Direct Action Day? Irish Anti War Movement March? Or just a Big Fucking Mess?

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday February 23, 2003 17:36 by Eamonn Crudden - (1 of IMC IRL)

As Willie's Doktors line up their frontline troops and look around for their ammo . . . .

Suddenly a ‘Direct Action’ day planned for March the 1st at Shannon Airport by a loose network of individuals and groups styling themselves ‘Grassroots Gathering’ has mutated into a National Demonstration planned by the Irish Anti War Movement as the next big day out for the newborn mass movement.

One Week in and the newborn mass movement for a peaceful solution to the Iraq situation is under attack, confused and divided about where to go next.

Suddenly a ‘Direct Action’ day planned for March the 1st at Shannon Airport by a loose network of individuals and groups styling themselves ‘Grassroots Gathering’ has mutated into a National Demonstration planned by the Irish Anti War Movement as the next big day out for the newborn mass movement.

Irish Anti War Movement meetings are taking place hand over fist all over the place and many non-aligned atendees I have spoken to have said those running meetings have had the same thing to say about March 1st. ‘It’s a march. We are going.’ Replies to those confused by having heard something about a direct action day tend to be in the order of - ‘Marching is direct action’. I have heard reports of SWP members running local (outside Dublin) meetings and volunteering to chair groups without ever revealing their party affiliation to those who turn up newly enthused by the events of last Saturday. I have also heard of people in colleges where the IWAM is active being discouraged from speaking about the idea of ‘Direct Action’ and discouraged from talking about Indymedia to their groups.

So what is going on inside the IAWM? Does it matter?

The affiliated groups of the IAWM met in the week just gone to get their heads together because, let’s face it, this thing has gotten bigger than anything the majority of these groups can handle. They were caught by complete surprise by the level of mobilisation that took place last Saturday. That crowd mobilised itself to a large degree.

Rest assured that the Shannon Protest - originally called here on Indymedia for 1st March as far as I can tell - was discussed in detail by the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, The NGO Peace Alliance and the IAWM affiliates. NGOPA and PANA are resolutely opposed to any form of Direct Action. So are the Greens though their representative to the IAWM had previously signed them up to the March 1st ‘Event’. Since the meeting the IAWM has begun promoting March 1st as an event more or less organised by them without having the courtesy to let their supporters know that they are piggybacking on what was to be (and still is to be according to some) a ‘Direct Action’ day.

It is a recipe for a big mess. Willie’s doktors must be rubbing their sweaty little paws together looking forward to the seemingly inevitable recriminations that will follow.

The Grassroots Gathering thus far seem also in some disarray. They are arguing over exactly what mass non - violent direct action to undertake. They also seem to be finding that people generally (in contrast to those they have expressed support for -Dubsky / Mary Kelly / CW 5) are unwilling to embark on tactics which might be expected to lead to Faslane style mass arrests.

There do not appear to be reliable open channels of communication between the two sides of this debacle. I keep hearing there are but see absolutely no evidence of it. It is extremely disappointing that the buildup to March 1st is becoming an occasion for mutual recrimination, division, lack of clarity about what people are being led into, secrecy, and hypocricy.

It should be sorted. If it is not sorted by those who are arguing behind closed doors then it should be sorted through other channels. Clearly - in advance. It is reckless to have a huge demonstration at Shannon where the majority of those there have been kept in the dark about the fact that the day was called originally as a ‘direct action’ day.

Otherwise the arguments will take place on the evening of March 1st in the full glare of the Irish Media and will become another tool for Willie’s Doktors and their supporters and bootlickers in the ‘free’ press to make sure this newborn which we’ve spent all week talking about is stillborn.

Q Do you agree with what they did?
A No and I didn’t know they were going to do it either.

INDEPENDENT ( and every other) HEADLINE: PEACE PROTESTERS FIGHT AMONG THEMSELVES

BODY OF TEXT: IRA IRA IRA GREENS GREENS COMMIES BLAH BLAH VIOLENT BLAH BLAH HIJACKED BLAH BLAH NAIEVE BLAH BLAH ANTI AMERICAN ANARCHISTS BLAH BLAH

Sinn Fein and Labour and the Greens also are in hiding at present on the whole thing because they, more than anyone else involved, are fearful of being associated with any untoward 'direct action' that might lead to a debacle similar to the one Trevor Sargent walked himself into over Mary Kelly. These political groups seem content to follow those pushing the whole issue of Shannon Airport and the Irish Government's stance on a war on Iraq onto the agenda (through many Non-Violent Direct Action style tactics and actions) in the hope of hedging their bets and associating themselves (at a safe distance) with what MAY be a successful campaign.

So how about some clarity.

Will Sinn Fein, Labour, Greens, NGO Peace Alliance, IAWM, PANA continue campaigning against war and the use of Shannon by the US Military in the event of a war with UN backing?

Will the same groups condemn or support an open accountable direct action at Shannon on March 1st?

Will they be straight with their supporters about the fact that they under the IAWM Umberlla are 'piggybacking' on (if you're not given to suspicion), or oughtright 'hijacking' (if you are) an event that was called and planned by others and that this leaves open the possibility of a very public division among those caring for the newborn we all seem to be so proud of?

And while I'm at it - will the Grassroots Gathering be making it clear to everyone (including their many supporters and wellwishers)what they're planning?