaking 11h30 this morning recorded by Dunk (indymedia radio activist & a ringleader of the magical Bicycling & gardening group ).
"ok everyone, its very impressive to see all here, and I know most local people in this area, are on our side. [heckler] I know, I've heard many more local people than the man there [referring to heckler] who have come up to me, and they are on our side. I did a broadcast this morning, and two taxi drivers, who are Dublin taxi drivers that have a very bad name, were most supportive of the guys inside. And I tell you what they called Mc dowell [heckler interrupts] [rosanna resumes] what they called Mc Dowell was almost unrepeatable. But it was very very true. [hecling resumes] The two guys were very very good. I'd like to say one other thing - which hasn't been said - We keep being told - We keep hearing - that the system in Ireland is a fair system. The system in Ireland is unfair! Recently two lawyers who were on the appeals tribunal taht refugees have to go through resigned! Because they know its unfair. [heckles] They said it is totally unfair. These are not Residents against Racism [[[ http://www.residentsagainstracism.org ]]] These are government lawyers. [heckles] & they've resigned.
Did that make any difference? Did that Mc Dowell look at it? Did he sack the one lawyer James Nicholson who has never let any asylum seeker stay on appeal?
- No! He did nothing. He is a shame on Ireland, a shame on all of us. Let's get rid of Mc dowell! "
[crowd applauds - 6 seconds]
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
radical radio network
digital camera memory card, last saturday at the demo outside St. Pat's cathedral.
If any1 owns this, or knows who does, lemme know...
Hi puck,
Tried in my earlier message to explain in my own words the importance of the action taken by the Afghani hunger strikers. The issues that were raised and which will remain with us for quite a while.
The uniqueness of their situation arises from the fact that they are war refugees - fleeing from a country which has been invaded by the US and whose Taliban and fundamentalist power system was created by the US in the late '80s and early '90s who then turned against them. The current system in power is again supported by the US, the country is in a state of war [100 people killed last week, 65 people killed yesterday through air strikes] [Never mind our Minister of Injustice saying "there are a few disturbances there"]. This is also a war that our Government supports actively through the use of Shannon by CIA and US Air Force flights. There are 2-3 planes flying from Shannon to Kabul every week. If their situation is not unique I don't know what the word 'unique' means.
Their action also highlighted the inflexibility and fallacy of the Irish immigration system.....never mind the 'experts' who say it's great. They don't have to go through 2 and plus years with no papers, no work, no money, no place to live, uncertain of their future, and feeling that their lives depend on the vagaries of a system and a Minister who has no qualm in attacking and vilifying his own people - never mind refugees.
So dear friend, transform your sorrow [and sadness] to an active support and a feeling of solidarity for the victims of injustice. As for the particles of dust, let us try and stop them becoming acid rain. Hope you agree.
Well the dust has settled on this and I feel that after all the self righteous RIGHT ON-ness has disappeared that this whole thing was not so much a protest but a ransom.
I feel sorry for these guys but doesnt anyone think that they went about the whole thing to such childish extremes (posing for photos with ropes around their necks?) . I feel that any intitial curiosity/sympathy people had for them disappeared quite quickly after that.
What exactly was gained by this 'protest'? And why should we view these guys as unique in some way?
Can anybody help me out on this...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060522/ap_on_re_as/afghan_...trike
Been reading with mounting excitement the various messages in the number of threads re:the hunger strike, the support, the counter-stuff and all the related issues. I am sure most of us who were there have been through a relatively unknown territory....intense, confusing, stressful, emotionally draining for some...saw a number of activists shedding tears of frustration. Yet, as the beginning of this process has come to an end, it is a good time to start collecting the fragments and begin building a picture to help us all move forward.
As far as I am concerned, the hunger strike brought forward and linked three closely inter-related issues:
1. The nature of our society in relation to in and outflow of labour - the conditions under which our working people live, their housing, their health provision. their incomes and the perceived or imagined implications of an incoming flow of labour. We had a start with Irish Ferries and this was a sequel. We had the 15-20 people giving us a hard time but we also had the local school kids joining us and the young people coming with their banners of support. We handled the opposition rather well...we discussed, argued and a few times had to tell them to buzz off. We didn't do too badly there. The flip side of that coin is of course being played in the US with the massive immigration strikes and the situation of the 'illegal' Irish. This is a process and a debate that's only starting.
2. The issue of the ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan, its effects on the local populations and the direct involvement of the Irish Government in that war. The use of Shannon + Baldonnel by US forces are a backdrop to this hunger strike - however hard some people tried to hide it. And if they decide to attack Iran, as I suspect they will, this item will come to the forefront again.
3. The rigidity and inflexibility of a power system in place, of a coalition of political and economic interests, that is clearly incapable of not only responding sensitively to peoples demands but unable to even allow its own 'reformist' and intermediary sections[see the Church] to play a regulatory balancing role. A power system that will bring into play its repressive arsenal (see over 200 Guards, the Riot Squad, nearly 20 vans, the Courts and its friendly media) at the slightest excuse.
To the extent that the hunger strike was 'unexpected' and even decided by its main protagonists against the advice of supporters (see a number of RAR statements) it took many by surprise. The support was good, unity demonstrated in practice.....there is, of course, still worries about 'owning' the hunger strikers, being 'circumvented' and the like. But as activity in their support as they go (briefly?) through the Court system and beyond and attempts to tackle the above issues multiply a line of action, a strategy will develop. Towards the next elections and beyond.
Warmest regards to all mentioned above and to all the others who stood with us over the last few days.
Fri 12.30am: Hand written messages of support where being delivered to the Cathedral,
it was noticed that crash barriers had just arrived so video documentation started.
12.45: 40 messages succesfully handed to one of the hunger strikers. Observed more Garda entering than on previous nights.
1.15 am: Special Branch car started to circle past as I filmed outside alone but for one supporter. On fourth lap car stops.Two plain cloths detectives exit the car approching me and ordering me to stop filming. While continuing to film I request an explanation and am again told to stop filming . I decline and inform them that I an entitled to film in a public place and it is not a criminal offence to do so. As we speak more support from Anarchist Youth arrive. The cops say they were just worried to see somone on their own outside ( I wonder why). The D`s get back in the car and leave .
This was only one of a number of ocassions that I was instucted not to film.
You may film anything you observe in a public place.
Revolt video collective short film screening Thurs Liberty hall, part of IMC Film night.
Tears of relief that our friends are safe; they have done more than highlight their own position in limbo, their actions have drawn attention to many other wrongs in the system.
To add to your previous commentator: rest assured dear M, that the only help from us on the outside to them on the inside were packets of ciggies, postcards sending our LOVE, bottles of water and those shiny insulating space blankets.
The news just says they were removed from the Church but not that they had ended their hunger strike. Have they ended the hunger strike?
The Church of Ireland asked and allowed Gardai to remove the men. Gardai could not and would not have entered the premesis and done so without the permission of the owners of this private property. Is this why the Cof I are now reviewing their security arrangements? What are they afraid of?
The action of the Church of Ireland as custodians of the regimental flags of British Army regiments who once occupied Afghanistan is hardly surprising.
What do Von Do-ill mean , "they were receiving advice from the outside" when he spoke on radio this morning? Has his paranoia finally become scitzoid?
1. Under what circumstances are the gardaí entitled to ban video recording?
2. Did the gardaí arrest anybody for throwing missiles?
Best,
Coilín.